During the Caliphate of `Uthman when the Muslims were weary of the oppression of the
Government and its officials collected in Medina to complain to the senior companions of the
Prophet, they came to Amir al-mu'minin in a peaceful manner and requested him to see
`Uthman and advise him not to trample on the Muslims' rights and to put an end to the
troubles which were proving the cause of the people's ruin, whereupon Amir al-mu'minin went
to him and uttered these words.
In order to make the bitterness of the admonition palatable Amir al-mu'minin adopted that way
of speech in the beginning which would create a sense of responsibility in the addressee and
direct him towards his obligations.
