“…do not shed it until you meet me.”

‘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]

“And he pointed to ‘Uthmaan bin ‘Affaan.”

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]

“The Messenger of Allaah gave me some advice…”

It was narrated from Aboo Sahlah that ‘Aa’ishah said: The Messenger of Allaah – sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam – said, “Call one of my companions for me.”

I said, “Aboo Bakr?”

He said, “No.”

I said, “‘Uthmaan?”

He said, “Yes.”

When ‘Uthmaan came he said to me, “Move away,” then he started to converse with him, and ‘Uthmaan’s colour changed.  When he was besieged in the house, we said, “O Ameer al-Mu’mineen, will you not fight them?”

He said, “No. The Messenger of Allaah gave me some advice, and I am going to persevere with it.” 

["Fadaa'il as-Sahaabah": 1/206]

“Should I not feel shy before a man whom the angels feel shy from?”

One day the Messenger of Allaah was lying down in his house with his thigh or shin uncovered.  Aboo Bakr asked for permission to enter and he let him in whilst he was in that state, and he spoke to him. 

Then ‘Umar asked for permission to enter and he let him in whilst he was in that state, and he spoke to him. 

Then ‘Uthmaan asked for permission to enter and the Messenger of Allaah sat up and straightened his garment and he came in, and he spoke to him. 

When he left ‘Aa’ishah said, “Aboo Bakr came in and you did not stir for him or pay too much attention, and ‘Umar came in and you did not stir for him or pay too much attention, then ‘Uthmaan came in and you sat up and straightened your garment.”  

He said, “Should I not feel shy before a man whom the angels feel shy from?”   

[Saheeh Muslim: 2401]

“‘Uthmaan is a shy man…”

‘Aa’ishah narrated that one day Aboo Bakr asked for permission to enter upon the Messenger of Allaah when he was lying down on his bed, wrapping himself in the cover of ‘Aa’ishah. He gave permission to Aboo Bakr to enter when he was like that, and he fulfilled his need then went away.

Then ‘Umar asked for permission to enter and he gave him permission to enter when he was like that, and he fulfilled his need then he went away.

‘Uthmaan then asked for permission to enter and he sat up and said to ‘Aa’ishah, “Cover yourself properly.” ‘Uthmaan fulfilled his need then went away.

‘Aa’ishah said, “O Messenger of Allaah, why did I not see you stirring for Aboo Bakr and ‘Umar as you did for ‘Uthmaan?” The Messenger of Allaah said, “‘Uthmaan is a shy man, and I was afraid that if I gave him permission to enter when I was in that state, he would not tell me of his need.”

[Saheeh Muslim: 2402]