Ammar b. Yasir's (AS) view of Uthman

Many people may not realize this and might even be surprised to hear it, but the companions were widely known for their dislike of Uthman b. Affan. He was not a particularly likable figure, and many regarded him as an inept ruler who showed unjust favoritism toward his family, even when they had poor reputations. It is no surprise, then, that the Ummah eventually rose in revolt against him. Among the well-known companions who disliked Uthman was Ammar b. Yasir (sa).

Let us start with the following narration in Al-Albani's Silsilat al-Ahadith al-Sahiha, vol. 5, pg 18 - 19:

قال أخبرنا عفان بن مسلم قال أخبرنا حماد بن سلمة قال أخبرنا أبو حفص وكلثوم بن جبر عن أبي غادية

قال سمعت عمار بن ياسر يقع في عثمان يشتمه بالمدينة قال فتوعدته بالقتل قلت لئن أمكنني الله منك لافعلن فلما كايوم صفين جعل عمار يحمل على الناس فقيل هذا عمار فرأيت فرجة بين الرئتين وبين الساقين قال فحملت عليه فطعنته في ركبته قال فوقع فقتلته فقيل قتلت عمار بن ياسر وأخبر عمرو بن العاص فقال سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول إن قاتله وسالبه في النار فقيل لعمرو بن العاص هو ذا أنت تقاتله فقال إنما قال قاتله وسالبه

It was narrated: ‘Affan b. Muslim reported to us, saying: Hammad b. Salama informed us, saying: Abu Hafs and Kulthum b. Jabr narrated from Abu Ghadiya, who said:

I heard ‘Ammar b. Yasir criticizing and insulting ‘Uthman in Medina. So, I threatened to kill him, saying: “If Allah grants me the opportunity, I will do it.” When the day of Siffin came, ‘Ammar was charging at the people, and it was said: “This is ‘Ammar.” I saw an opening between his ribs and thighs, so I charged at him and stabbed him in the knee, causing him to fall, and I killed him. It was then said: “You killed ‘Ammar b. Yasir.” This was reported to ‘Amr b. al-‘As, who said: “I heard the Messenger of Allah (saw) say, ‘His killer and plunderer will be in the Fire.’” It was then said to ‘Amr b. al-‘As: “But here you are, fighting him.” He replied: “The Prophet only said, ‘His killer and plunderer.’”

In this very explicit narration Ammar b. Yasir (sa) abused and insulted Uthman b. Affan. This shows that Ammar b. Yasir did not believe in ‘Adalat Al-Sahaba’, nor that he was particularly in favour of the 'righteous caliphs' except for Ali (as). This hadith of Ammar becomes especially critical when one also considers the hadith of the Prophet (s) in Musnad Ibn Hanbal, vol. 41, pg. 322, H. 24820:

حدثنا عبد الله حدثني أبي ثنا أبو أحمد قال ثنا عبد الله بن حبيب عن حبيب بن أبي ثابت عن عطاء بن يسار قال:

جاء رجل فوقع في علي وفي عمار رضي الله تعالى عنهما عند عائشة فقالت أما علي فلست قائلة لك فيه شيئا واما عمار فإني سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم يقول لا يخير بين أمرين الا اختار أرشدهما 

‘Abdullah narrated to us, saying: My father informed me, saying: Abu Ahmad reported to us, saying: ‘Abdullah b. Habib narrated from Habib b. Abi Thabit from ‘Ata’ b. Yasar, who said:

A man came and spoke against ‘Ali and ‘Ammar in the presence of ‘Aisha. She said: “As for ‘Ali, I will not say anything to you about him. But as for ‘Ammar, I heard the Messenger of Allah (saw) say, ‘He is never presented with two options except that he chooses the more righteous of the two.’”

So when Ammar had the choice to abuse and insult Uthman or not to do it, his choice to do so was the better choice according to Rasulullah (saw).