SERMON 135
There was
some exchange of words between `Uthman ibn `Affan and Amir al-mu'minin
when al-Mughirah ibn al-Akhnas (1)
said to `Uthman that he would deal with Amir al-mu'minin on his behalf
whereupon Amir al-mu'minin said to al-Mughirah:
O' son of the accursed and
issueless, and of a tree which has neither root nor branch. Will you deal
with me? By Allah, Allah will not grant victory to him whom you support,
nor will he be able to stand up whom you raise.
Get away from us. Allah may
keep you away from your purpose. Then do whatever you like. Allah may not
have mercy on you if you have pity on me.
(1).
al-Mughirah ibn al-Akhnas ath-Thaqafi was among the wellwishers of `Uthman
ibn `Affan and the son of his paternal aunt. His brother Abu'l Hakam ibn
al-Akhnas was killed at the hands of Amir al-mu'minin in the battle of
Uhud, because of which he bore malice against Amir al-mu'minin. His father
was one of those people who accepted Islam at the time of the fall of
Mecca but retained heresy and hypocrisy in heart.
That is why Amir al-mu'minin
called him accursed, and he called him issueless because he who has a son
like al-Mughirah deserves to be called issueless.
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