affair that he might find a way in his speech to accuse him of the murder of Uthman, and that he might use that as means to make the people desert the Imam. He said to him: “O Abul Yaqdhan, have you wronged the Commander of the Faithful (Uthman) as those who wronged him, and placed yourself among the sinners?”
“I did not do,” replied Ammar, “why have you accused me of evil?”
Al-Hasan knew Abu Musa’s purpose, so he interrupted the argument, saying to him: “O Abu Musa, why have you discouraged the people?”
Imam al-Hasan talked with him with kindness and leniency, that he might uproot the spirit of wickedness and obstinacy from his soul, saying: “O Abu Musa, by Allah, we have wanted nothing except righteousness, and none fears the Commander of the Faithful (Imam Ali) for a thing.”
Abu Musa became astonished. He could not stand his obstinacy and tyranny, so he said to the Imam:
-You are right, may my father and mother die for you! However, the adviser is trustworthy.
-Yes.
-I have heard Allah’s Apostle saying: “There will be a sedition. The one who sits down during it is better than the one who stands up. The one who stands up is better than the one who walks. The one who walks is better than the one who rides.” Allah, the Great and Almighty, has made us brothers and made it unlawful for us to plunder our properties and shed our blood. He has said: “O you who believe, do not devour your property among yourselves falsely, except that it be trading by your mutual consent; and do not kill your people. Surely Allah is merciful to you.[1] ” And He, the Great and Almighty, has said: “And whoever kills a believer intentionally, his punishment is hell.”[2]
As for Ammar, he confronted him, refuted his false sayings and deception, saying:
-Have you heard that from Allah’s Apostle?
-Yes, and these are my hands (ready to be cut off) for what I said.
Ammar turned to the people and said to them:
-Most surely, Allah’s Apostle meant Abu Musa with that. For when he sits down is better than when he rises.
------------------------------------------------------------- [1] Qur’an, 4, 29.
[2] Ibid., 4, 93.