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the face of this
danger, in view of the difficulties with which he was
involved and the dangers, which threatened him from
within? He chose the simplest way Out of this difficulty
by sending an envoy as representative of the caliph
of the Muslims to the emperor of Rome offering one hundred
thousand dinars of gold as a tribute to persuade him
to recall his army from the frontiers of Islamic lands.(196)
What a shame and disgrace!
A similar policy of caution and mildness formed the
basis of Mu'awiyah's method of dealing with internal
affairs, by which means he intended to reinforce the
pillars of his newly-established government.(197)
As for the story of 'Uthman's innocence, which had shaped
the cover of his early activities, it was sent down
to oblivion after his assumption of power, as if no
such matter had ever existed in his life. Ibn 'Abd Rabbih,
the great Andalusian scholar, writes: After his assumption
of rule, Mu'awiyah came to Medina, and visited 'Uthman's
house. 'Uthman's daughter, named 'A'ishah, on seeing
Mu'awiyah and remembering her father's assassination
began to weep and cried out: Alas for 'Uthman!', hoping
that in this way she might remind Mu'awiyah of his claim
of avenging her father's blood.
,But against all the emotion and fervor, Mu'awiyah remained
cool and said: "O daughter of my brother! The people
have entrusted us with the rein of affairs, and we have
given them asylum. On the one hand we have concealed
our rage under a cover of fortitude, and on the other
hand they have hidden their rancor under a veil of abjectness.
Each person has a sword with him and knows many friends
and supporters. If we break our promise and change our
conduct, they, too, will face us in a different manner.
In such a case we would not know what our fate would
be, and whether the riot and disobedience of the people
would end in our favour, or in our loss. I think if
our rule remains established and you are treated as
the caliph's cousin, it would he better than our losing
the government, in which case you would be regarded
as an ordinary woman."(198)
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