Part 1
It was twilight in Medina, several days before the Hajj seasons, and prominent Muslims from all around the empire would be returning to Medina for the annual pilgrimage. It was also a time, when Medina was under siege. From Muslims themselves who had not been pleased with Uthman and were intent on creating chaos. The rebels knew that in a few weeks the hajj would come, and they would be hopelessly outnumbered. Even now they were outnumbered, but the Caliph forbade any action against fellow Muslims. The men of Medina took no action, and went about their lives as if nothing had happened. Though several prominent members such as Abdullah bin Zubayr, Aisha binte Abu Bakr, Hasan bin Ali, Marwan bin Hakam incited the populace to attack the rebels. Though Uthman forbade any violence. The rebels timidity in part played the biggest role in their downfall. After several weeks of besieging Uthman’s house, the Islamic forces in Mecca for the Hajj attacked Medinah, relieving their Caliph. Every rebel was killed in cold blood as the city was surrounded, and the citizens of Medinah joined the fray. The leaders, Abdullah ibn Saba, Muhamad bin Abu Bakr, Muhammad ibn Hudhaifa and others were hung, and their bodies carried on the backs of donkeys through out the empire. Uthman frowned upon the violence, though he knew they had saved his life. There were still cells throughout the empire that sought to bring down chaos, but they were all defeated by Uthman’s trusty governers. [FONT="][/FONT]