The third Caliph. Hazrat Usman believed in the centralisation of power. He also set about producing a single definitive version of the Qur'an. His programme of centralisation of power aroused opposition. The question of whether surplus revenue from the provinces should be forwarded to Madinah or not, led to uprisings against him. In Hazrat Umar's time Kufa was dominated by the early settlers, and had participated in the first campaign. The state lands of the Sassanian kings were exploited by those early comers and to the resettlement of later comers. Under Hazrat Usman their privileged position was challenged. On the instruction of Hazrat Usman, the government officials demanded the surplus revenue from the provinces to be sent to Madinah. The early comers mostly non-Quraishis found a leader in the person of Malik al Ashtar. A small minority rose in revolt and thus began the violent siege of the house of Hazrat Usman in which he was killed.