English translation
3699. Narrated 'Uthmān, the son of Mauhab: An Egyptian who came and performed the Hajj (pilgrimage) to the House (Ka'bah at Makkah) saw some people sitting. He enquired, "Who are these people?" Somebody said, "They are the Quraish." He said, "Who is the old man sitting amongst them?" The people replied, "He is 'Abdullāh bin 'Umar." He said, "O Ibn 'Umar! I want to ask you about something; please tell me about it. Do you know that 'Uthmān fled away on the day (of the battle) of Uhud?" Ibn 'Umar said, "Yes." The (Egyptian) man said, "Do you know that 'Uthmān was absent on the day (of the battle) of Badr and did not join it?" Ibn 'Umar said, "Yes." The man said, "Do you know that he failed to attend Ar-Ridwān Pledge and did not witness it (i.e., Hudaibiya Pledge)?" Ibn 'Umar said, "Yes." The man said, "Allāhu Akbar!" Ibn 'Umar said, "Let me explain to you (all these three things). As for his flight on the day of Uhud, I testify that Allāh has excused him and forgiven him; and as for his absence from the (battle of) Badr, it was due to the fact that the daughter of Allāh's Messenger ﷺ was his wife and she was sick then, Allāh's Messenger ﷺ said to him, 'You will receive the same reward and share (of the booty) as anyone of those who participated in the battle of Badr (if you stay with her).' As for his absence from Ar-Ridwān Pledge, had there been any person in Makkah more respectable than 'Uthmān (to be sent as a representative), Allāh's Messenger ﷺ would have sent him instead of him. No doubt, Allāh's Messenger ﷺ had sent him, and the incident of Ar-Ridwān Pledge happened after 'Uthmān had gone to Makkah. Allāh's Messenger ﷺ held out his right hand saying, 'This is 'Uthmān's hand.' He stroke his (other) hand with it saying, 'This (pledge) is on behalf of 'Uthmān.'" Then Ibn 'Umar said to the man, "Bear (these) excuses in mind with you."(1) Narrated Anas رضي الله عنه: Allāh's Messenger ﷺ ascended the (mountain) of Uhud with Abū Bakr, 'Umar and 'Uthmān and it shook. Allāh's Messenger ﷺ said, "Be calm, O Uḥud!" I think he struck it with his foot and added, "There is none on you but a Prophet, a Ṣiddīq, and two martyrs."