User:1234567/Sandbox 3: Difference between revisions

Aisha had expected that the next caliph would be one of her brothers-in-law, Talha ibn Ubaydullah or Al-Zubayr ibn Al-Awwam.<ref>{{Tabari|15|p. 161}}. “Then some Egyptians banded together and came to ‘Ali, while a party of Basrans [Syrians] came to Talhah and a few Kufans [Iraqis] to al-Zubayr. Each of these groups said, ‘If (the loyalists in Medina) render the oath of allegiance to our companion, (well and good). Otherwise, we shall plot against them...’” In {{Tabari|15|pp. 238-239}}, Aisha appeared to prefer the claim of Talha: “If Talha becomes Caliph (after Uthman), he will follow the path of his kinsman Abu Bakr.” Talha was the husband of her younger sister Umm Kulthum, while Al-Zubayr was married to her older sister Asma.</ref> But on the road back to Medina after her ''Hajj'', she heard that Ali, whom she still hated,<ref>E.g., Guillaume/Ishaq 679; {{Tabari|9|p. 170}}: “Ali ibn Abi Talib, but ‘A’ishah could not bring herself to speak well of him, though she was able to do it.”</ref> had been elected,<ref>Jarrett/Suyuti pp. 166, 176.</ref> and exclaimed, “I would rather see the sky fall down than Ali chosen as leader!”<ref>{{Tabari|16|p. 52}}.</ref> She suddenly remembered that Muhammad had thrice told Uthman, “If Allah ever places you in authority, and the hypocrites want to rid you of the garment, do not take it off,” and when she was asked why she had not told everyone that ''hadith'' earlier, she replied, “I was made to forget it.”<ref>Ibn Majah 1:112.</ref> She turned back to Mecca and called for Uthman’s murder to be avenged,<ref>{{Tabari|16|p. 39}}.</ref> an inconsistency for which she was criticised.<ref>{{Tabari|16|pp. 52-53}}: “How is that? By Allah, you were the first to incline the blade against Uthman and were saying, ‘Kill the fool!’” {{Tabari|16|p. 69}}: Talha and Zubayr unconvincingly claimed: “We wanted ... Uthman to satisfy (our complaints). We didn’t want him to be killed.”</ref> Ali denied any involvement with the assassination,<ref>{{Tabari|16|pp. 180-181}}. Despite the convenience of Uthman’s murder to Ali, there is no evidence that he was actively involved. Neither he nor Aisha had needed to participate directly in the murder because Uthman had had so many other enemies who were willing to do the deed.</ref> but nevertheless he claimed he was powerless to punish the murderers<ref>{{Tabari|16|p. 18}}.</ref> and he refused to comment on whether the killing had been just or unjust.<ref>{{Tabari|17|p. 26}}.</ref> Al-Zubayr and Talha, who claimed they had only sworn allegiance to Ali under duress, now joined Aisha in Mecca.<ref>Jarrett/Suyuti, p. 176.</ref> The anti-Ali faction gathered around them,<ref>Muir (1924), pp. 240-241.</ref> and they vowed to avenge Uthman.<ref>Jarrett/Suyuti, p. 176.</ref> According to the British historian Sir William Muir: “The cry of vengeance on the regicides really covered designs against … 'Ali,”<ref>Muir (1924), p. 243.</ref> whom they intended to depose in favour of one of themselves.