ʿAbd Allāh, when asked about the motive behind Muḥammad’s revolt, said: “It was anger and greed. He held a respected standing in Islam, but certain people deluded him and he became avaricious. He had influence, yet a rightful claim was upon him, and ʿUthmān recovered it from his own property.”
Muʿāwiyah performed the ḥajj. It is related that, on seeing ʿUthmān’s gentleness and the unsettled state of affairs, he said to him, “Come with me to Syria before someone you cannot withstand reaches you; the people of Syria remain obedient.” ʿUthmān replied, “I will never exchange the neighbourhood of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ for anything, even if it should cost me my life.” Muʿāwiyah said, “Then allow me to send you troops.” ʿUthmān answered, “Shall I restrict the sustenance of the Messenger’s neighbours by settling soldiers among them?” Muʿāwiyah warned, “Commander of the Believers, by Allah you will be assassinated or invaded.” ʿUthmān said, “Allah is sufficient for me, and He is the best Guardian.”
The people of Egypt had pledged mutual support with their partisans in Kufa and Basra, and with everyone who responded to them. They agreed upon a day to set out once their governors had departed, but their plan did not come together. However, in Kufa Yazīd ibn Qays al-Arhabī rose up, and a number of people rallied around him. Al-Qaʿqāʿ ibn ʿAmr was in charge of military affairs that day; he approached Yazīd, and the people surrounded them, imploring restraint. Yazīd said to al-Qaʿqāʿ, “What right have you over me and these men? By Allah, I am one who hears and obeys, and I remain with the community, except that I ask to be excused from Saʿīd’s governorship.” They showed no intention beyond that. They went out to meet Saʿīd, turned him back from al-Jurʿah, and the people united around Abū Mūsā, whom ʿUthmān then confirmed in office.
When the governors returned, the Sabaʾiyyah had no means of leaving their provinces, so they wrote to their supporters, instructing them to gather in Medina to consider their next move. Outwardly they claimed to be enjoining what is right and merely wished to question ʿUthmān about certain matters so that the rumours would spread among the people and be established against him. They converged on Medina, whereupon ʿUthmān sent two men from Banū