`A'isha told that Abu Bakr came in to visit God's messenger who said, "You are God's freedman (atiq) from hell," so on that day he was named `Atiq. Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Ibn `Umar reported God's messenger as saying, "I am the first from whom the earth will burst open, then Abu Bakr and then `Umar. I shall then come to those who are buried in al-Baqi' and they will be gathered along with me; and after that I shall wait for the people of Mecca so as to be gathered among the inhabitants of the two sacred cities." Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported God's messenger as saying, "Gabriel came, and taking me by the hand showed me the gate of paradise by which my people will enter." Abu Bakr then said, "Messenger of God, I wish I had been with you so that I might have looked at it to which God's messenger replied, "You, Abu Bakr, will be the first of my people to enter paradise." Abu Dawud transmitted it.

When Abu Bakr was mentioned in `Umar's presence he wept and said, "I wish all my good deeds could compare with what he did on a certain day and a certain night. The night was the one on which he went with God's messenger to the cave and said when they reached it, `I swear by God that you will not enter it before I have first done so, for if there is anything in it I shall be smitten by it and not you.' He then entered and swept it and found some holes in the side of it, so he tore up his lower-garment and stopped them with it; but as two were still left he thrust his feet into them[*] and told God's messenger to enter. When he had done so the Prophet laid his head on his lap and went to sleep. Abu Bakr's foot in one of the holes received a sting, but he did not move for fear God's messenger might awake. His tears, however, fell on God's messenger's face, and he asked him what was the matter with him. He replied, `O you for whom I would give my father and mother as ransom, I have been stung.' God's messenger then spat and the pain left him, but the effect of the poison later returned and was the cause of his death. The day was when God's messenger died and the Arabs apostatised and refused to pay zakat. He said, `If they were to refuse me a tether, I would strive with them over it.' I said, `Successor of God's messenger, be affable and gentle to the people,' but he replied, `Have you who were a powerful man in the pre-Islamic period become weak in the Islamic period? The revelation has ceased and the religion has been perfected. Is it to diminish while I am alive?'" *Literally gave his feet as mouthfuls. Razin transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported God's messenger as saying, "Among the nations before your time there have been inspired people, and if there is one among my people he is `Umar." (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Sa'd b. Abu Waqqas told that `Umar b. al-Khattab asked permission from God's messenger to enter when there were with him some women of Quraish who were talking volubly to him with loud voices. They got up when `Umar asked permission and hastened to veil themselves, and when `Umar entered God's messenger was laughing, so he said, "God keep you smiling, messenger of God!" The Prophet replied, "I was astonished at these women who are with me, for when they heard your voice, they hastened to veil themselves." `Umar then said, "Enemies of yourselves, do you stand in awe of me and do not stand in awe of God's messenger?" They replied, ``Yes, you are more churlish and harsher." God's messenger then said, "Never mind, son of al-Khattab; I swear by Him in whose hand my soul is that the devil has never met you walking on a mountain-road without going to another one than yours." Al-Humaidi said that after "messenger of God" al-Barqani added ``What makes you laugh[*]?" *i.e., after `Umar's remark, "God keep you smiling, messenger of God." (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Jabir reported God's messenger as saying, "I entered paradise and met ar-Rumaisa', the wife of Abu Talha. Hearing a movement, I asked who it was and was told that it was Bilal. I saw a palace with a girl in the courtyard and when I asked whose palace it was, I was told that it belonged to `Umar b. al-Khattab. I wanted to enter and look at it, but I remembered your jealous nature." `Umar replied, "Messenger of God for whom I would give my father and mother as ransom, could I be jealous of you?" (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Abu Sa'id reported God's messenger as saying, "While I was asleep, I saw people being presented before me wearing shirts some of which reached the nipples while others did not reach so far. Then `Umar b. al-Khattab was presented to me wearing a shirt which he was trailing." He was asked how he interpreted that and replied that it meant religion. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Ibn 'Umar told that he heard God's messenger say, "While I was asleep I was brought a jug of milk and drank till I could see what was drunk coming out at my nails. Then I gave what I had left to `Umar b. al-Khattab." He was asked how he interpreted it and replied that it meant knowledge. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Ibn `Umar reported God's messenger as saying, "God has placed truth upon `Umar's tongue and heart." Tirmidhi transmitted it.

In Abu Dawud's version on the authority of Abu Dharr he said, "God has placed truth on `Umar's tongue and he speaks it." Ali said. We did not think it impossible that the Sakina[*] should speak with `Umar's tongue. Baihaqi transmitted it in Dala'il an nubuwa.

