On the last day of the siege (which was the day on which ‘Uthmaan was murdered), he was fasting that day and fell asleep in the morning, and he told the people, “They are going to kill me today.” Then he said, “I saw the Prophet – sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam – in my dream. Aboo Bakr and ‘Umar were with him, and the Prophet – sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam – said to me, ‘O ‘Uthmaan, break your fast with us today.’”
[A Hasan narration taken from Fitnah Maqtal 'Uthmaan 1/175]
‘Uthmaan’s last khutbah to the people of Madeenah several weeks after the siege:
“Allaah, may He be glorified and exalted, has given you this world as a means of seeking the Hereafter; He has not given you this world for you to be content with it. This world is transient but the Hereafter will abide forever. So do not let that which is transient distract you from that which will abide forever. Show preference to that which will abide forever over that which is transient. This world will come to an end and your destiny will be with Allaah. Fear Allaah, may He be glorified and exalted, for fear of Him is a protection and a shield against His Wrath and Punishment. Adhere to the main body of the Muslims and do not break into fractions.
Allaah Says (which means): ‘And hold fast, all of you together, to the Rope of Allaah (this Qur’aan), and be do not divided among yourselves, and remember Allaah’s Favour on you, for you were enemies one to another but He joined your hearts together, so that, by His Grave, you became brethren, and you were on the brink of a pit of Fire, and He saved you from it. Thus Allaah makes His Aayaat clear to you, that you may be guided.’ (Aal-’Imraan).
O people of Madeenah! I bid you farewell, and I ask Allaah to appoint a good Khaleefah for you after I am gone. By Allaah, I shall never enter upon anyone again after this day until Allaah lets His Decree come to pass. I shall leave these rebels outside the door and I shall not give them anything they might use against you in religious or wordly terms, until Allaah Decrees whatever He Wills.”
[Taareekh at-Tabaree 5/399]
Ka’b bin ‘Ujrah said: The Messenger of Allaah mentioned some turmoil and gave the impression that it would soon come to pass. A man passed by with his head covered, and the Messenger of Allaah said:
“On that day this man will be following the right guidance.”
I rushed and grabbed ‘Uthmaan by the upper arm, then turned to face the Messenger of Allaah, and said, “This man?”
He said: “This man.”
[Saheeh Sunnan Ibn Maajah: 1/24 (111)]
Ibn ‘Umar said: The Messenger of Allaah – sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam - mentioned turmoil and a man passed by, and he said:
“The one who is covering his head will be killed unlawfully on that day.”
Ibn ‘Umar said: I looked and saw that it was ‘Uthmaan bin ‘Affaan.
[Musnad al-Imaam Ahmad: 2/115]
Murrah al-Bahzee said: I was with the Messenger of Allaah – sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam - and Bahz (one of the narrators of this hadeeth) said: The Messenger of Allaah said:
“There will be a fitnah like the horns of cows, but this man and who are with him will be following the truth.”
I went and grabbed him by the cloak, and saw that it was ‘Uthmaan bin ‘Affaan.
[al-Musnad: 5/33 (there are other narrations that strengthen it)]
‘Aa’ishah said: The Messenger of Allaah – sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam – sent for ‘Uthmaan bin ‘Affaan and the Messenger of Allaah went to him and spoke with him. When we saw the Messenger of Allaah, we turned to one another, and the last thing he said to ‘Uthmaan was when he struck him on the shoulder and said:
“O ‘Uthmaan! Indeed, Allaah – ‘Azza wa Jall – will give you a garment to wear (i.e. the Khilaafah), so if the munaafiqoon want you to shed it, do not shed it until you meet me. O ‘Uthmaan! Indeed, Allaah – ‘Azza wa Jall – will give you a garment to wear, so if the munaafiqoon want you to shed it, do not shed it until you meet me. O ‘Uthmaan! Indeed, Allaah – ‘Azza wa Jall – will give you a garment to wear, so if the munaafiqoon want you to shed it, do not shed it until you meet me.”
[Musnad al-Imaam Ahmad]
Aboo Habeebah narrated that he entered the house when ‘Uthmaan was being besieged, and he heard Aboo Hurayrah asking for permission to speak to ‘Uthmaan. Permission was given to him, and he stood up and praised Allaah, then he said: I heard the Messenger of Allaah – sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam - say:
“You will face trials and differences after me.”
One of the people said to him, “Who could help us, O Messenger of Allaah?”
He said:
“You should be with the trustworthy one and his companions.”
And he pointed to ‘Uthmaan bin ‘Affaan as he said it.
["Fadaa'il as-Sahaabah": 1/500]
During the days of the fitnah, ‘Uthmaan would say:
“I ask Allaah for forgiveness if I have done wrong, and I have already forgiven if I have been wronged by others.”
["Taareekh al-Khulafaa'"]
