The group of people whom `Umar had selected as candidates for the Caliphate gathered and consulted
each other. `Abdur-Rahman said to them, "I am not going to compete with you in this matter, but if
you wish, I would select for you a caliph from among you."
So all of them agreed to let `Abdur-Rahman decide the case. So when the candidates placed the case
in the hands of `Abdur-Rahman, the people went towards him and nobody followed the rest of the
group nor obeyed any after him. So the people followed `Abdur-Rahman and consulted him all those
nights till there came the night we gave the oath of allegiance to `Uthman. Al-Miswar (bin Makhrama)
added: `Abdur-Rahman called on me after a portion of the night had passed and knocked on my door
till I got up, and he said to me, "I see you have been sleeping! By Allah, during the last three nights I
have not slept enough. Go and call Az-Zubair and Sa`d.'
So I called them for him and he consulted them and then called me saying, 'Call `Ali for me." I called
`Ali and he held a private talk with him till very late at night, and then 'Al, got up to leave having had
much hope (to be chosen as a Caliph) but `Abdur-Rahman was afraid of something concerning `Ali.
`Abdur-Rahman then said to me, "Call `Uthman for me." I called him and he kept on speaking to him
privately till the Mu'adh-dhin put an end to their talk by announcing the Adhan for the Fajr prayer.
When the people finished their morning prayer and that (six men) group gathered near the pulpit,
`Abdur-Rahman sent for all the Muhajirin (emigrants) and the Ansar present there and sent for the
army chief who had performed the Hajj with `Umar that year. When all of them had gathered, `Abdur-
Rahman said, "None has the right to be worshipped but Allah," and added, "Now then, O `Ali, I have
looked at the people's tendencies and noticed that they do not consider anybody equal to `Uthman, so
you should not incur blame (by disagreeing)." Then `Abdur-Rahman said (to `Uthman), "I gave the
oath of allegiance to you on condition that you will follow Allah's Laws and the traditions of Allah's
Apostle and the traditions of the two Caliphs after him." So `Abdur-Rahman gave the oath of
allegiance to him, and so did the people including the Muhajirin (emigrants) and the Ansar and the
chiefs of the army staff and all the Muslims.
Sahih al-Bukhari Book 93, Hadith 67
That his father said, "In the year of the last Hajj of the Prophet (ﷺ) I became seriously ill and the Prophet (ﷺ)
used to visit me inquiring about my health. I told him, 'I am reduced to this state because of illness and
I am wealthy and have no inheritors except a daughter, (In this narration the name of 'Amir bin Sa`d is
mentioned and in fact it is a mistake; the narrator is `Aisha bint Sa`d bin Abi Waqqas). Should I give
two-thirds of my property in charity?' He said, 'No.' I asked, 'Half?' He said, 'No.' then he added, 'Onethird,
and even one-third is much. You'd better leave your inheritors wealthy rather than leaving them
poor, begging others. You will get a reward for whatever you spend for Allah's sake, even for what
you put in your wife's mouth.' I said, 'O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! Will I be left alone after my companions
have gone?' He said, 'If you are left behind, whatever good deeds you will do will upgrade you and
raise you high. And perhaps you will have a long life so that some people will be benefited by you
while others will be harmed by you. O Allah! Complete the emigration of my companions and do not
turn them renegades.' But Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) felt sorry for poor Sa`d bin Khaula as he died in Mecca."
(but Sa`d bin Abi Waqqas lived long after the Prophet (p.b.u.h).)
Sahih al-Bukhari Book 23, Hadith 53