| Assassination of Uthman | |
|---|---|
| Location | Medina, Arabia, Rashidun Caliphate, present-day Saudi Arabia |
| Coordinates | 24°28′12″N 39°36′36″E / 24.47000°N 39.61000°E |
| Date | 17 June 656 |
| Target | Uthman |
Attack type | Assassination |
| Weapon | Sword |
| Deaths | 1 killed, 1 injured [1][2] |
| Victim | Uthman |
Uthman, the third caliph from 644 to 656, was assassinated at the end of a siege upon his house in 656. Initially a protest, the siege escalated following the death of a protester. The protesters-turned-rebels had demanded a new caliph, but Uthman refused and on 17 June 656 (35 AH) protestors set the house on fire, made their way inside, and killed him.
| Uthman The Generous (al-Ghani) |
|---|
.JPG) |
The assassination of Uthman had a polarizing effect in the Muslim world at the time. Questions were raised not only regarding his character and policies but also the relationship between Muslims and the state, religious beliefs regarding rebellion and governance, and the qualifications of rulership in Islam.[3]
- ^ Madelung 1997, p. 139.
- ^ Humphreys 1990, p. 190-191.
- ^ Valerie Jon Hoffman, The Essentials of Ibadi Islam, pg. 8. Syracuse: Syracuse University Press, 2012. ISBN 9780815650843