Musnad Ahmad

Sayyiduna Sa’d (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that once, while passing through the Prophet’s Mosque, I passed by Sayyiduna Uthman Ghani (may Allah be pleased with him). I greeted him with salam, and he looked at me intently but did not reply to my salam. I went to Sayyiduna Umar Farooq (may Allah be pleased with him) and said to him twice, “O Leader of the Believers! Has anything new occurred in Islam?” He replied, “No! Is everything alright?” I said, “I just passed by Sayyiduna Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him) in the mosque, I greeted him with salam, he looked at me intently but did not reply to my salam.” Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) sent a message and called Sayyiduna Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him) and asked, “What prevented you from replying to your brother’s salam?” Sayyiduna Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him) replied, “I did not do so.” I said, “Why not?” Sayyiduna Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him) swore an oath, and I also swore an oath. After a short while, Sayyiduna Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him) remembered and said, “Yes! That did happen. I seek forgiveness from Allah and repent to Him. You just passed by me. Actually, at that time, I was thinking about something I heard from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and by Allah! Whenever I remember that matter, my eyes become fixed and a veil comes over my heart (meaning I become unaware of myself).” Sayyiduna Sa’d (may Allah be pleased with him) said, “I will tell you about it. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) once, at the beginning of a conversation, mentioned a supplication. After a short while, a Bedouin came and occupied the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) until, when the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) stood up, I followed behind him. When I feared that by the time I reached the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), he would have already reached his house, I struck my foot hard on the ground. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) turned towards me and said, ‘Who is it? Is it Abu Ishaq?’ I replied, ‘Yes, O Messenger of Allah!’ The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) told me to stop. I said, ‘You mentioned a supplication at the beginning before us, then that Bedouin came and occupied you.’ The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, ‘Yes! That is the supplication of Sayyiduna Yunus (peace be upon him) which he made in the belly of the fish, that is «لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ سُبْحَانَكَ إِنِّي كُنْتُ مِنْ الظَّالِمِينَ» whenever any Muslim supplicates to his Lord with these words in any matter, his supplication will surely be accepted.’”