Messenger of Allah ﷺ was lying in the bed in my apartment with his thigh uncovered and Abu Bakr sought permission to enter. It was given to him and he conversed in the same very state (the Prophet's thigh or shank uncovered). Then ʿUmar sought permission for entering and it was given to him and he conversed in that very state. Then ʿUthman sought permission to enter; Messenger of Allah ﷺ sat down and he set right his clothes. Muhammad (one of the narrators) said: I do not say that it happened on the same day. He (ʿUthman) then entered and conversed and as he went out, ʿAisha said: Abu Bakr entered and you did not stir and did not observe much care (in arranging your clothes), then ʿUmar entered and you did not stir and did not arrange your clothes, then ʿUthman entered and you got up and set your clothes right, so he ﷺ said: Should I not show modesty to one whom even the Angels show modesty.  

كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ مُضْطَجِعًا فِي بَيْتِي كَاشِفًا عَنْ فَخِذَيْهِ أَوْ سَاقَيْهِ فَاسْتَأْذَنَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ فَأَذِنَ لَهُ وَهُوَ عَلَى تِلْكَ الْحَالِ فَتَحَدَّثَ ثُمَّ اسْتَأْذَنَ عُمَرُ فَأَذِنَ لَهُ وَهُوَ كَذَلِكَ فَتَحَدَّثَ ثُمَّ اسْتَأْذَنَ عُثْمَانُ فَجَلَسَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَسَوَّى ثِيَابَهُ قَالَ مُحَمَّدٌ وَلاَ أَقُولُ ذَلِكَ فِي يَوْمٍ وَاحِدٍ فَدَخَلَ فَتَحَدَّثَ فَلَمَّا خَرَجَ قَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ دَخَلَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ فَلَمْ تَهْتَشَّ لَهُ وَلَمْ تُبَالِهِ ثُمَّ دَخَلَ عُمَرُ فَلَمْ تَهْتَشَّ لَهُ وَلَمْ تُبَالِهِ ثُمَّ دَخَلَ عُثْمَانُ فَجَلَسْتَ وَسَوَّيْتَ ثِيَابَكَ فَقَالَ أَلاَ أَسْتَحِي مِنْ رَجُلٍ تَسْتَحِي مِنْهُ الْمَلاَئِكَةُ  

Then I sought permission from him and he got up and raid to A'isha: Wrap yourself well with your cloth, then I got my need fulfilled and came back. And A'isha said: Messenger of Allah, why is it that I did not see you feeling any anxiety in case of dressing properly in the presence of Abu Bakr and 'Umar (Allah be pleased with them) as you showed in case of 'Uthman. Thereupon Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: Verily Uthman is a person who is very modest and I was afraid that if I permitted him to enter in this very state he would not inform me of his need.  

أَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّ عَائِشَةَ زَوْجَ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ وَعُثْمَانَ حَدَّثَاهُ أَنَّ أَبَا بَكْرٍ اسْتَأْذَنَ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَهُوَ مُضْطَجِعٌ عَلَى فِرَاشِهِ لاَبِسٌ مِرْطَ عَائِشَةَ فَأَذِنَ لأَبِي بَكْرٍ وَهُوَ كَذَلِكَ فَقَضَى إِلَيْهِ حَاجَتَهُ ثُمَّ انْصَرَفَ ثُمَّ اسْتَأْذَنَ عُمَرُ فَأَذِنَ لَهُ وَهُوَ عَلَى تِلْكَ الْحَالِ فَقَضَى إِلَيْهِ حَاجَتَهُ ثُمَّ انْصَرَفَ قَالَ عُثْمَانُ ثُمَّ اسْتَأْذَنْتُ عَلَيْهِ فَجَلَسَ وَقَالَ لِعَائِشَةَ اجْمَعِي عَلَيْكِ ثِيَابَكِ فَقَضَيْتُ إِلَيْهِ حَاجَتِي ثُمَّ انْصَرَفْتُ فَقَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ مَا لِي لَمْ أَرَكَ فَزِعْتَ لأَبِي بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرَ ؓ كَمَا فَزِعْتَ لِعُثْمَانَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِنَّ عُثْمَانَ رَجُلٌ حَيِيٌّ وَإِنِّي خَشِيتُ إِنْ أَذِنْتُ لَهُ عَلَى تِلْكَ الْحَالِ أَنْ لاَ يَبْلُغَ إِلَىَّ فِي حَاجَتِهِ  

This hadith has been transmitted on the authority of Uthman and A'isha with the same wording.  

