Sahih al-Bukhari Book 62, Hadith 46
Al-Miswar bin Makhrama and `Abdur-Rahman bin Al-Aswad bin 'Abu Yaghuth said (to me), "What
forbids you to talk to `Uthman about his brother Al-Walid because people have talked much about
him?" So I went to `Uthman and when he went out for prayer I said (to him), "I have something to say
to you and it is a piece of advice for you " `Uthman said, "O man, from you." (`Umar said: I see that
he said, "I seek Refuge with Allah from you.") So I left him and went to them. Then the messenger of
`Uthman came and I went to him (i.e. `Uthman), `Uthman asked, "What is your advice?" I replied,
"Allah sent Muhammad with the Truth, and revealed the Divine Book (i.e. Qur'an) to him; and you
were amongst those who followed Allah and His Apostle, and you participated in the two migrations
(to Ethiopia and to Medina) and enjoyed the company of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and saw his way. No doubt,
the people are talking much about Al-Walid." `Uthman said, "Did you receive your knowledge
directly from Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) ?" I said, "No, but his knowledge did reach me and it reached (even) to a
virgin in her seclusion." `Uthman said, "And then Allah sent Muhammad with the Truth and I was
amongst those who followed Allah and His Apostle and I believed in what ever he (i.e. the Prophet)
was sent with, and participated in two migrations, as you have said, and I enjoyed the company of
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and gave the pledge of allegiance him. By Allah! I never disobeyed him, nor did I
cheat him till Allah took him unto Him. Then I treated Abu Bakr and then `Umar similarly and then I
was made Caliph. So, don't I have rights similar to theirs?" I said, "Yes." He said, "Then what are
these talks reaching me from you people? Now, concerning what you mentioned about the question of
Al-Walid, Allah willing, I shall deal with him according to what is right." Then he called `Ali and
ordered him to flog him, and `Ali flogged him (i.e. Al-Walid) eighty lashes.
The Prophet (ﷺ) entered a garden and ordered me to guard its gate. A man came and asked permission to enter. The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Admit him and give him the glad tidings of entering Paradise." Behold! It was Abu Bakr. Another man came and asked the permission to enter. The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Admit him and give him the glad tidings of entering Paradise." Behold! It was `Umar. Then another man came, asking the permission to enter. The Prophet (ﷺ) kept silent for a short while and then said, "Admit him and give him the glad tidings of entering Paradise with a calamity which will befall him." Behold! It was `Uthman bin `Affan. `Asim, in another narration, said that the Prophet (ﷺ) was sitting in a place where there was water, and he was uncovering both his knees or his knee, and when `Uthman entered, he covered them (or it).
During the lifetime of the Prophet (ﷺ) we considered Abu Bakr as peerless and then `Umar and then `Uthman (coming next to him in superiority) and then we used not to differentiate between the companions of the Prophet.