`Umar said: “An abode which is founded upon affliction cannot possibly be without affliction.” The Ṣúfís make him their model in wearing a patched frock (_muraqqa`a_) and rigorously performing the duties of religion. 3. THE CALIPH `UTHMÁN B. `AFFÁN. It is related by `Abdalláh b. Rabáḥ and Abú Qatáda as follows: “We were with the Commander of the Faithful, `Uthmán, on the day when his house was attacked. His slaves, seeing the crowd of rebels gathered at the door, took up arms. `Uthmán said: ‘Whoever of you does not take up arms is a free man.’ We went forth from the house in fear of our lives. Ḥasan b. `Alí met us on the way, and we returned with him to `Uthmán, that we might know on what business he was going. After he had saluted `Uthmán and condoled with him he said: ‘O Prince of the Faithful, I dare not draw sword against Moslems without thy command. Thou art the true Imám. Give the order and I will defend thee.’ `Uthmán replied: ‘O my cousin, go back to thy house and sit there until God shall bring His decree to pass. We do not wish to shed blood.’” These words betoken resignation in the hour of calamity, and show that the speaker had attained the rank of friendship with God (_khullat_). Similarly, when Nimrod lit a fire and put Abraham in the sling (_pala_)[51] of a catapult, Gabriel came to Abraham and said, “Dost thou want anything?” He answered, “From thee, no.” Gabriel said, “Then ask God.” He answered, “Since He knows in what plight I am I need not ask Him.” Here `Uthmán was in the position of the Friend (Khalíl)[52] in the catapult, and the seditious mob was in the place of the fire, and Ḥasan was in the place of Gabriel; but Abraham was saved, while `Uthmán perished. Salvation (_naját_) is connected with subsistence (_baqá_) and destruction (_halák_) with annihilation (_faná_): on this topic something has been said above. The Ṣúfís take `Uthmán as their exemplar in sacrificing life and property, in resigning their affairs to God, and in sincere devotion. Footnote 51: Arabic _kiffat_. See Dozy, _Supplément_, ii, 476. Footnote 52: Abraham is called by Moslems “the Friend of God” (_al-Khalíl_). 4. THE CALIPH `ALÍ B. ABÍ ṬÁLIB.