ʿAli's dispatch of his own governors to the garrison towns (36 AH)

When people had pledged allegiance to Ali ibn Abi Talib (may God be pleased with him) in 36 AH, he sent his governors out to the provinces and dismissed Uthman's governors. He sent Uthman ibn Hunayf (may God be pleased with him) to Basra; he entered it, and no one turned him back. He sent Imara ibn Shihab to Kufa, and Talha ibn Khuwaylid met him at Zubala, going out to seek vengeance for Uthman, and ordered him to turn back and threatened him. He sent Ubayd Allah ibn Abbas to Yemen, and Qays ibn Sa'd to Egypt; Qays got past the horsemen of Ayla by claiming to be one of Uthman's fugitives, until he entered. He sent Sahl ibn Hunayf (may God be pleased with him) to Syria, but the horsemen of Tabuk turned him back, saying: if Uthman sent you, welcome; if someone else sent you, go back. The people of Egypt split into three groups: one group sided with Qays in the community; one withdrew to Kharbita until the killers of Uthman were executed; and a third sided with the community so long as none of their own brethren were subjected to retaliation. ¹