the ledge to the Prophet’s left and let his legs hang into the well. I then returned and sat down, saying to myself, “If Allah intends good for So-and-so”—meaning my brother—“He will bring him.” Someone soon shook the door. I asked, “Who is it?” He replied, “ʿUthmān ibn ʿAffān.” I said, “Hold on a moment,” went to the Prophet, informed him, and he said, “Grant him permission and give him the glad tidings of Paradise together with a trial that will befall him.”

I went back and said, “Enter, for the Messenger of Allah gives you the glad tidings of Paradise along with a trial that will befall you.” He entered, but the ledge was now full, so he sat facing them on the opposite side. Saʿīd ibn al-Musayyab said, “I interpreted that to mean their graves.”

Agreed upon. Another wording adds: “The Messenger of Allah ordered me to guard the door,” and it also states that when ʿUthmān received the glad tidings, he praised Allah and then said, “Allah alone is the One whose help is sought.”

Explanation of terms: The word wajjah, with fatḥa on the wāw and a shadda on the jīm, means “he turned toward.” Biʾr Arīs is vocalized with fatḥa on the hamza, kasra on the rāʾ, followed by a yāʾ with sukūn and a sīn; it is declinable, though some treat it as indeclinable. The word qaf, with ḍamma on the qāf and a shadda on the fāʾ, refers to the masonry built around a well. The phrase ʿalā rislik, normally read with kasra on the rāʾ—though some read it with fatḥa—means “take it easy, be gentle.”

[Commentary]
The author (may Allah have mercy on him) cites this narration in the chapter on the recommendation to convey glad tidings of good things.