FROM THE EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

The administration of a vast empire needed a man of stern character like Umar. Although Usman was a deeply religious man, he proved to be a weak leader. His administration was not so disciplined as that of Umar, the second Caliph. Usman felt that by appointing his friends and relatives to key positions he will be able to manage administrative affairs. But this did not happen. Having no fear for being taken to task by the kind-hearted Caliph, they were all the more emboldened to rule according to their own whims and fancies, without looking after the public good. The public resented such callousness, holding the Caliph responsible for the bad administration. They even demanded his abdication, but the Caliph refused to do so. The Egyptians in particular were angry with him. They blamed the Caliph for replacing a capable governor there with his own cousin who set taxes more than they could bear to pay. This dissension finally developed into a state of civil war. The Egyptians took more active part in this revolt. They demanded his resignation but Usman rejected all such advice and preached a public sermon against them. Soon afterwards, while he was at prayer, a group of these unruly men attacked and killed him. The period of his caliphate lasted from 644 to 656. Usman’s most important contribution to the cause of Islam was the preparation of the second and final version of the Quran. He ordered the Quran to be written in the Quraysh dialect of Arabic. Then he commanded that a few copies of it be made and sent to the centres of the Muslim province. Every other version was destroyed, and the Quran has remained absolutely unchanged for the centuries. Ali ibn Abi Talib—The Fourth Caliph (656-661) Ali ibn Abi Talib, cousin and son-in-law of the Prophet of Islam, was elected the fourth Caliph. He reigned from 656 to 661. Ali was a profoundly religious man devoted entirely to the cause of Islam. He was born in Makkah about the year 600 to Abu Talib, chief of the clan of Banu Hashim. Ali was adopted by the Prophet and lived with him in the same house. For, once Makkah suffered from economic depression. Abu Talib, Prophet’s uncle had a very large family, therefore the Prophet took into his care Ali, to lighten the burden of Abu Talib. The highest degree in faith is that you always regard yourself in the presence of God. — Usman ibn Affan