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an old man like Abu Dharr with his Islamic
belief and deeds posed a threat to him making
his backspin shiver with fear. At this time he
took refuge with his master, 'Uthman and wrote
to him: "If you have authority over ash-Sham
and its people, summon Abu Dharr since he fills
people's minds with rancor."(115)
According to al-Baladhuri 'Uthman wrote to Mu'awiyah
in answer: "Make Abu Dharr mount a rough
and uneasy ride and send him back to Medina."
Consequently they made him ride an unruly camel
and proceed non-stop to Medina. It was a long
and exhausting journey in a dry and sandy desert,
led by cruel and inhuman guards.(116)
al-Ya'qubi gives further details and says: 'Uthman
wrote to Mu'awiyah: "Put him on a saddleless
camel and send him to us." 'Uthman's strict
order was carried out about this man of God, and
as a result when he reached Medina he had lost
much of the flesh of his legs.(117)
al-Mas'udi says: They made him mount a camel,
which had only a dry niece of wood on its back,
and he was guarded by five coarse men of as-Saqalabah
(118) who forced him to move swiftly. This went
on until they reached Medina. His thighs were
badly sore and showed raw flesh. In short, during
those few days he had suffered so much that he
was almost on the point of death.(119)
But this brave and valiant man was not so weak
as to be vanquished by such treatments, nor had
he forgotten his duties towards the Qur'an and
the Prophet's household as to come to terms with
'Uthman. He was like a steadfast mountain that
could not be moved by any event. Consequently
the moment he reached Medina, he cried out vigorously
and rose once more to fight the 'Uthmanic paganism.
He said protestingly: "They appoint children
as administrators and arrange fiefs and feuds
for themselves. They raise and exalt the offsprings
of the men freed after the capture of Mecca and
bestow on them rank and dignity."
It was the reward and lot of this godly man to
be exiled to ar-Rabadhah, a very dry and waterless
desert in which Abu Dharr had stayed before Islam
and which he disliked immensely.
Thenceforth the rest of Abu Dharr's life was spent
in ar-
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