(1). Ibn Maythman writes (in Sharh Nahj al-balaghah vol.4 p.338) that when on hearing about the mischief-mongering of Talhah and az-Zubayr Amir al-mu'minin set off for Basrah he sent this letter to the people of Kufah through Imam al-Hasan and `Ammir ibn Yasir from al-Ma' al-`Adhb while Ibn Abi'l-Hadid has written (in Sharh Nahj al-balaghah vol.14 pp.8 16; at-Tabari vol.1 p.3139; and Ibn al-Athir vol.3 p.223) that when Amir al-mu `minin camped at ar-Rabadhah he sent this letter through Muhammad ibn Ja'far ibn Abi Tilib and Muhammad ibn Abi Bakr. In this

[ 1 ] من كتاب له عليه السلام

إلى أهل الكوفة، عند مسيره من المدينة إلى البصرة

مِنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ عَلِيٍّ أَمِيرِالْمُؤْمِنِينَ إلَى أَهْلِ الْكُوفَةِ، جَبْهَةِ (1) الْأَنْصَارِ وَسَنَامِ (2) الْعَرَبِ. أَمَّا بَعْدُ، فَإِنِّي أُخْبِرُكُمْ عَنْ أَمْرِ عُثْمانَ حَتَّى يَكُونَ سَمْعُهُ كَعِيَانِهِ (3) : إِنَّ النَّاسَ طَعَنُوا عَلَيْهِ، فَكُنْتُ رَجُلاً مِنَ الْمُهَاجِرِينَ أُكْثِرُ اسْتِعْتَابَه (4) ، وَأُقِلُّ عِتَابَهُ، وَكَانَ طَلْحَةُ وَالزُّبَيْرُ أَهْوَنُ سَيْرِهِمَا فِيهِ الْوَجيِفُ (5) ، وَأَرْفَقُ حِدَائِهِمَا (6) الْعَنِيفُ، وَكَانَ مِنْ عَائِشَةَ فِيهِ فَلْتَةُ غَضَبٍ، فَأُتِيحَ لَهُ قَوْمٌ فَقَتَلُوهُ، وَبَايَعَنِي النَّاسُ غَيْرَ مُسْتَكْرَهِينَ وَلاَ مُجْبَرِينَ، بَلْ طَائِعِينَ مُخَيَّرِينَ. وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّ دَارَ الْهِجْرَةِ (7) قَدْ قَلَعَتْ بِأَهْلِهَا وَقَلَعُوا بِهَا (8) ، وَجَاشَتْ جَيْشَ (9) الْمِرْجَلِ (10) ، وَقَامَتِ الْفِتْنَةُ عَلَى الْقُطْبِ، فَأَسْرِعُوا إِلَى أَمِيرِكُمْ، وَبَادِرُوا جَهَادَ عَدُوِّكُمْ، إِنْ شَاءَ اللهُ عَزِّوَجَلَّ.

letter Amir al-mu 'minin has clearly thrown light on the point that the assassination of `Uthman was the result of the efforts of `A'ishah Talhah and az-Zubayr and that it was they who took a prominent part in it. In fact `A'ishah went beyond her bounds and exposed his shortcomings in public meetings and ordered that he should be killed. Thus ash-Shaykh Muhammad `Abdub has written: 

Once `Uthman was on the pulpit when Umm al-mu `minin `A'ishah took out the shoes and the shirt of the Prophet (may Allah bless him and his descendants) from under her veil and said: "These are the shoes of the Messenger of Allah and his shirt not yet decayed while you have altered his religion and changed his sunnah." Upon this hot words followed between them when she said "Kill this Na'thal " symbolising him as a long bearded Jew (of that name). (Nahj al-bala- ghah printed in Egypt vol.2 p.3; also see Ansab al-ashraf vol.5 p.88; Abu'l-Fida' vol.1 p.172). 

People were already displeased with `Uthman so this event increased their boldness and they surrounded him so that he might mend his ways or abdicate from the caliphate. In these circumstances there was serious apprehension that if he did not accept either of the two alternatives he would be killed. All this was observed by `A'ishah but she paid no heed to it and leaving him in the siege decided to leave for Mecca although on this occasion Marwan ibn al-Hakam and `Attab ibn Asid did say to her "If you postpone your departure it is possible his life may be saved and this crowd may disperse" whereupon she said that she had decided to go for hajj (pilgrimage) and that that could not be changed. Then Marwan recited this couplet by way of a proverb:

Qays set fire to my cities and when they came into flames he slipped away saving himself clear of it. 

Similarly Talhah and az-Zubayr were (also) in rage against him and they were ever forward in fanning this fire and intensifying the opposition. From this angle they were to a great extent taking part in his assassination and responsible for his blood. Other people also knew them in this perspective and regarded them as his murderers while their supporters too were not able to offer any explanation (for absolving them). Thus Ibn Qutaybah writes that when al-Mughirah ibn Shu'bah met `A'ishah at Awtas he asked her: 

"O' Umm al-mu'minin where are you bound for." She replied "I am going to Basrah." He inquired for what purpose and she replied "To avenge `Uthman's blood." He said "But his assassins are with you." Then he turned to Marwan and enquired where he was going. He replied that he too was going to Basrah. He enquired the purpose and the reply was "to avenge `Uthman's blood." Then he said " `Uthman's assassins are with you. These Talhah and az-Zubayr have killed him." (al-Imamah was `siyasah vol.1 p.60) 

In any case when after laying the blame on Amir al-mu'minin this group who had killed `Uthman reached Basrah Amir al-mu'minin also rose to quell this mischief and wrote this letter to the people of Kufah to seek their support. Upon this their combatants and warriors rose in large numbers and enlisted in his army. They faced the enemy with full courage which Amir al-mu'minin also acknowledged. Thus the letter hereafter is in acknowledgement of this very fact.