In the end, out of frustration, the scheme devised by the rebels was that they would stone the house of Hazrat ‘Uthman^(ra) at night fall when everyone would fall asleep. In this manner, they would provoke the members of the household so that they too would throw stones in retaliation; so the rebels could say that they [the household of Hazrat ‘Uthman^(ra)] initiated the attack and they were compelled to respond. However, Hazrat ‘Uthman^(ra) had prohibited all the members of his household from retaliating. One day, upon finding an opportunity, he approached the wall and said:

‘O people! In your view I am a sinner, but what wrong have the others committed? When you throw stones there is also a risk of others being injured.’

The rebels plainly denied and said that they had not thrown any stones. Hazrat ‘Uthman^(ra) said, “If you do not throw them, then who does?” The rebels replied, “God the Exalted probably throws them.”

¹

To this, Hazrat ‘Uthman^(ra) responded:

‘You speak lies! If God the Exalted had thrown stones at us, then not one of His stones would have missed; but the stones thrown by you fall off target as well.’ ²

After saying this, Hazrat ‘Uthman^(ra) left them to their work.