Ibn `Abbas reported the Prophet as saying, "0 God, strengthen Islam with Abu Jahl b. Hisham, or `Umar b. al-Khattab." In the morning `Umar went to the Prophet and accepted Islam; then prayed openly in the mosque. Ahmad and Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Jabir told that when `Umar addressed Abu Bakr as the best of men after God's messenger, Abu Bakr replied that seeing he had said that, he could tell him he had heard God's messenger say, "The sun has not risen on a better man than `Umar.'' Tirmidhi transmitted it, saying this is a gharib tradition.

`Uqba b. `Amir reported the Prophet as saying, "If there were to be a prophet after me, he would be `Umar b. al-Khattab." Tirmidhi transmitted it, saying this is a gharib tradition.

Buraida told that God's messenger went out on one of his expeditions, and when he came back a black slave-girl came and said, "Messenger of God, I have vowed that if God brings you back safe, I shall play the tambourine in front of you and sing.'' He replied, "If you have made a vow, play; otherwise, do not.'' She began to play and-Abu Bakr entered while she was playing; then `Ali entered while she was playing; then `Uthman entered while she was playing; then `Umar entered and she threw the tambourine under her and sat on it. God's messenger then said, "The devil is afraid of you, `Umar. I was sitting while she was playing, then Abu Bakr entered while she was playing, then `Ali entered while she was playing, then `Uthman entered while she was playing, but when you entered, `Umar, she threw down the tambourine." Tirmidhi transmitted it, saying this is a hasan sahih gharib tradition.

When God's messenger was seated, we heard confused sounds and boys' voices, so he got up and saw an Abyssinian woman dancing with the boys around her. He said, "Come and look, `A'isha," so I went and placed my chin on God's messenger's shoulder and began to look at her over his shoulder. He then said to me, "Have you not had enough? Have you not had enough?" and I began to say, "No," in order that I might look where I was with him. But `Umar came along, and when the people ran away from her[*] God's messenger said, "I am looking at the devils of jinn and men who have fled from `Umar." I then went back. *i.e., the Abyssinian woman. Tirmidhi transmitted it, saying this is a hasan sahih gharib tradition.

I agreed with my Lord[1] regarding three matters. I said, "Messenger of God, would that we could take Abraham's station as a place of prayer!" and the revelation came down, "And take Abraham's station as a place of prayer[2]." I said, "Messenger of God, both pious and profligate come in where your women are. If only you would order them to seclude themselves!" Then the verse about secluding came down[3]. The Prophet's wives united in jealousy and I said, "Perhaps if he divorces you his Lord will give him better wives than you in place of you." Then a revelation to that effect came down[4]. In a version by Ibn `Umar he told that 'Umar said: I agreed with my Lord regarding three matters, Abraham's station, the seclusion, and the prisoners at Badr. i.e., he expressed opinions which were found to agree with Quran verses revealed later. Cf. Quran. 2: 125. Cf. Quran, 33:53. Cf. Quran, 66:5. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

(1) By the mention of the prisoners at the battle of Badr. He ordered that they be killed and God most high sent down, "Were it not that a decree had come previously from God a severe punishment would have come to you for what you took[1]." (2) By his mention of the seclusion. He commanded the Prophet's wives to seclude themselves and Zainab said to him, "Have you been set over us, son of al-Khattab, when the revelation comes down in our houses?" Then God most high sent down, "And when you ask them for anything ask them from behind a screen[2]." (3) By the Prophet's supplication, "0 God, strengthen Islam by `Umar." (4) By his opinion about Abu Bakr to whom he was the first to swear allegiance. Quran, 8:68. Quran, 33:53. Ahmad transmitted it.

I swear by God that till the end of his life we thought that that man was no one other than `Umar b. al-Khattab. Ibn Majah transmitted it.

Ibn `Umar asked me something about him, i.e., 'Umar, and when I informed him, he said, "I never saw anyone after the time when God's messenger was taken who was more earnest or excellent up to the end of his life than `Umar." Bukhari transmitted it.

