When O’thman had, in A.H. 34,* called Sa’d B. Abu Woqqâss to Madinah for a purpose which will be mentioned further on, and all the notables of Kûfah had by command dispersed to other provinces, so that none but turbulent and rebellious persons were left in the town, which contained no longer any man of respectability, a desire of breaking the allegiance to O’thmân having taken possession of the mind of Zaid B. Qays, he collected a number of vagabonds in the mosque of Kûfah and proposed to them the removal of the Khalifah. Those persons feeling aggrieved by the recall of Wolyd and the appointment of Sa’d, hated O’thmân, and considered the present opportunity an excellent one. Having heard of this proceeding, A’mru B. Haryss, who had been appointed lieutenant of Sa’d [during his absence], entered the mosque, ascended the pulpit, and warned the rebels. When also Qa’qa’ B. A’mru had obtained information that Zaid was engaged in exciting a rebellion, he entered the mosque with his followers, and asked angrily: ‘What assemblage is this, and what is the reason for it?’ Zaid uttered some incoherent words and continued: ‘We have assembled to complain of Sa’d.’ Qa’qa’ said: ‘If you have a grievance against him you must go to Madinah, and represent it to the Khalifah, that he may appoint another man to govern you. Why do you raise all this tumult and disturbance in the mosque to complain about Sa’d?’ Having expelled the rebels by threats from the mosque, he also dispersed them. When Zaid B. Qays perceived what had taken place, he consulted his brother Thâbet, and they arrived at the conclusion to invite Mâlek Ashtar, who was an officer of influence, hoping to attain their object by his aid. They sent to him swift couriers, and he arrived in a short time at Kûfah, and having met the inhabitants, said to them: ‘Although I have come from Hamss, I heard that Sa’d had represented you in a very bad light to O’thmân, and had said that the people of Kûfah ought to be forced to emigrate from their town.’ The inhabitants were deceived by this allegation of Mâlek, and paid him homage on condition of not admitting Sa’d into the place in case he should return. On this occasion Mâlek heard that Sa’d had already arrived in the neighbourhood of Kûfah; therefore he ordered it to be proclaimed in the markets that everyone desirous to support Mâlek and to repel Sa’d ought to come out from his house. Then numbers of the low and of the high classes having gone out, met Sa’d on the road arriving with ten servants. When Sa’d perceived the forces of the inhabitants of Kûfah, he became frightened, and they said to him: ‘Return immediately, because we do not want thee to be governor.’ Sa’d replied: ‘There was no necessity for all this disturbance and confusion; you ought to have sent a courier to Madinah with the information that another man be appointed to this post.’ When Sa’d was about to depart, Mâlek said to him: ‘Tell O’thmân that if he desires the people of Kûfah to remain loyal to him, he must send Abu Mûsa Asha’ry to govern them.’ Having returned to Madinah, Sa’d represented the state of affairs to O’thmân, who complied with the wish of the people of Kûfah, and sent Abu Mûsa Asha’ry to govern them, who, when he arrived in the town, was received with demonstrations of honour and respect, and he having loaded their ears with pearls of salutary advice, the dust of rebellion and confusion was laid for some days.