Despite this commotion and conflict Hazrat ‘Uthman(ra) would regularly come to the mosque to lead the prayers. The rebels would not hinder him in this regard and stop him from leading the prayers, until the first Friday approached after their occupation of Madinah. After leading the Friday prayer Hazrat ‘Uthman(ra) admonished them and said:
“O enemies of Islam! Fear God the Exalted. All the people of Madinah know that the Holy Prophet(sa) has cursed you. So repent and erase your sins through deeds of virtue because Allah the Exalted does not erase sins with anything other than good deeds.”
In response Muhammad bin Maslamah Ansari(ra) stood up and said, “I testify to this fact.” The rebels realised that although their associates thought ill of Hazrat ‘Uthman(ra), if the companions began to testify in his support and their party learnt that the Holy Prophet(sa) had explicitly made a prophecy about them, then the public may leave them. For this reason they began to stop this practice. The robber Hakim bin Jabalah, who I have mentioned earlier, took hold of Muhammad bin Maslamah(ra), an intimate Companion of the Holy Prophet(sa) who had stood up in support of Khilafat; not to create any kind of disorder, and forcibly sat him down. Then, Zaid bin Thabit(ra), who had been endowed the magnificent duty of gathering the Holy Quran, stood up in order to testify, but he too was made to sit down by another rebel.1
1 Tarikhut-Tabari, vol. 5, p. 155, Dhikru Masiri Mann Sara Ila Dhi Khashabin Min Ahli Misra....., Published by Darul-Fikr, Beirut, 2002 edition [Publishers]