أَنَّ أَبَا بَكْرٍ الصِّدِّيقَ اسْتَأْذَنَ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَذَكَرَ بِمِثْلِ حَدِيثِ عُقَيْلٍ عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ  

Open it for him and give him glad tidings of Paradise and, lo, it was Abu Bakr. I opened (the gate) for him and gave him the glad tidings of Paradise. Then another person asked for the door to be opened, whereupon he said: Open it and give him the glad tidings of Piradise. He said: I went away and, lo, it was 'Umar. I opened it for him and gave him the glad tidings of Paradise. Then still another man asked for the door to be opened, and thereupon Allah's Apostle ﷺ said: Open it and give him the glad tidings of Paradise after a trial would afflict him. I went and, lo, it was 'Uthman b. 'Affan. 1 opened the door and gave him the glad tidings of Paradise and informed him (what the Prophet had said). Thereupon he said: O Allah, grant me steadfastness. Allah is one Whose help is to be sought.  

بَيْنَمَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فِي حَائِطٍ مِنْ حَائِطِ الْمَدِينَةِ وَهُوَ مُتَّكِئٌ يَرْكُزُ بِعُودٍ مَعَهُ بَيْنَ الْمَاءِ وَالطِّينِ إِذَا اسْتَفْتَحَ رَجُلٌ فَقَالَ افْتَحْ وَبَشِّرْهُ بِالْجَنَّةِ قَالَ فَإِذَا أَبُو بَكْرٍ فَفَتَحْتُ لَهُ وَبَشَّرْتُهُ بِالْجَنَّةِ قَالَ ثُمَّ اسْتَفْتَحَ رَجُلٌ آخَرُ فَقَالَ افْتَحْ وَبَشِّرْهُ بِالْجَنَّةِ قَالَ فَذَهَبْتُ فَإِذَا هُوَ عُمَرُ فَفَتَحْتُ لَهُ وَبَشَّرْتُهُ بِالْجَنَّةِ ثُمَّ اسْتَفْتَحَ رَجُلٌ آخَرُ قَالَ فَجَلَسَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ فَقَالَ افْتَحْ وَبَشِّرْهُ بِالْجَنَّةِ عَلَى بَلْوَى تَكُونُ قَالَ فَذَهَبْتُ فَإِذَا هُوَ عُثْمَانُ بْنُ عَفَّانَ قَالَ فَفَتَحْتُ وَبَشَّرْتُهُ بِالْجَنَّةِ قَالَ وَقُلْتُ الَّذِي قَالَ فَقَالَ اللَّهُمَّ صَبْرًا أَوِ اللَّهُ الْمُسْتَعَانُ  

This hadith has been transmitted on the authority of Abu Musa al-Ash'ari with a slight variation of wording.  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ دَخَلَ حَائِطًا وَأَمَرَنِي أَنْ أَحْفَظَ الْبَابَ بِمَعْنَى حَدِيثِ عُثْمَانَ بْنِ غِيَاثٍ  

