and so-and-so. ʿAmr then said, “and that ʿUthmān was a believer.” Abū Mūsā replied, “This is not what we sat down for.” ʿAmr retorted, “He must be either a believer or an unbeliever.” “He was a believer,” Abū Mūsā affirmed. “Then instruct the scribe to record that,” ʿAmr said, and it was written.

ʿAmr continued, “Was he slain as an oppressor or as one oppressed?” Abū Mūsā answered, “He was slain wronged.” ʿAmr asked, “Has Allah not granted his heir authority to demand retaliation for his blood?” “Indeed,” Abū Mūsā said. “Then the murderer is liable to be killed,” ʿAmr pressed on. “Yes,” he conceded. “Does Muʿāwiyah not, therefore, have the right to pursue that blood until he can pursue it no longer?” “He does,” Abū Mūsā agreed. “Then,” ʿAmr concluded, “we shall produce evidence that ʿAlī killed him.”

Abū Mūsā said, “We have gathered for Allah’s sake alone; come to what will set the ummah’s affairs aright.” “And what is that?” ʿAmr asked. He replied, “You know that the people of Iraq will never accept Muʿāwiyah, and the people of Syria will never accept ʿAlī. So let us depose them both and install Ibn ʿUmar”—and Ibn ʿUmar was married to Abū Mūsā’s daughter. ʿAmr asked, “Would ʿAbd Allāh do that?” “Yes, if the people press him to it,” Abū Mūsā answered. ʿAmr approved and said, “How about Saʿd?”—he listed several men, but Abū Mūsā would accept none but Ibn ʿUmar.

He then said, “Rise, that we may depose our two leaders together and name the one you would appoint.” Abū Mūsā rose, delivered a sermon, and said:

“We have examined our situation and found that the closest means to averting bloodshed and mending our fractured ranks is to depose Muʿāwiyah and ʿAlī alike. I depose them both just as I remove this turban of mine, and we appoint a man who personally accompanied the Messenger of Allah—peace and blessings be upon him—and possesses precedence: ʿAbd Allāh ibn ʿUmar.” He extolled Ibn ʿUmar and urged the people to follow him.

Then ʿAmr rose and said, “People, Abū Mūsā has deposed ʿAlī—he knows best—and I depose him along with him, while I confirm Muʿāwiyah over myself and over you. Moreover, Abū Mūsā has written in this document that ʿUthmān was killed unjustly and that his heir has the right to demand his blood.” Abū Mūsā rose and said, “ʿAmr is lying: we did not appoint Muʿāwiyah; rather, we deposed Muʿāwiyah and ʿAlī both.”

Al-Masʿūdī adds: “I found in one report that the two agreed and deposed ʿAlī…”