As for detachment from worldly power and wealth, and scrupulousness in these matters, there is no doubt that Uthmān ruled for twelve years. Then those who rebelled against him sought to kill him and besieged him while he was the caliph on earth and all Muslims were his subjects. Despite this, he neither killed a Muslim nor defended himself by fighting; rather, he patiently endured until he was killed.

In financial matters, however, he gave his relatives grants that he did not give others, and exercised a degree of latitude in his use of funds. Yet he—may Allah be pleased with him—did so only on the basis of a legal interpretation (1), exercising independent judgment with which a group (2) of jurists agreed. Some maintain that the one-fifth share and the fay’ revenues that Allah assigned to the Prophet belong to whoever assumes authority after him; this is the view of Abū Thawr and others. Some maintain that the relatives mentioned in the Quran are the ruler’s relatives. Others maintain that a ruler who administers charitable funds may receive a share of them even if he is wealthy. These were the grounds (3) on which Uthmān—may Allah be pleased with him—relied, as reported from him. Thus, his conduct rested on an interpretation upheld by a group of scholars.

Alī—may Allah be pleased with him—did not single out any of his relatives for grants. However, he initiated fighting against those who had not initiated fighting (4), until many thousands of Muslims were killed in the fighting between them. Nevertheless, his actions rested on an interpretation with which a group of scholars agreed. They maintained that these people were rebels and that Allah Most High had commanded fighting rebels in His words:

“Then fight the group that transgresses.”

[Surah al-Hujurāt: 9]