and hesitation is evidence of a lack of precision and retention. It is well known that one who has retained something is proof against one who has not. And Allah knows best.

Furthermore, the hadith under discussion has a supporting witness in the hadith of Ibn ʿUmar, who said:

The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, mentioned a tribulation. Then a man passed by, and he said:

“This veiled man will be killed in it on that day, wrongfully.”

I looked and saw that it was ʿUthmān ibn ʿAffān, may Allah be pleased with him.

Al-Tirmidhī recorded it (9/296/3708), as did Aḥmad (2/115), through the route of Sinān ibn Hārūn, from Kulayb ibn Wāʾil, from Ibn ʿUmar, who said ... and then mentioned it. Al-Tirmidhī said:

“A good, singular hadith.”

I say: It is as he said; indeed, it is strengthened by the preceding report. Sinān ibn Hārūn was truthful, though he had some weakness, as stated in al-Taqrīb. Al-Ḥāfiẓ Ibn Kathīr, in al-Bidāyah (7/208), endorsed al-Tirmidhī’s grading of it as good. *

3119—“A tribulation will certainly emerge from beneath the feet—or from between the legs—of this man”—meaning ʿUthmān, may Allah be pleased with him—“and, on that day, he and whoever follows him will be upon guidance.”

Aḥmad recorded it (4/236), as did Ibn Abī ʿĀṣim (2/591/1295), al-Ṭabarānī in al-Muʿjam al-Kabīr (20/316/753), and Musnad al-Shāmiyyīn (2/394), through several routes from Muʿāwiyah, from Sulaym ibn ʿĀmir, from Jubayr ibn Nufayr, who said:

We were encamped with Muʿāwiyah after the killing of ʿUthmān, may Allah be pleased with him, when Kaʿb ibn Murrah stood up.