"Indeed...

"Indeed, by God, Commander of the faithful, we do not esteem those who obstinately resist the truth, whether father or son." "May God have mercy on you and reward you well for your (adhering to the) truth," replied the Commander of the faithful, peace be on him. He passed 'Abd Allah b. Rabi'a b. Darraj who was among the slain. He said: "This hopeless man, what brought him out (in revolution)? Was it religion or support for 'Uthman which brought him out (in revolution)?

By God, 'Uthman had an unfavourable opinion of him and his father." Then he passed Mu'id b. Zuhayr b. Umayya and said: "If the sedition had been at the top of the Pleiades, this young man would have grasped at it. By God, he was not there with a (brave) shout. The one who met him told me that he screamed with fear of the sword." Then he passed Muslim b. Quraza and said: "Piety brought this man out (in revolution).

Yet by God he asked me to ask 'Uthman about something which he used to claim (as his) before in Mecca. 'Uthman gave it to him and said to me: 'If it had not been for you, I would not have given it to him.' Indeed this is what I knew. How sad for the brother of the clan. Then came the time for destruction as a result of helping 'Uthman." He went by 'Abd Allah b. Hamid b. Zuhayr and he said: "This is also one of those who went into battle against us with the claim that he was seeking God by that.

Yet he had written letters to me in which he made accusations against 'Uthman. Then he gave him something and he was satisfied with that." He went beside 'Abd Allah b. Hakim b. Hizam and said: "This man opposed his father in coming out in revolution even when his father would not help us. For the latter remained loyal in his pledge of allegiance to us even though he had held back (from helping us) and remained at home when he had doubts about the battle.

The man who held back from us and the others today is not as blameworthy as he who fought against us is blameworthy." Then he passed 'Abd Allah b. al-Mughira b. al-Akhnas and he said: "This man's father was killed on the day 'Uthman was killed in his house. He came out in revolt enraged at the killing of his father. He is a young man and he became afraid because of his being killed." Then he came to 'Abd Allah b. Abi 'Uthman b. al-Akhnas b.

Shariq and said: "As for this man, it is just as if I was looking at him. The people had seized their swords as he fled running from the ranks.