When `Umar was stabbed he began to suffer, and Ibn `Abbas who seemed to be trying to console him said, "Do not worry about all that. You were a good companion to God's messenger and when he left you, he was pleased with you; you were a good companion to Abu Bakr and when he left you, he was pleased with you; you have been a good companion to the Muslims and if you leave them, you will do so when they are pleased with you." He replied, "As for what you have mentioned about my companionship with God's messenger and his good pleasure, that was simply a favour from God which He bestowed on me; as for what you have mentioned about my companionship with Abu Bakr and his good pleasure, that was simply a favour from God which He bestowed on me; but as for my anxiety which you see, it is on account of you and your companions. I swear by God that if I had as much gold as would fill the earth, I would ransom myself with it from God's punishment before seeing Him." Bukhari transmitted.

Abu Huraira said God's messenger told that while a man was driving a cow, he grew weary and mounted on its back, whereupon it said, "We were not created for this, but only for tilling the ground." The people said, "Glory be to God! Can a cow speak?" and God's messenger replied, "I believe it, as also do Abu Bakr and `Umar, but they were not present at the time. He then told that while a man was shepherding some sheep of his, a wolf attacked one of them and seized it. Its owner caught up on it and rescued it and the wolf said to him, "Who will look after it when the beast of prey's day comes and it has no shepherd but me?" The people said, "Glory be to God! Can a wolf speak?" and he replied, "I believe it, as also do Abu Bakr and `Umar," but they were not present at the time. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

I was standing among some people who made supplication to God for `Umar when he had been placed on his couch[*], and a man behind me who had put his elbow on my shoulder was saying, "God have mercy on you! I hope God may place you along with your two companions, because I often heard God's messenger say, `I, Abu Bakr and `Umar were...', `I, Abu Bakr and `Umar did... `I, Abu Bakr and 'Umar went off...' `I, Abu Bakr and `Umar entered...', `I, Abu Bakr and `Umar went out...'" Ibn `Abbas said that when he turned round, he saw it was `Ali b. Abu b. Talib. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Abu Sa'id al-Khudri reported the Prophet as saying, "The inhabitants of paradise and those of `Illiyin will see one another as you see a sparkling star in the extremities of the sky, and Abu Bakr and `Umar will be among the latter, having been shown special favour." It is transmitted in Sharh as-sunna, and Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah transmitted something to the same effect.

Anas reported God's messenger as saying, "Abu Bakr and `Umar will be the chiefs of the middle-aged inhabitants of paradise, of those who belonged to earliest and latest times, except the prophets and messengers." Tirmidhi transmitted it, and Ibn Majah transmitted it on `Ali's authority.

Hudhaifa reported God's messenger as saying, "I do not know how long I shall remain among you, so copy those two who will remain after I am gone, Abu Bakr and `Umar." Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Anas told that when God's messenger entered the mosque no one but Abu Bakr and `Umar raised his head. They would smile to him and he would smile to them. Tirmidhi transmitted it, saying this is a gharib tradition.

Ibn `Umar told that the Prophet went out one day and entered the mosque with Abu Bakr and `Umar, one on his right and the other on his left, holding their hands. He said, "We shall be raised thus on the day of resurrection." Tirmidhi transmitted it, saying this is a hasan gharib tradition.

`Abdallah b. Hantab told that the Prophet saw Abu Bakr and `Umar and said, "These are hearing and sight[*]." Tirmidhi transmitted it in mursal form.

Abu Sa'id al-Khudri reported God's messenger as saying. "There is no prophet who does not have two wazirs from the inhabitants of heaven and two from the inhabitants of the earth. My two wazirs from the inhabitants of heaven are Gabriel and Michael, and my two wazirs from the inhabitants of the earth are Abu Bakr and `Umar." Tirmidhi transmitted it, saying this is a hasan gharib tradition.

Abu Bakra told that a man said to God's messenger, "I saw as though a scale descended from the sky. You and Abu Bakr were weighed and you were heavier Abu Bakr and `Umar were weighed and Abu Bakr was heavier; `Umar and `Uthman were weighed and `Umar was heavier; then the scale was taken up." God's messenger was grieved about that, meaning that what the man told him grieved him. He then said, "There will be a caliphate on the model of prophecy, then God will give the kingdom to whom He wills." Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Ibn Mas'ud reported the Prophet as saying, "One who will be one of the inhabitants of paradise will come to you;" then Abu Bakr came along. He then said, "One who will be one of the inhabitants of paradise will come to you;" then `Umar came along. Tirmidhi transmitted it, saying this is a gharib tradition.

While God's messenger's head was on my lap on a moonlight night I asked, "Messenger of God, has anyone done as many good deeds as there are stars in the sky?" He replied, "Yes„ `Umar has." I asked how Abu Bakr's good deeds compared and he replied, "All `Umar's good deeds are like one of Abu Bakr's good deeds." Razin transmitted it.

