“…and ‘Uthmaan was tied to ‘Umar.”

The Prophet – sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam - said:

“Last night a righteous man was shown (in a dream) that Aboo Bakr was tied to the Messenger of Allaah, and ‘Umar was tied to Aboo Bakr, and ‘Uthmaan was tied to ‘Umar.”

Jaabir bin ‘Abdillaah – radiyallaahu ‘anhu - said, “When we left the Messenger of Allaah, we said, ‘As for the righteous man, that was the Messenger of Allaah, and for their being tied to one another, they will be in charge of this matter with which Allaah has sent His Prophet.’”

[Sunan Abee Daawood: 2/513]