Fetihlerin durması ile Hz. Osman döneminde baş gösteren ekonomik kriz Kûfe kentini ciddi bir şekilde etkilemiş ve Malik b. El-Eşter liderliğinde bir isyanın oluşmanına neden olmuştur. Bu isyan ancak valinin değiştirilmesi ile bastırılabilmiştir. İsyan bastırılmış olmasına rağmen merkezî hükümetin icraatlarını sorgulanır kılmış, hükümet üzerinde muhalefetin baskılarının giderek artmasına zemin hazırlamıştır.

Kûfa survived mostly by relying on the prize of war (captured property) revenues. The majority of the residents made their livelihoods out of such revenues. However, during the second six-year period of the caliph Uthman’s rule, conquering missions had reached the farthest possible point (natural limits of the time), which leaded to shortages in these revenues, causing certain financial hardships in the economic life of the city. In time, these economic difficulties has prepared the grounds for political unrest to flourish. caliph Uthman's donation of Sevad lands (state owned lands) to certain individuals, has shaken considerably his authority and influence on the people of Kûfa. After not very long, a major opposition movement was formed against the caliph. This movement grew bigger and bigger day by day, and eventually gained the support and control of the city; to the extent of causing the appointment of a city governor of their choice and detaching Kûfa – although not formally but practically – from the central government.