Ahnaf bin Qais says that once we set out with the intention of performing Hajj. We passed through Madinah Munawwarah. While we were still at our encampment, a person came and said that the people in Masjid Nabawi appear to be very anxious. I, along with my companion, reached there and saw that people had gathered around a few individuals present in the mosque. I made my way through them and stood there, and saw that Sayyiduna Ali, Sayyiduna Zubair, Sayyiduna Talha, and Sayyiduna Sa’d bin Abi Waqqas (may Allah be pleased with them) were standing there. Not much time had passed when Sayyiduna Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him) also arrived, walking slowly. He came and asked,“Is Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) here?”The people said,“Yes!”Then, one by one, he mentioned the names of the aforementioned companions (may Allah be pleased with them) and asked about their presence, and the people replied in the affirmative. After that, he said,“I ask you by Allah, besides whom there is no deity, do you know that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) once said: ‘Whoever buys the enclosure of camels for such-and-such tribe, Allah will forgive his sins.’ I bought it and went to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and informed him of the purchase. He (peace and blessings be upon him) said, ‘Include it in our mosque, you will get its reward.’”The people affirmed this. Then he said,“I ask you by Allah, besides whom there is no deity, do you know that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: ‘Who will buy the well of Rumah?’ I bought it for a considerable sum, and went to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and informed him that I had bought it. He (peace and blessings be upon him) said, ‘Dedicate it for the Muslims to drink from, you will get its reward.’”The people affirmed this as well. Then Sayyiduna Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him) said,“I ask you by Allah, besides whom there is no deity, do you know that on the occasion of Jais al-‘Usrah (the expedition of Tabuk), the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), looking at the faces of the people, said: ‘Whoever arranges the equipment for these people for jihad, Allah will forgive him.’ I provided so much equipment for them that not even a bridle or a rope was lacking?”The people affirmed this as well, and Sayyiduna Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him) said three times,“O Allah, bear witness!”Saying this, he went back.