It is narrated from Sayyiduna Uthman bin Affan (may Allah be pleased with him) that when the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) passed away, some of the Companions were so deeply affected that some of them were close to losing their senses. Sayyiduna Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him) says: I was also among such people. I was sitting in the shade of a house when Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) passed by me. He greeted me with salam, but I was not even aware that he had passed by or greeted me. Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) went and complained to Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) and said: Is it not astonishing to you that I passed by Sayyiduna Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him), greeted him with salam, but he did not even reply to my salam? Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) had already been chosen as the Caliph. Both of them came to me, greeted me with salam, and then Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) said: Your brother Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) has come to me and complained that he passed by you and greeted you with salam, but you did not reply to his salam. What was the reason for this? I replied: I did not do such a thing. Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: Why not? By Allah! I greeted you with salam and you did not reply. O Banu Umayyah! This is your arrogant habit. I replied: By Allah! I was not even aware that you had passed by me or greeted me. Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) said: Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him) is telling the truth. You were grieving over the separation from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), so you could not pay attention. I also said: Yes, that is how it was. They said: What? Sayyiduna Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him) said: Allah Almighty gave death to His Prophet, and we did not even get to ask him how salvation from Allah’s punishment will be on the Day of Judgment. Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) said: I have already asked him (peace and blessings be upon him) about this. So I got up and went to him and said: May my parents be sacrificed for you! Indeed, you were more deserving to ask about this matter. Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) said: I had asked: O Messenger of Allah! How will salvation from Allah’s punishment be on the Day of Judgment? The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: The word of Islam which I presented to my uncle, but he did not accept it—whoever accepts this word from me, that is, affirms it sincerely in his heart, then this very word (of Tawheed) will be the means of his salvation.