2549 – Muḥammad ibn Aḥmad ibn Sahl reported: Muḥammad ibn Aḥmad ibn al-Ḥasan al-Sharqī related to us; he said: Muḥammad ibn Naṣr al-Ṣāʾigh narrated to us; he said: Abū Muṣʿab Aḥmad ibn Abī Bakr al-Zuhrī narrated to us; he said: ʿImrān ibn ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz ibn ʿUmar ibn ʿAbd al-Raḥmān narrated to us, from ʿUmar ibn Shurayḥ and Muḥammad ibn ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz ibn ʿUmayr ibn ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn ʿAwf, from Ibn Shihāb, from ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn al-Miswar, from al-Miswar ibn Makhramah who said:

“I was the best-informed person about the consultative council, for I acted as ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ⦗1421⦘ ibn ʿAwf’s messenger. When the third night came and ʿAbd al-Raḥmān was staying in the Dār al-Qaḍāʾ, the Helpers arrived from their homes and the mosque …—all waiting to see what would happen the next morning. Saʿd then spoke to him, saying, ‘Abū Muḥammad, no one has more right to this affair than you.’

He answered, ‘Saʿd, you like it to be said, “His cousin is the caliph,” and you, Miswar, like it to be said, “His maternal uncle is the caliph.” By Allah, for a knife to be taken’—he pointed to the hollow of his throat—‘and placed right here,’ and he ran his hand across his throat, ‘is dearer to me than that I should assume anything of the people’s business.’

Saʿd then went to his house and said, ‘Abū Isḥāq, attend the dawn prayer and strap on your sword.’

ʿAbd al-Raḥmān summoned me and said, ‘Go to ʿAlī and ʿUthmān and bring them to me.’ My inclination was toward ʿAlī, and I wanted to know what he thought, so I asked, ‘Which of the two should I start with?’ He said, ‘Whichever of them you wish.’ I asked, ‘Shall I bring them both together or one at a time?’ He said, ‘No, together.’

ʿAbdān said to ʿAlī: my heart was with him, so I said, ‘My uncle has sent me to you.’ He asked, ‘Has he sent you with me to someone else?’ I replied, ‘Yes, to ʿUthmān.’ He asked, ‘Which of us did he tell you to begin with?’ I said, ‘I asked him, and he said, “Whichever you wish,” and I began with you.’ He asked, ‘Together or separately?’ I said, ‘Together.’

So ʿAlī sat down where the biers are placed and said, ‘Go to your companion.’ I went out to ʿUthmān and found him performing his witr prayer in the house of Shaybah ibn Rabīʿah. ʿUthmān came out to me with his lower garment knotted around his neck near the end of the night. I said, ‘My uncle has sent me to you.’ He asked, ‘Has he sent you with me to someone else?’ I said, ‘Yes, to ʿAlī. I asked him which of you I should begin with and he said, “Whichever you wish.” I began with ʿAlī, and he is waiting for you at the bier area.’

So ʿUthmān and I went until we reached ʿAlī, and the three of us proceeded until we came to ʿAbd al-Raḥmān in his gathering.

ʿAbd al-Raḥmān was not given to public speaking; I had never seen him deliver a sermon before that night. He praised Allah and exalted Him, then said during his address, ‘I have canvassed the people concerning you two, so advise me and help me against yourselves. ⦗1422⦘ ʿAlī, will you pledge allegiance to me upon the sunnah of Allah and His Messenger, upon Allah’s covenant and pledge, and upon the way of those who preceded?’ He replied, ‘No, but I will pledge allegiance to you according to my capacity.’

He paused for a moment, then spoke again, more briefly than before, and said: ‘I have canvassed the people concerning you two, so advise me and help me against yourselves. ʿAlī, will you pledge allegiance to me—if I entrust this affair to you—upon the sunnah of Allah, the sunnah of His Messenger, Allah’s covenant and pledge, and the way of those who preceded?’ He replied, ‘No, but according to my capacity.’

Then ʿUthmān said, ‘Abū Muḥammad, I pledge allegiance to you—if you entrust me with this affair—upon the sunnah of Allah, the sunnah of His Messenger ﷺ, Allah’s covenant and pledge, and the way of those who preceded.’ ʿUthmān said this the third time.

On that third occasion ʿAlī said, ‘Listen, Abū ʿAbdullāh.’ He replied, ‘What do you think? Perhaps Allah will bring good from this.’ He (ʿAlī) said, ‘I would like the two of you to rise and leave me.’ He replied, ‘As you wish—or if you so wish.’ So they both rose and left him.

ʿAbd al-Raḥmān then wrapped his turban firmly and girded on his sword, went out to the mosque and ascended (the pulpit). I had no doubt that he would pledge allegiance to ʿAlī, given the eagerness I had seen in him for ʿAlī.

When the dawn prayer had been performed, ʿAbd al-Raḥmān mounted the pulpit, praised Allah and exalted Him, then sent for ʿUthmān, who was in a curtained area among the people, not near. He said, ‘Come forward.’ He then pledged allegiance to him upon the sunnah of Allah, the sunnah of His Messenger, and Allah’s covenant and pledge. At that moment I realized that my uncle’s judgement had been sounder: two men had confronted him, and one of them gave him the firmest guarantee, whereas the other refused.”