I would remain with Messenger of Allah ﷺ the whole day long. He came to the mosque, and asked about Allah's Apostle ﷺ. They (his Companions) said: He has gone in this direction. He (Abu Musa Ash'ari) said: I followed his steps asking about him until I came to Bi'r Aris (it is a well in the suburb of Medina). I sat by its wooden door until Messenger of Allah ﷺ had relieved himself and then performed ablution. I went to him and he was sitting with his shanks uncovered hp to the knees and his legs dangl- ing in that well. I offered him salutations. I then came back and sat at the door as if I had been a chamberlain at the door of Messenger of Allah ﷺ that day. There came Abu Bakr and knocked the door and I said: Who is it? He said: This is Abu Bakr. I said: Wait, please. I went and said: Messenger of Allah, here is Abu Bakr seeking permission. Thereupon he said: Admit him and give him glad tidings of Paradise. I came and I said to Abu Bakr to get in (and also told him) that Messenger of Allah ﷺ was giving him the glad tidings of Paradise. Abu Bakr got in and sat on the right side of Messenger of Allah ﷺ and dangled his feet in the well as Messenger of Allah ﷺ had done, and he uncovered his shanks. I then returned and sat there and I had left my brother as he had been performing ablution and he was to meet me and I said: If Allah would intend goodness for such and such he would intend goodness for his brother and He would bring him. I was thinking this that a person stirred the door. I said: Who is it. He said: This is Umar b., Khattab. I said: Wait. Then I came to Messenger of Allah ﷺ, greeted him and said: Here is 'Umar seeking your. permission to get in. Thereupon he said: Let him come in and give him glad tid- ings of Paradise. I came to Umar and said: There is permission for you and glad tidings for you from Messenger of Allah ﷺ for Paradise. He got in and sat on the left side of Messenger of Allah ﷺ with his feet dangling in the well. I then returned and sat and said: If Allah would intend goodness for such and such (that is for his brother), He would bring him. And I was contemplat- ing over it that a man stirred the door and I said: Who is it? He said: This is Uthman b. Affan. I said: Wait, please. I then came to Messenger of Allah ﷺ and informed him. and he said: Admit him and give him glad tidings (and inform) him of the turmoil which he shall have to face. I came and said: Get in, Messenger of Allah ﷺ gives you the glad tidings of Paradise along with the trial which you shall have to face. He got in and saw the elevated plan round the well fully occupied. He sat on the other side. Sharik said that Sa'id b. al-Musayyib reported: I drew a conclusion from it that their groves would be (in this very state, the graves of Hadrat Abu Bakr, 'Umar Faruq by the tide of the Prophet [may peace be upon him] and the grave of Hadrat 'Uthman away from their graves).  

لأَلْزَمَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَلأَكُونَنَّ مَعَهُ يَوْمِي هَذَا قَالَ فَجَاءَ الْمَسْجِدَ فَسَأَلَ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ فَقَالُوا خَرَجَ وَجَّهَ هَا هُنَا قَالَ فَخَرَجْتُ عَلَى أَثَرِهِ أَسْأَلُ عَنْهُ حَتَّى دَخَلَ بِئْرَ أَرِيسٍ قَالَ فَجَلَسْتُ عِنْدَ الْبَابِ وَبَابُهَا مِنْ جَرِيدٍ حَتَّى قَضَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ حَاجَتَهُ وَتَوَضَّأَ فَقُمْتُ إِلَيْهِ فَإِذَا هُوَ قَدْ جَلَسَ عَلَى بِئْرِ أَرِيسٍ وَتَوَسَّطَ قُفَّهَا وَكَشَفَ عَنْ سَاقَيْهِ وَدَلاَّهُمَا فِي الْبِئْرِ قَالَ فَسَلَّمْتُ عَلَيْهِ ثُمَّ انْصَرَفْتُ فَجَلَسْتُ عِنْدَ الْبَابِ فَقُلْتُ لأَكُونَنَّ بَوَّابَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ الْيَوْمَ فَجَاءَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ فَدَفَعَ الْبَابَ فَقُلْتُ مَنْ هَذَا فَقَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ فَقُلْتُ عَلَى رِسْلِكَ قَالَ ثُمَّ ذَهَبْتُ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ هَذَا أَبُو بَكْرٍ يَسْتَأْذِنُ فَقَالَ ائْذَنْ لَهُ وَبَشِّرْهُ بِالْجَنَّةِ قَالَ فَأَقْبَلْتُ حَتَّى قُلْتُ لأَبِي بَكْرٍ ادْخُلْ وَرَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يُبَشِّرُكَ بِالْجَنَّةِ قَالَ فَدَخَلَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ فَجَلَسَ عَنْ يَمِينِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ مَعَهُ فِي الْقُفِّ وَدَلَّى رِجْلَيْهِ فِي الْبِئْرِ كَمَا صَنَعَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ وَكَشَفَ عَنْ سَاقَيْهِ ثُمَّ رَجَعْتُ فَجَلَسْتُ وَقَدْ تَرَكْتُ أَخِي يَتَوَضَّأُ وَيَلْحَقُنِي فَقُلْتُ إِنْ يُرِدِ اللَّهُ بِفُلاَنٍ يُرِيدُ أَخَاهُ خَيْرًا يَأْتِ بِهِ فَإِذَا إِنْسَانٌ يُحَرِّكُ الْبَابَ فَقُلْتُ مَنْ هَذَا فَقَالَ عُمَرُ بْنُ الْخَطَّابِ فَقُلْتُ عَلَى رِسْلِكَ ثُمَّ جِئْتُ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَسَلَّمْتُ عَلَيْهِ وَقُلْتُ هَذَا عُمَرُ يَسْتَأْذِنُ فَقَالَ ائْذَنْ لَهُ وَبَشِّرْهُ بِالْجَنَّةِ فَجِئْتُ عُمَرَ فَقُلْتُ أَذِنَ وَيُبَشِّرُكَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ بِالْجَنَّةِ قَالَ فَدَخَلَ فَجَلَسَ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فِي الْقُفِّ عَنْ يَسَارِهِ وَدَلَّى رِجْلَيْهِ فِي الْبِئْرِ ثُمَّ رَجَعْتُ فَجَلَسْتُ فَقُلْتُ إِنْ يُرِدِ اللَّهُ بِفُلاَنٍ خَيْرًا يَعْنِي أَخَاهُ يَأْتِ بِهِ فَجَاءَ إِنْسَانٌ فَحَرَّكَ الْبَابَ فَقُلْتُ مَنْ هَذَا فَقَالَ عُثْمَانُ بْنُ عَفَّانَ فَقُلْتُ عَلَى رِسْلِكَ قَالَ وَجِئْتُ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ فَأَخْبَرْتُهُ فَقَالَ ائْذَنْ لَهُ وَبَشِّرْهُ بِالْجَنَّةِ مَعَ بَلْوَى تُصِيبُهُ قَالَ فَجِئْتُ فَقُلْتُ ادْخُلْ وَيُبَشِّرُكَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ بِالْجَنَّةِ مَعَ بَلْوَى تُصِيبُكَ قَالَ فَدَخَلَ فَوَجَدَ الْقُفَّ قَدْ مُلِئَ فَجَلَسَ وُجَاهَهُمْ مِنَ الشِّقِّ الآخَرِ قَالَ شَرِيكٌ فَقَالَ سَعِيدُ بْنُ الْمُسَيَّبِ فَأَوَّلْتُهَا قُبُورَهُمْ  

