Their vote, too, is necessary in this choice.

Their vote, too, is necessary in this choice." When the companions heard of 'Ali's words, they came to him and said: "O 'Ali! We, too, choose you. Indeed we choose you because with your presence 4. at-Tabari 5/152-153, Kanz al-'ummal 3/161 Tradition 2471, Translation of Futuh of Ibn A'tham 2/243. no one else is worthy of being caliph, and none is better than you for this position!" After hearing their opinion, 'Ali climbed the pulpit, and prepared himself to receive the people's allegiance.

They raised their arms and the ceremony of allegiance began. Talhah was the first man to swear allegiance to 'Ali.

As it happened Talhah's hand was offered loosely and 'Ali is said to have taken it as a bad omen, murmuring: "He will soon break his promise!"5 at-Tabari says: When Talhah swore allegiance to 'Ali, Habib ibn Dhu'ayb looked at him and said: "This allegiance will not last, since that hand which is raised is defective and faulty!"6 While the people of Medina regarded this incident as a bad omen, 'A'ishah considered it as a good omen and said: "Now the people will hold that defective hand of Talhah, and elect him as caliph!" Where the verdict of death turned into the vengeance for blood Woe to those who do not restore the caliphate to Taym's household.

At the end of 'Uthman's rule 'A'ishah was greatly disgusted with the conditions of the caliphate, since she was deprived of the privileges she had enjoyed in the time of the first two caliphs. So she raised the banner of opposition to 'Uthman and used all her endeavour to send letters to the provinces to make the people cynical about 'Uthman's ways and rule, and rouse them to riot and rebel against him.

When the flame of sedition was kindled and she found herself successful in her attempts, she departed for Mecca where she stayed, waiting for the assassination of 'Uthman and the people's allegiance to Talhah. at-Tabari says in this connection: One day a man called al-Akhdar arrived in Mecca from Medina, when 'A'ishah saw him, she asked about the conditions in Medina. al-Akhdar said: " 'Uthman has killed the Egyptians." She said: "We come from God and return to Him!

Has 'Uthman really resorted so much to injustice and perversity as to kill even those who seek aid to defend their right and combat oppression? By God, we will not tolerate this tyranny and injustice!" Then another man came to 'A'ishah, she asked him about the conditions in Medina, and he reported that 'Uthman was killed by the Egyptians.