‘Abdu’llah ibn Sa‘ad

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‘Abdu’llāh ibn Sa‘ad ibn Abī as-Sarḥ (Arabic: عبدالله بن سعد بن أبي السرح‎ ​) was the foster brother of Uthman and his father, Saad bin Abi Sarh, was one of the munafiqeen in Medina.

[edit] During the Lifetime of the Prophet Muhammad

Abdullah began as a secretary of the Prophet Muhammad. When the latter dictated to him verses of Qur'an, he attempted to distort them, for which he was caught and banished from Medina. He repudiated Islam and went to Mecca, spreading stories that Muhammad composed the Qur'an himself.

Following the conquest of Mecca in 629 the Prophet ordered that Abdullah should be executed but Uthman protected him. When conditions calmed, he was presented to the Prophet seeking pardon and offering the oath of loyalty. However, the Prophet withheld his hand, and maintained silence. Uthman begged him to pardon Abdullah and eventually he was, but once Uthman and Abdullah were gone the Prophet turned to those around him, and said I was silent for such a long time hoping that one of you would kill him.

[edit] The Caliphate of Uthman

When Uthman became caliph in 644 he appointed Abdullah governor of Egypt ushering an era of tyranny and exploitation. Although he is credited with some beneficial actions, including leading an expedition that captured Tripoli in 647, the Egyptians protested against the new governor, including his aide Muhammad ibn Hudhaifa.

Muhammad's father Hudhaifa was an early to Islam who died in the battle of Yarmok. Muhammad was entrusted to the care of Uthman, with whom he was raised. When he reached maturity he participated in the foreign military campaigns and accompanied Abdullah bin Saad to Egypt as an aide.

Muhammad bin Hudhaifa admonished Abdullah, urging him to reform the government but Abdullah did not respond. After continuous efforts, eventually Muhammad lost hope and turned from sympathetic admonisher to a disillusioned opponent – first of Abdullah bin Saad and later of Uthman for appointing him. Abdullah wrote to Uthman claiming that Muhammed was spreading sedition, and that if nothing was done to stop him, the situation would escalate. Uthman attempted to silence Muhammad's protests with 30,000 dirhems and expensive presents. This bribe backfired, with Muhammad bringing the money and presents into the Great Mosque and saying:

Do you see what Uthman is trying to do? He is trying to buy my Faith. He has sent these coins and these goods to me as a bribe.

Uthman sent numerous placatory letters to Muhammad, but he continued building the agitation against Abdullah bin Saad. In 656 the leaders of Egypt decided to send a delegation to Medina to demanding Abdullah's dismisal. Abdullah also left for Medina to defend himself at the court of the caliph. In his absence, Muhammad ibn Hudhaifa assumed charge of the government.

When Abdullah reached Elath, he was told that Uthman's palace was under siege and decided to return to Egypt. At the border he was informed that Muhammad ibn Hudhaifa had given orders to prevent him from entering Egypt. He then went to Palestine awaiting the outcome of events in Medina. In the meantime, Uthman was killed in Medina, and when Abdullah heard the news, he left Palestine, and went to Damascus to live under the protection of Muawiya.

[edit] Sources

Tarikh Kamil, Vol. 3 by Kamil ibn Atheer Ansab-ul-Ashraf, by Baladhuri