God's messenger was lying in his house with his thighs, or his legs, uncovered when Abu Bakr asked permission to enter and he gave him permission while he was in that condition and he conversed. `Umar asked permission to enter and he gave him permission while he was like that and he conversed. Then `Uthman asked permission to enter and God's messenger sat up and arranged his clothing. When he went out 'A'isha said, "Abu Bakr entered and you did not stir for him or worry about him; then `Umar entered and you did not stir for him or worry about him; then `Uthman entered and you sat up and arranged your clothing." He replied, "Shall I not be modest with one towards whom the angels are modest?" In a version he said, "'Uthman is a modest man, and I was afraid that if I allowed him to enter when I was in that state, he might not tell me what he wanted." Muslim transmitted it.

Talha b. `Ubaidallah reported God's messenger as saying, "Every prophet has a companion, and my companion (i.e., in paradise) will be `Uthman." Tirmidhi transmitted it, and Ibn Majah transmitted it on Abu Huraira's authority. Tirmidhi said this is a gharib tradition whose isnad is not strong, and is broken.

I was with the Prophet when he was urging the people to help the army of distress[*]. `Uthman got up and said, "Messenger of God, I shall provide a hundred camels with their cloths and saddles in God's path." Afterwards he urged that help be given the army, and `Uthman got up and said, "I shall provide two hundred camels with their cloths and saddles in God' path." Again, he urged and 'Uthman got up and said, "I shall provide three hundred camels with their cloths and saddles in God's path." I saw God's messenger coming down from the pulpit, and he was saying, "Anything he does will not count against `Uthman after this; anything he does will not count against `Uthman after this." *This is a name applied to the expedition to Tabuk in 9 A.H. Tirmidhi transmitted it.

When the Prophet equipped the army of distress `Uthman brought him a thousand dinars in his sleeve and scattered them in his lap; and I saw the Prophet turning them over in his lap and saying twice, "`Uthman will not be injured by anything he does after to-day." Ahmad transmitted it.

When God's messenger gave orders for the oath of allegiance of God's good pleasure[*] `Uthman had gone to Mecca as God's messenger's messenger. Then when the people had taken the oath of allegiance God's messenger said, "`Uthman is engaged in God's business and in His messenger's business." He then struck one of his hands on the other, and God's messenger's hand on behalf of `Uthman was better than the people's hands on their own behalf. *The oath of allegiance al-Hudaibiya. Cf. Quran, 48:18 Tirmidhi transmitted it.

I was present at the house[*] when 'Uthman looked out on the people and said, "I adjure you by God and by Islam, are you aware that when God's messenger came to Medina and it had no water considered fresh but Bi'r Ruma, desiring that he and the Muslims might dip their buckets in it, he asked who would buy Bi'r Ruma for a better one in paradise, and I bought it from my capital? Yet you are preventing me from drinking of it to-day so that I have to drink salty water." When they swore by God that they were aware he said, "I adjure you by God and by Islam, are you aware that when the mosque became too small for the people God's messenger asked who would buy the plot of the family of so and so for a better one in paradise and add it to the mosque, and I bought it from my capital? Yet to-day you are preventing me from praying two rak'as in it." When they swore by God that they were aware he said, "I adjure you by God and by Islam, are you aware that I equipped the army of distress from my property?" When they swore by God that they were aware he said, "I adjure you by God and by Islam, are you aware that when God's messenger was on Thabir at Mecca accompanied by Abd Bakr, `Umar and me the mountain shook so that its stones were falling one after another to the ground below, so he kicked it with his foot and said, `Be still, Thabir, for there are only a prophet, a friend and two martyrs on you'?" When they swore by God that they were aware he said three times, "God is most great. They have testified by the Lord of the Ka'ba that I am a martyr." *`Uthman's house, when he was besieged during the revolt in which he was killed. Tirmidhi, Nasa'i and Daraqutni transmitted it.

I heard God's messenger when he mentioned the civil wars and their nearness; and when a man who was veiled by a garment passed by, he said, "On that day this man will be rightly guided." I got up and went to him and found he was `Uthman b. `Affan, then making him face the Prophet I asked if this was the man, and he replied, "Yes." Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah transmitted it, Tirmidhi saying this is a hasan sahih tradition.

`A'isha reported the Prophet as saying, "Perhaps God will clothe you with a shirt, `Uthman, and if the people want you to take it off, do not take it off for them[*]." *Mirqat, 5:558, interprets this as referring to the Caliphate which he is told not to resign even though the people should wish him to abdicate. Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah transmitted it, Tirmidhi saying the tradition contains a long story.

