Hadith 18

yrdom, if you wish I-asws can mention his name like the ones who wanted the martyrdom with the Prophet-saww at other times, except their terms had been hastened and his death has been delayed. By Allah-azwj! For me-asws is the favour to them and the conferment upon them with what righteous deeds they had done in the past. But, neither has anyone heard of it nor seen it, he is advising for Allah-azwj in the obedience of His-azwj Rasool-saww, nor had he been obedience to His-azwj Prophet in obedience to his Lord-azwj, nor been patient upon the flags, and the harm, and where there was misery and the disliked places with the Prophet-saww, (other) than those persons which I-asws mentioned to you, and among the Emigrants there are a lot of good ones you know of, may Allah-azwj Recompense them goodly for their good deeds. And you mentioned my-asws envying the caliphs and my-asws staying back from them, and my-asws rebelling against them. As for the rebelling against them, Allah-azwj Forbid that it should happen; and as for the staying back from them and the disliking of their orders, I-asws am not going to present excuses to the people for that. When Allah-azwj the Exalted Caused His-azwj Prophet-saww to pass away, Quraysh said, ‘The ruler would be from us’, and the Helpers said, ‘The ruler would be from us’. Quraysh said, ‘Muhammad-saww is from us, so we-asws are more rightful with the command’. The Helpers recognised that and submitted the governance to them and the authority. So, when they are rightful of it due to Muhammad-saww, besides the Helpers, then I-asws am foremost of the people with Muhammad-saww, more rightful with it than them, or else the Helpers are of the greatest share in it. I-asws don’t know whether it was my-asws companions who happened to have taken my-asws rights, or the Helpers had been unjust, but I-asws do know that my-asws right, it has been taken, and I-asws had left it for them, May Allah-azwj Overlook from them (the Muslims involved). And as for what you mention of the matter of Usman and my-asws cutting off his relationship, my-asws rallying against him, surely Usman did what has reached you. So, the people did with him what you saw, and you know that I-asws had isolated myself-asws from it, except if you consider me-asws insane, so if you want to accuse me-asws falsely, then accuse me-asws of whatever comes to you. And as for what you mentioned from the matter of killers of Usman, so I-asws looked into this matter and struck its nose and its eyes (looked at all options), but I-asws could not see handing them over to you, nor to someone else. And by my-asws life! If you do not remove yourself from the error and your wretchedness, you would recognise them after a little while, they will be seeking you not protecting you, if you were to seek them in the land, nor sea, nor coast, nor mountain. And your father had come to me, when the people had placed Abu Bakr in charge, and he said, ‘You-asws are more rightful with the position of Muhammad and are foremost of the people with this command, and I shall be a leader for you