Moosaa bin Talhah said:
“I saw ‘Uthmaan bin ‘Affaan when he was on the mimbar, finding out about the people asking about their affairs and the current prices of goods.”
[Fadaa'il as-Sahaabah: 812]
Ibn Sa’d said:
“I saw ‘Uthmaan bin ‘Affaan going out one Friday wearing two yellow garments. He sat on the mimbar and the Mu’adh-dhin gave the call to prayer whilst he was speaking to the people and asking them about their travels, who had come back and who was sick.”
[at-Tabaqaat: 3/59]
al-Hamdaanee said:
“I saw ‘Uthmaan bin ‘Affaan when he was the Khaleefah riding a mule with his slave Naa’il behind him.”
[az-Zuhd for al-Imaam Ahmad: 127]
Humayd bin Nu’aym narrated that ‘Umar and ‘Uthmaan were invited to a meal, and when they set out, ‘Uthmaan said to ‘Umar, “We have come to a meal where I wish we did not come.” ‘Umar asked, “Why?” He said, “I am afraid it was prepared in order to show off.”
[at-Taareekh al-Islaamee: 48/17]
When Sa’d bin Abee Waqqaas heard about the murder of ‘Uthmaan, he said: “May Allaah have mercy upon ‘Uthmaan!” Then he recited:
“Say: ‘Shall We tell you the greatest of losers in respect of (their) deeds?’ Those whose efforts have been wasted in this life while they thought that they were acquiring good by their deeds. They are those who deny the aayaat of their Lord and the Meeting with Him (in the Hereafter). So ther works are in vain, and on the Day of Resurrection, We shall assign no weight for them. That shall be their recompense, Hell, because they disbelieved and took My aayaat and My Messengers by way of jest and mockery.” [Soorah al-Kahf: 103-106]
Then Sa’d said, “Oh Allaah! Make them regret it and make them grieve, humiliate them, then sieze them!”
[Taareekh at-Tabaree: 5/407]
Allaah answered the du’aa’ of Sa’d – who was a man whose prayers were answered – and Allaah seized everyone who had taken part in the murder of ‘Uthmaan, such as ‘Abdullaah bin Saba’, al-Ghaafiqee, al-Ashtar, Hakeem bin Jablah, and Kinaanah at-Tajeebee, as they were all killed later on.
[al-Khulafaa' ar-Raashidoon: 192]
Aboo Haazim said:
“I was with ‘Abdullaah bin ‘Umar bin al-Khattaab and he mentioned ‘Uthmaan and his virtues, his attributes and his relationship through marriage to the Propehet – sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam - so that he depicted him as purer than glass. Then he mentioned ‘Alee and mentioned his virtues, his seniority in Islaam and his relationship through marriage to the Prophet – sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam – until he depicted him as purer than glass. Then he said, “Whoever wants to talk about these two, let him talk about them in this manner or else not speak at all!”“
["Tahqeeq Mawaaqif as-Sahaabah": 1/379]
‘Abdullaah bin ‘Amr bin al-’Aas said:
“‘Uthmaan bin ‘Affaan Dhun-Noorayn was killed unlawfully, and he will be given a double reward.”
["al-Mu'jam al-Kabeer": 1/46]
Samurah bin Jundub – radiyallaahu ‘anhu – said:
“Islaam was in a strong fortress, but they breached this defence by killing ‘Uthmaan and damaged it in many places, and they will not be able to repair the gaps or fill them until the Day of Resurrection. The Khilaafah was among the people of Madeenah but it was taken out and it is no longer among them.”
["Taareekh Dimashq": 493]
Jundub bin ‘Abdillaah met Hudhayfah bin al-Yamaan and mentioned the case of the Khaleefah ‘Uthmaan to him, when the fitnah errupted. He said, “They will kill him.” Jundub asked, “Where will he be?” Hudhayfah said: “In Paradise.” Jundub further asked, “Where will his killers be?” Hudhayfah replied, “In Hell.”
["Taareekh Dimashq": 288]
It was said to Anas bin Maalik, “No one can love both ‘Alee and ‘Uthmaan.” Anas said, “They are lying. We love both of them!”
["Tahqeeq Mawaaqif as-Sahaabah": 2/25]
al-Imaam Ahmad said:
“They did not all agree to swear allegiance to anyone as they all agreed to swear allegiance to ‘Uthmaan.”
[Manhaaj as-Sunnah: 3/166]
When ‘Uthmaan was appointed as the Khaleefah ‘Abdullaah bin Mas’ood said:
“We have appointed as Khaleefah the best of those who are left, and we did not fail to select the best.”
[at-Tabaqaat al-Kubraa: 3/63]
