Yahya ibn Bukayr reported to us; al-Layth narrated to me, from ʿUqayl, from Ibn Shihab, from ʿUrwah, from ʿĀʾishah—may Allah be pleased with her—who, recalling what had befallen ʿUthmān ibn ʿAffān, said:

“I wish I had been forgotten and left in oblivion. By Allah, there was never a single matter of ʿUthmān’s sanctity I wanted violated but that the same was violated concerning me. Indeed, by Allah, had I wished for his killing, I myself would have been killed. O ʿUbayd Allah ibn ʿAdī, let no one deceive you after what you already know. By Allah, I never belittled the deeds of the Prophet’s Companions until those men who maligned ʿUthmān arose. They addressed him with words that ought never be uttered, recited in a manner that ought never be adopted, and prayed a prayer the like of which ought never be performed. Yet when I reflected on their conduct, I realized—by Allah—that their actions do not even approach the deeds of the Companions of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him. Therefore, whenever you are impressed by someone’s eloquent speech, say: ‘Work, and Allah will see your deeds, and His Messenger’ (Qur’an 9:105). Let no one cause you to take the matter lightly.”