Naila (Calipha)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article does not cite any references or sources. (December 2006) Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed.

Naila was the wife of Uthman, the third Caliph of the Islamic Empire. She was born into a Christian family in Kufa but was converted to Islam by Aisha. In 28 AH (649 CE), she married Uthman, who had succeeded to the Caliphate in 644. In 656, after growing discontent with his rule, rebels besieged Uthman in his palace in Medina. The Caliph, now about 75 years old, pleaded for help from his governors but no help arrived in time. After 49 days, the rebels broke in with the intention of killing Uthman. Naila attempted to save her husband, but in raising her left hand to stop a sword falling on him, merely had her fingers cut off. Uthman was murdered as he read the Qur'an, supposedly while reading the verse (2:137) "And Allah will suffice you for defense against them. He is the Hearer, the Knower." He was succeeded as Caliph by Ali ibn abu Talib, who took no action against Uthman's murderers.

After Uthman's murder, Naila spoke strongly against the rebels, and also the people of Medina who had failed to resist them. She also wrote a famous letter to Muawiyah, the governor of Syria and kinsman of Uthman, criticising him for not doing more to save the Caliph's life.