I set out with the intention (of meeting) Messenger of Allah ﷺ and came to know that he had gone to the gardens (in the suburb of Medina). I followed him and found him in a garden sitting upon an elevated place round the well with his shanks uncovered which had been dangling in the well. The rest of the hadith is the same but with this variation that there is no mention of the words of Sa'id: all drew a conclusion from it pertaining to their graves."  

حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو مُوسَى الأَشْعَرِيُّ هَا هُنَا وَأَشَارَ لِي سُلَيْمَانُ إِلَى مَجْلِسِ سَعِيدٍ نَاحِيَةَ الْمَقْصُورَةِ قَالَ أَبُو مُوسَى خَرَجْتُ أُرِيدُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَوَجَدْتُهُ قَدْ سَلَكَ فِي الأَمْوَالِ فَتَبِعْتُهُ فَوَجَدْتُهُ قَدْ دَخَلَ مَالاً فَجَلَسَ فِي الْقُفِّ وَكَشَفَ عَنْ سَاقَيْهِ وَدَلاَّهُمَا فِي الْبِئْرِ وَسَاقَ الْحَدِيثَ بِمَعْنَى حَدِيثِ يَحْيَى بْنِ حَسَّانَ وَلَمْ يَذْكُرْ قَوْلَ سَعِيدٍ فَأَوَّلْتُهَا قُبُورَهُمْ  

I concluded (from the manner of their sitting) the (order) of their graves. (The three) would be together (the graves of the Holy Prophet, Hadrat Abu Bakr and Hadrat Umar) and that of 'Uthman would be separate (from them).  

خَرَجَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَوْمًا إِلَى حَائِطٍ بِالْمَدِينَةِ لِحَاجَتِهِ فَخَرَجْتُ فِي إِثْرِهِ وَاقْتَصَّ الْحَدِيثَ بِمَعْنَى حَدِيثِ سُلَيْمَانَ بْنِ بِلاَلٍ وَذَكَرَ فِي الْحَدِيثِ قَالَ ابْنُ الْمُسَيَّبِ فَتَأَوَّلْتُ ذَلِكَ قُبُورَهُمُ اجْتَمَعَتْ هَا هُنَا وَانْفَرَدَ عُثْمَانُ