[Machine] The Prophet ﷺ sent me to Uthman with a message. I found him in a room where there was a curtain. I entered and saw Ruqayyah sitting there. I have never seen two more beautiful people than them. Sometimes, I would look at Ruqayyah, and sometimes I would look at Uthman. When I returned, the Prophet ﷺ asked me, "Did you see them?" I replied, "Yes." He asked, "Did you see a more beautiful couple than them?" I said, "No, O Messenger of Allah. I would look at Ruqayyah sometimes and Uthman sometimes." Abu Al-Qasim (may Allah have mercy on him) said, "And this was before the revelation of the verse of Hijab."
بَعَثَنِي النَّبِيُّ ﷺ إِلَى عُثْمَانَ ؓ بِصَحْفَةٍ فِيهَا لَحْمٌ فَدَخَلْتُ عَلَيْهِ وَرُقَيَّةُ جَالِسَةٌ فَمَا رَأَيْتُ اثْنَيْنِ أَحْسَنَ مِنْهُمَا ؓ فَجَعَلْتُ مَرَّةً أَنْظُرُ إِلَى رُقَيَّةَ وَمَرَّةً أَنْظُرُ إِلَى عُثْمَانَ فَلَمَّا رَجَعْتُ قَالَ لِي النَّبِيُّ ﷺ «أَدَخَلْتَ عَلَيْهِمَا؟» قُلْتُ نَعَمْ قَالَ «هَلْ رَأَيْتَ زَوْجًا أَحْسَنَ مِنْهُمَا» قُلْتُ لَا يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ لَقَدْ جَعَلْتُ أَنْظُرُ مَرَّةً إِلَى رُقَيَّةَ وَمَرَّةً إِلَى عُثْمَانَ قَالَ أَبُو الْقَاسِمِ رَحِمَهُ اللهُ «وَهَذَا كَانَ قَبْلَ نُزُولِ آيَةِ الْحِجَابِ»