Ibn `Umar told that God's messenger mentioned a civil commotion and said of `Uthman, "This one will be wrongfully killed in it." Tirmidhi transmitted it, saying this is a hasan tradition whose isnad is gharib.

Abu Sahla told that `Uthman said to him on the day of the house, "God's messenger made a covenant with me and I shall show endurance in adhering to it." Tirmidhi transmitted it, saying this is a hasan sahih tradition.

`Uthman b. `Abdallah b. Mauhib told that a man who belonged to Egypt came with the purpose of making the pilgrimage to the House and saw some people seated. He asked who these people were and was told that they were Quraish. He asked who was shaikh among them, and when he was told that he was `Abdallah b. `Umar, he said, "I have a question to ask you, Ibn `Umar, so tell me. Do you know that `Uthman fled at the battle of Uhud?" He replied, "Yes." He asked, "Do you know that he was absent from Badr and failed to be present there?" He replied, "Yes." He asked, "Do you know that he was absent from the oath of allegiance of God's good pleasure and failed to be present there?" He replied, "Yes." The man said, "God is most great," and Ibn `Umar said, "Come and let me explain things to you. As for his flight at the battle of Uhud, I testify that God forgave him; as for his absence from Badr, he was married to God's messenger's daughter Ruqayya who was ill, and he was told by God's messenger that he would have the merit and the portion of a man who had been present at Badr; and as for his absence from the oath of allegiance of God's good pleasure, if there had been anyone more honourable than `Uthman in the valley of Mecca he would have sent him[*], but God's messenger sent `Uthman, and the oath of allegiance of God's good pleasure took place after `Uthman had gone to Mecca. God's messenger then said of his right hand, `This is `Uthman's hand,' and he struck his hands together saying, `This is for Uthman'." Ibn `Umar then said, `Go away now, and keep that with you." *When the Prophet came to al-Hadaibiya, he sent 'Uthman as an envoy to Mecca to explain that the Muslims desired to enter Mecca and perform the rites at the Ka'ba. 'Umar had begged to be excused from this duty as he had no influential friends in the city, and suggested that `Uthman was in a more favourable position in that respect. Bukhari transmitted it.

The Prophet began to tell `Uthman something in private and `Uthman's colour changed. On the day of the house, we asked him if he would not fight and he replied, "No, God's messenger charged me with something and I shall show endurance in adhering to it." Abu Habiba told that he entered the house when `Uthman was besieged in it and heard Abu Huraira asking `Uthman's permission to speak. He granted him permission, so he got up, praised and extolled God, then stated that he had heard God's messenger say, "After I am gone you will encounter civil strife and disagreement (or he said, disagreement and civil strife)." One of the people asked him, "To whom should we adhere, messenger of God?" or, "What do you command us to do? He replied, "Adhere to the commander and his companions," pointing at the same time to Uthman. Baihaqi transmitted the two traditions in Dala'il an-nubuwa

Anas told that the Prophet, Abu Bakr, `Umar and `Uthman went up Uhud and when it quivered because of them the Prophet kicked it with his foot and said, "Keep steady, Uhud, for there are only a prophet, a friend and two martyrs on you." Bukhari transmitted it.

When I was with the Prophet in one of the gardens of Medina and a man came asking that the gate be opened, the Prophet said, "Open it for him and give him good news of paradise." I opened the gate for him and found He was Abu Bakr, and when I told him the good news God's messenger had given me, he praised God. Another man came and asked that the gate be opened, and the Prophet said, "Open it for him and give him good news of paradise." I opened the gate for him and found he was `Umar, and when I informed him for what the Prophet had said he praised God. Another man asked that the gate be opened, and he said, "Open it for him and give him good news of paradise after a trial which will afflict them." I found he was `Uthman, and when I informed him of what the Prophet had said he praised God and then said, "God is the One whose help is sought." (Bukhari and Muslim.)

When God's messenger was alive, we used to say, "Abu Bakr, `Umar and `Uthman, God be pleased with them!" Tirmidhi transmitted it.

When we got up and left God's messenger, we said that the good man was God's messenger and that their being joined together meant that they were the rulers over the matter with which God had sent His Prophet. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Sa`d b. Abu Waqqas told that God's messenger said to `Ali, "You are in the same position with relation to me as Aaron was with relation to Moses; but there will be no prophet after me." (Bukhari and Muslim.)