Minhaj as-Sunnah - Ibn Taimiya - (6/155)

Minhaj as-SunnahIbn Taimiya

al-Sāmit and others like him; among them were men such as Abū Ayyūb al-Ansārī and others like him.

If any one of these men—or anyone else besides them(1)—had a truth to voice, there was no excuse that would have relieved him(2) of the duty to do so. Indeed, some among them spoke during the lifetime of the Messenger of Allah—peace and blessings be upon him—about a man who had been appointed(3), even though he deserved the office, and no harm befell them. Talha and others spoke concerning Umar’s appointment when Abū Bakr named him as his successor. Usayd ibn Hudayr also spoke concerning the appointment of Usāma [ibn Zayd](4) during the lifetime of the Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him. They would speak to Umar regarding those whom he appointed [and dismissed. After Uthmān assumed office, his power became firmly established, his supporters became numerous, and Banū Umayya rose to prominence; yet they would speak to him regarding those whom he appointed](5), as well as those to whom he made grants, whether from among them or from others.

In the end(6), when they complained about one of them, he dismissed him; and when they complained about someone taking some of the wealth, he prevented him from doing so. Thus, he acceded to their demands for dismissal and the withholding of money. Those petitioning him were leading men among the people, while he(7) was at the height(8) of his authority. How, then, could he have failed to heed the Companions—the foremost and most senior among them—given their prestige and power(9), had they spoken concerning Uthmān’s accession?!

They had spoken to al-Siddīq concerning Umar’s appointment, saying:

“What will you say to your Lord, when you have appointed over us a harsh and stern man?”

He replied:

“Are you trying to frighten me by invoking Allah? I will say: ‘I appointed over them the best of Your servants.’”

Thus, they showed no partiality to al-Siddīq regarding his designation of Umar, despite Umar’s severity.

(1) (B) reads: “and from others besides them.” (2) (H) reads: “would remove [it].” (3) (N) and (M) read: “assumed office.” (4) “Ibn Zayd” is an addition in (H) and (B). (5) The passage in square brackets is omitted from (N) and (M). (6) (N), (M), and (Y) read: “And at the end of the matter.” (7) (H), (R), and (Y) read: “while they.” (8) (N) and (M) read: “jealousy.” This is a textual corruption. (9) (N) and (M) read: “along with others besides them and their statement.” This is a textual corruption.

الصَّامِتِ وَأَمْثَالِهِ، وَفِيهِمْ مِثْلُ أَبِي أَيُّوبَ الْأَنْصَارِيِّ وَأَمْثَالِهِ. وَكُلٌّ مِنْ هَؤُلَاءِ وَغَيْرِهِمْ (١) لَوْ تَكَلَّمَ بِالْحَقِّ لَمْ يَكُنْ هُنَاكَ عُذْرٌ يُسْقِطُهُ (٢) عَنْهُ، فَقَدْ كَانَ يَتَكَلَّمُ مَنْ يَتَكَلَّمُ مِنْهُمْ عَلَى عَهْدِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ - صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ - فِي وِلَايَةِ مَنْ يُوَلَّى (٣) وَهُوَ مُسْتَحِقٌّ لِلْوِلَايَةِ، وَلَا يَحْصُلُ لَهُمْ ضَرَرٌ. وَتَكَلَّمَ طَلْحَةُ وَغَيْرُهُ فِي وِلَايَةِ عُمَرَ لَمَّا اسْتَخْلَفَهُ أَبُو بَكْرٍ، وَتَكَلَّمَ أُسَيْدُ بْنُ حُضَيْرٍ فِي وِلَايَةِ أُسَامَةَ [بْنِ زَيْدٍ] (٤) عَلَى عَهْدِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، وَقَدْ كَانُوا يُكَلِّمُونَ عُمَرَ فِيمَنْ يُوَلِّيهِ [وَيَعْزِلُهُ. وَعُثْمَانُ، بَعْدَ وِلَايَتِهِ وَقُوَّةِ شَوْكَتِهِ وَكَثْرَةِ أَنْصَارِهِ وَظُهُورِ بَنِي أُمَيَّةَ، كَانُوا يُكَلِّمُونَهُ فِيمَنْ يُوَلِّيهِ] (٥) وَيُعْطِيهِ مِنْهُمْ وَمِنْ غَيْرِهِمْ. ثُمَّ فِي آخِرِ الْأَمْرِ (٦) لَمَّا اشْتَكَوْا مِنْ بَعْضِهِمْ عَزَلَهُ، وَلَمَّا اشْتَكَوْا مِنْ بَعْضِ مَنْ يَأْخُذُ بَعْضَ الْمَالِ مَنَعَهُ. فَأَجَابَهُمْ إِلَى مَا طَلَبُوهُ مِنْ عَزْلٍ وَمَنْعٍ مِنَ الْمَالِ، وَهُمْ أَطْرَافٌ مِنَ النَّاسِ، وَهُوَ (٧) فِي عِزَّةِ (٨) وِلَايَتِهِ. فَكَيْفَ لَا يَسْمَعُ كَلَامَ الصَّحَابَةِ - أَئِمَّتِهِمْ وَكُبَرَائِهِمْ - مَعَ عِزِّهِمْ وَقُوَّتِهِمْ (٩) لَوْ تَكَلَّمُوا فِي وِلَايَةِ عُثْمَانَ؟ ! وَقَدْ تَكَلَّمُوا مَعَ الصِّدِّيقِ فِي وِلَايَةِ عُمَرَ، وَقَالُوا: مَاذَا تَقُولُ لِرَبِّكَ وَقَدْ وَلَّيْتَ عَلَيْنَا فَظًّا غَلِيظًا؟ فَقَالَ: أَبِاللَّهِ تُخَوِّفُونِي؟ أَقُولُ: وَلَّيْتُ عَلَيْهِمْ خَيْرَ أَهْلِكَ. فَلَمْ يُحَابُوا الصِّدِّيقَ فِي عَهْدِهِ لِعُمَرَ مَعَ شِدَّتِهِ.

(١) ب: وَمِنْ غَيْرِهِمْ. (٢) ح: يُسْقِطُ. (٣) ن، م: تَوَلَّى. (٤) بْنِ زَيْدٍ: زِيَادَةٌ فِي (ح) ، (ب) . (٥) مَا بَيْنَ الْمَعْقُوفَتَيْنِ سَاقِطٌ مِنْ (ن) ، (م) . (٦) ن، م، ي: وَفِي آخِرِ الْأَمْرِ. (٧) ح، ر، ي: وَهُمْ. (٨) ن، م: غَيْرَةِ، وَهُوَ تَحْرِيفٌ. (٩) ن، م: مَعَ غَيْرِهِمْ وَقَوْلِهِمْ، وَهُوَ تَحْرِيفٌ.