English Translation

Muhammad bin ‘AbdurRahman bin Mujabbar narrated from his father, from his grandfather, that `Hadrat Uthman (may Allah be well pleased with him) looked out at those who were besieging him. He greeted them with salam but they did not respond to him. `Hadrat Uthman (may Allah be well pleased with him) said: “Is Hadrat Talhah among the people?” Hadrat Talhah said: “Yes.” He said: “Verily, to Allah we belong and unto Him is our return! I greet people among whom you are and they do not return the greeting.” Hadrat Talhah said: “I returned the greeting.” `Hadrat Uthman said: “This is not the way to return the greeting, I made you hear me but you did not make me hear you. O Hadrat Talhah, I adjure you by Allah, did you hear the Noble Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) say: “The blood of a Muslim is not permissible except in one of three cases: if he disbelieves after believing, or he commits zina after having been married, or he kills a soul and may be killed in return.” Hadrat Talhah said: “Yes, by Allah.” `Hadrat Uthman said takbeer, then he said: “By Allah, I have never denied Allah since I came to know Him. I never committed zina during the Jahiliyyah or in Islam. I abstained during the Jahiliyyah because I hated it and in Islam so as to maintain my chastity. And I have never killed anyone in return for which killing me would become permissible.”