AN INTRIGUE, AND THE REJECTION OF HOMAGE TO ABU
MÛSA ASHA’RY BY MANY.

Ebn Alaswad, who is in Persian histories called A’bdul­lah Sabâ, was a Jewish priest of Ssana´a, who, imagining that O’thmân would respect and honour him, went to Madinah, made a profession of the Faith, and was enrolled among the adherents of Islâm. Having, however, found that the beauty [i.e., favour] he coveted had remained within the curtain of retirement, he began to associate with some companions who harboured ill-will in their hearts towards O’thmân, and entering into friendly rela­tions with them, he spoke evil of O’thmân like themselves, and, blaming him, opened the gate of rebellion and dis­turbance. When O’thmân learnt what was taking place, he said, ‘Who is this Jew, after all, that I should bear all this from him?’ and at last ordered his expulsion from Madinah. As A’bdullah knew that there were many oppo­nents of O’thmân in Egypt, he went to that country, and succeeded in beguiling many persons by his piety and science. After having gained the attention of these people, he informed them that the Christians were saying: ‘Jesus having returned, will descend from heaven to earth,’ whereas it is well known to everybody that the seal of the prophets —u. w. bl.—is superior to Jesus—u. w. bl.—therefore he is more likely to return first; the more so because God the Most High and Glorious has also spoken to this effect, thus: ‘Verily He who hath given thee the Qurân for a rule [of faith and practice] will certainly bring thee back home’ [unto Mekkah].* When the silly Egyptians had believed these words of A’bdullah, he said to them: ‘Every prophet had a Khalifah [i.e., successor] and legatee, and the Khalifah of the apostle is A’li, who is decorated with the ornaments of asceticism, piety, knowledge and understand­ing, being also endowed with liberality, bravery and uprightness. The people have, nevertheless, disregarded the wish of Muhammad—u. w. bl.—and have done injustice to A’li. They have thrown to the wind his Khalifate and his right. It is now indispensably necessary and incumbent upon the denizens of this world to aid him, as well as a duty to approve of all he says or does, and to obey his behests implicitly. Many Egyptians, having believed the words of Ebn Alaswad, stepped out from the circle of obedience and loyalty to O’thmân, so that both in Egypt and in Kûfah the affairs of the opponents were in the ascendant. Thereon O’thmân despatched A’mmâr B. Yâser to Egypt and Muhammad B. Moslamah to Kûfah, to ascer­tain whether only the silly people had been beguiled, or whether also intelligent persons were seconding them in their disloyalty. When A’mmâr arrived in Egypt he com­mingled with those people, and sent no news whatever, but Muhammad B. Moslamah sent the information that the intelligent were mixed up with the fools, and had together excited this rebellion. This information increased the fear of O’thmân.