It is narrated from Hazrat Ahnaf bin Qais that we reached Madinah with the intention of performing Hajj. After reaching our destination, we unloaded our luggage when suddenly someone came and said that people are gathered in the mosque in a state of distress. So I went to the mosque and saw people gathered there. Hazrat Ali, Zubair, Talha, and Sa’d bin Abi Waqqas were also present. I stood there as Hazrat Uthman also arrived. Someone said,“This is Uthman,”and he had a yellow cloth covering his head. He asked,“Is this Ali (may Allah be pleased with him)?”The people replied,“Yes.”Then he asked,“Is this Zubair?”The people replied,“Yes.”Then he asked,“Is this Talha?”The people replied,“Yes.”Then he asked,“Is this Sa’d?”The people replied,“Yes.”Then he said,“I ask you by Allah, besides whom there is no deity, do you know that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: ‘Whoever buys the enclosure of such-and-such tribe, Allah will forgive him?’ So I bought it for twenty or twenty-five thousand dirhams and presented myself before the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and said, ‘I have bought it.’ The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, ‘Make it a mosque and you will have the reward.’ The people said, ‘It is exactly so.’ Then Hazrat Uthman said, ‘I ask you by Allah, do you know that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: ‘Whoever buys the well of Rumah, Allah will forgive him?’ Then I bought it and presented myself before the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and said, ‘I have bought the well.’ The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, ‘Dedicate it for the Muslims and Allah will reward you.’ The people said, ‘It is exactly so.’ Then Hazrat Uthman said to the people, ‘I ask you by Allah, do you know when the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, while looking at some faces, ‘Whoever provides equipment for these people (in the Battle of Tabuk), Allah will forgive him?’ So I provided them with equipment, even the bridles and ropes for tying camels?’ The people said, ‘It is exactly so.’ Hazrat Uthman said three times, ‘O Allah, bear witness.’ Ahnaf says, ‘I left and went to Hazrat Talha and Hazrat Zubair and asked them, ‘Now what do you command me to do? And whom do you prefer for me (for allegiance)? Because I see Hazrat Uthman being martyred.’ Both replied, ‘We command you to pledge allegiance to Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him).’ I asked again, ‘You are commanding me regarding Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) and you are pleased with him for me?’ Both replied, ‘Yes.’ Then I set out for Hajj to Makkah, and during this time the news of Hazrat Uthman’s martyrdom reached me. In Makkah, Hazrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) was also staying. I met her and asked, ‘Now whom should I pledge allegiance to?’ She also mentioned Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him). I asked, ‘Are you commanding me to pledge allegiance to Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) and are you pleased with him for me?’ She replied in the affirmative. On my return, I pledged allegiance to Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) in Madinah. Then I returned to Basra. Then I saw the matter becoming firm. Meanwhile, someone came to me and said, ‘Hazrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her), Hazrat Talha, and Hazrat Zubair are staying at the place of Khuraibah.’ I asked, ‘Why have they come?’ He replied, ‘They seek your help in avenging the blood of Hazrat Uthman, who was unjustly martyred.’ Ahnaf said, ‘Never has a matter more distressing come upon me than this. It is very difficult for me to separate from them (Talha and Zubair) while the Mother of the Believers and the Companions of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) are with them. And on the other hand, fighting against the cousin of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) is not a small matter, especially when they themselves (Talha, Zubair, and the Mother of the Believers) have commanded allegiance to him.’ When I presented myself before them, they said, ‘We have come to seek help in avenging the blood of Hazrat Uthman, who was unjustly killed.’ Ahnaf says, ‘I said, O Mother of the Believers! I ask you by Allah, did I not ask you whom you command me to pledge allegiance to? You said, Ali (may Allah be pleased with him). I asked again, do you command me regarding Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) and are you pleased with him for me? You said, yes.’ Hazrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) replied, ‘It is exactly so, but now Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) has changed.’ Then I said the same thing addressing Hazrat Talha and Hazrat Zubair, and they...