It is narrated from Sayyidah Aisha Siddiqa (may Allah be pleased with her) and Sayyiduna Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him) that once Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) sought permission to visit the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). At that time, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was lying on the bed and had covered himself with the sheet of Sayyidah Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her). The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) granted him permission and remained lying in the same manner. Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) finished his business and left. After a short while, Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) came and sought permission; the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) also granted him permission but remained in the same state. He too finished his business and left. Sayyiduna Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him) says that after a short while, I came and sought permission, so the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) sat up and said to Sayyidah Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her), "Gather your clothes." After a short while, I too finished my business and left. Sayyidah Aisha Siddiqa (may Allah be pleased with her) asked, "O Messenger of Allah! The attention you gave when Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him) came, you did not give when Abu Bakr and Umar (may Allah be pleased with them) came. What was the reason for this?" The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) replied, "Uthman possesses a great deal of modesty and shyness. I feared that if I called him in as I was and remained in my state, he would not be able to fulfill the purpose for which he came." And according to some narrations, he said, "Should I not show modesty before the one before whom even the angels show modesty?"