The Prophet (PBUH) entered a garden and commanded me to guard the gate of the garden. Then a man came asking for permission to enter, so he said: Let him in and give him the glad tidings that he will enter Paradise. It was Abu Bakr. Then another man came asking for permission, and Prophet (PBUH) said: Let him in and give him the glad tidings that he will enter Paradise. It was 'Umar. Then another man came asking for permission, so Prophet (PBUH) paused for a moment before saying: Let him in and give him the glad tidings that he will enter Paradise, yet there will be a calamity that will befall him. It was 'Uthman ibn Affan.

During the time of the Prophet (PBUH), we did not consider anyone equal to Abu Bakr, then 'Umar, then 'Uthman. After that, we refrained from giving preference to any of the companions of the Prophet (PBUH) over one another.

A man from Egypt came to perform Hajj at the House (Ka'ba). He saw a group of people sitting, and asked: Who are these people? They said: Quraysh. He asked: Who is the elder among them? They said: Abdullah ibn 'Umar. He said: O Ibn Umar, I want to ask you something, and I adjure you by the sanctity of this House, do you know that Uthman fled on the day of Uhud? Ibn Umar replied: Yes. The man asked: Do you know that he was absent from the Battle of Badr and did not witness it? Ibn Umar said: Yes. The man asked: Do you know that he did not attend the pledge of Ridwan? Ibn Umar said: Yes. Then the Egyptian said Allahu Akbar. So Ibn 'Umar responded: Come, I will explain to you what you asked about. As for his fleeing on the day of Uhud, I bear witness that Allah has forgiven and pardoned him. As for his absence from Badr, his wife was the daughter of the Messenger of Allah (PBUH), and she fell ill. So, the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said to him: You will have the reward and share of a man who attended Badr. As for his absence from the pledge of Ridwan, if there had been anyone more honorable in the valley of Makkah than 'Uthman, the Messenger of Allah PBUH) would have sent him. The pledge of Ridwan took place after 'Uthman had already gone [as a delegate], and the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) put one of his hands in the other and said: This is for 'Uthman. Ibn 'Umar then said: Take this with you now.

The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) was lying down in my house with his thighs or shins uncovered. Abu Bakr sought permission to enter, and the Prophet (PBUH) granted it while remaining in that state, and they spoke. Then, 'Umar sought permission, and the Prophet (PBUH) granted it while remaining in that state, and they spoke. Then, 'Uthman sought permission, so the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) sat up and adjusted his clothes. Muhammad (the narrator) said: I do not say this happened all on the same day. Then 'Uthman entered, and they spoke. When he left, 'Aishah said: Abu Bakr entered, and you did not stir for him or show concern, then 'Umar entered, and you did not stir for him or show concern. But when 'Uthman entered, you sat up and adjusted your clothes. The Prophet (PBUH) said: Should I not be shy before a man of whom the angels are shy?