English Translation

'Affan told us: Abu 'Awanah told us: 'Uthman ibn 'Abdullah ibn Mawhab told us, who said: A man came from Egypt to perform the pilgrimage to the House. He saw a group of people sitting and said, "Who are these people?" They said, "Quraysh." He said, "Who is the elder among them?" They said, "'Abdullah ibn 'Umar." He said, "O Ibn 'Umar, I am going to ask you about something," or "I adjure you, I have adjured you by the sanctity of this House: Do you know that 'Uthman fled on the day of Uhud?" He said, "Yes." He said, "Do you know that he was absent from Badr and did not witness it?" He said, "Yes." He said, "And do you know that he was absent from the Pledge of al-Ridwan?" He said, "Yes." The Egyptian then exclaimed, "Allah is greatest!" Ibn 'Umar said, "Come, let me explain to you what you have asked me. As for his fleeing on the day of Uhud, I bear witness that Allah has pardoned him and forgiven him. As for his absence from Badr, he had with him the daughter of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, and she was ill, so the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said to him, 'You shall have the reward of a man who witnessed Badr, and his share.' As for his absence from the Pledge of al-Ridwan, had there been anyone in the heart of Makkah more honored than 'Uthman, the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, would have sent him; the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, sent 'Uthman, and the Pledge of al-Ridwan took place after 'Uthman had already gone. Then he struck his one hand upon the other and said, 'This is for 'Uthman.'" He said: And Ibn 'Umar said, "Now go, take this with you."