William Muir

“ Receiving a good account of his breeding and prowess, 'Omar summoned him to his court, and gave him two Arab maidens to wife.1 This youth, now promoted to the most critical post in the empire, was not only without experience in the art of governing, but, vainly inflated with the pretensions of Koreish, made no account of the powerful Bedawi faction. Accustomed in Syria to the strong discipline of Mu'awiya, he wrote to 'Othman, on reaching Al-Kufa, that licence reigned in the city, that noble birth passed for nothing, and that the Bedawin were altogether out of hand. ”

“ On this, Mu'awiya, convinced of his sincerity, and apprehensive of the spread of his socialistic doctrines, despatched the preacher to Medina telling 'Othman that he was an honest but misguided enthusiast. Before the Caliph, Abu Dharr persisted in fearlessly denouncing the great and wealthy, and urged that they should be forced to disgorge their riches. 'Othman condescended to reason with him. "When once men have fulfilled their obligations," he asked, "what power remaineth with me to compel any further sacrifice?" ”

“ Nor was it otherwise with the people at large. A factious spirit set in against the unfortunate monarch. The leaven fermented all around; and every man who had a grievance, real or supposed, hastened to swell the hostile cry.
Loss of the Prophet's signet-ring, 29 A.H. 650 A.D.
To crown the Caliph's ill-fortune, in the 7th year, he lost the signet-ring of silver which, engraved for the Prophet, had been worn and used officially both by him and his successors. It was a favourite and meritorious occupation of 'Othman to deepen the old wells, and to sink new ones, in the neighbourhood of Medina. ”

“ But in the end, the unruly populace was too strong for him. A murder took place, and sentence of death was executed at the City gate against the culprits. Their relatives resented the act of justice, and watched for ground of accusation against the Governor, whose habits gave them ready opportunity. ”