Accordiing to Poonawala Ali had a restraining influence on Uthman at this time without directly opposing him. He conveyed criticisms of the Companions to 'Uthman, and negotiated on behalf of' Uthman with the opposition who had come to Medina; which seems to have caused suspicion between 'Ali and' Uthman 's relatives. Later, when the rebels besieged Uthman's house, Ali tried to mitigate the severity of the siege by his insistence that Uthman should be allowed water.