Musnad Ahmad

Uthman bin Abdullah bin Mawhib, may Allah have mercy on him, says that a man from Egypt came to Sayyiduna Ibn Umar, may Allah be pleased with them both, and said, "O Ibn Umar! If I ask you something, will you answer me?" He replied, "Yes!" He asked various questions regarding Sayyiduna Uthman, may Allah be pleased with him. Sayyiduna Ibn Umar, may Allah be pleased with them both, said, "Now come, I will inform you of the reality of all those things about which you have asked me. As for fleeing on the day of the Battle of Uhud, I testify that Allah has pardoned them and forgiven them. As for not participating in the Battle of Badr, it was because the daughter of the Prophet (Sayyiduna Ruqayyah, may Allah be pleased with her, who was married to Sayyiduna Uthman, may Allah be pleased with him) was ill at that time. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said to him, 'Stay here and tend to her.' 'You will have the reward equal to the participants of Badr and a share of the spoils of war.' As for his absence from the pledge of Ridwan, if there had been anyone more honorable than Uthman in the valley of Makkah, the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, would have sent him. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, himself sent Sayyiduna Uthman to Makkah, and the pledge of Ridwan took place after he had gone. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, struck one hand upon the other and said, 'This is the hand of Uthman.' After this, Sayyiduna Ibn Umar, may Allah be pleased with them both, said, 'Take these things with you and go.'"