Page:William Muir, Thomas Hunter Weir - The Caliphate; Its Rise, Decline, and Fall (1915).djvu/254



plot now rapidly came to a head. A plan of action had been already formed. While the lieutenants of the Caliph were absent from their posts on the occasion just described, the conspirators were to issue from Al-Kūfa, Al-Baṣra, and Fusṭāṭ, and converge upon Medīna in combined and menacing force. There, in answer to the Caliph's challenge, they would present an endless roll of complaints, and cry loudly for redress, reform, and change of Governors. Denied by ʿOthmān, they would demand his abdication, and, in last resort, enforce it by the sword. But as to a successor they were not agreed. Al-Kūfa was for Az-Zubeir; Al-Baṣra for Ṭalḥa; Egypt's favourite was ʿAlī.

The scheme miscarried. But some months later, in the middle of the following year, it was revived and secret preparations made for giving it effect. Under pretext of visiting Mecca for the lesser Pilgrimage, the concerted movement at last took place, two or three months before the annual Pilgrimage. Ibn abi Sarḥ, Governor of Egypt, at once despatched a message to apprise ʿOthmān. In reply he was ordered to pursue the rebels; he did so, but too late; they had already marched beyond his reach. On turning back he found Egypt in the hands of a traitor, and fleeing for his life, took refuge across the border in Palestine. Among the insurgent leaders of Egypt was Moḥammad son of Abu Bekr.

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