Page:William Muir, Thomas Hunter Weir - The Caliphate; Its Rise, Decline, and Fall (1915).djvu/243

 214 were not wanting many who, displeased with the Caliph's interference, joined in the cry of his detractors.

The enlargement of the grand square of the Kaʿba, commenced by ʿOmar, was carried on by ‘Othmān while he visited Mecca on pilgrimage. And here, too, the ill-fated Caliph met with opposition, The owners of the demolished houses refused to accept the compensation offered, and raised a great outcry. The Caliph put them into prison, for, said he, "My predecessor did the same, and ye made no outcry against him." But what the firm arm of ʿOmar could do, and none stir hand or foot against him, was a different thing for the weak and unpopular ʿOthmān to attempt. He was more successful with the Mosque at Medīna, originally built by Moḥammad, and hallowed by the mortal remains of the Prophet and his two successors. This was now enlarged and beautified. The supports, at first the trunks of date-trees, were removed, and the roof made to rest on pillars of hewn stone. The walls, too, were built up with masonry, richly carved and inlaid with rare and precious stones. It was a pious work, and none objected.

Yet another cause of murmuring arose from certain changes made by ʿOthmān in the ceremonial of the annual Pilgrimage, which, though in themselves trivial and unmeaning, excited strong disapprobation at the Caliph's court. He pitched tents for shelter during the few days spent for sacrifice at Mina, a thing never done before; and, to the prayers heretofore recited there and on Mount ʿArafāt, he added new ones, with two more series of prostrations. The ritual, as established by the Prophet himself, had been scrupulously followed by his two successors, and a superstitious reverence attached even to its minutest detail. When expostulated with on the unhallowed innovation, ʿOthmān gave no reasonable answer, but simply said it was his will to do so. Disregard of the sacred example of the Founder of the Faith offended many, and raised a cry among the Companions unfavourable to ʿOthmān.

Again, beyond the immediate circle of his kinsfolk, ʿOthmān made no personal friends. Narrow, selfish, indiscreet, and obstinate,—more and more so, indeed, with advancing years,—he alienated those who would otherwise have stood loyally by him, and made many enemies who