It is narrated from Shaqiq that Sayyiduna Abdur Rahman bin Awf (may Allah be pleased with him) met Walid bin Uqbah. Walid said to him: "What is the matter that you behave coldly towards the Commander of the Faithful, Sayyiduna Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him)?" Sayyiduna Abdur Rahman bin Awf (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "Convey this message of mine to him, that I did not flee on the Day of Aynayn, that is, the Day of Uhud, nor did I stay behind in the Battle of Badr, nor have I abandoned the way of Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him)." After this, Walid went to Sayyiduna Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him) and mentioned these matters to him. In response, he said: "His saying that I (Ibn Awf, may Allah be pleased with him) did not flee on the Day of Aynayn, that is, the Day of Uhud— the question is, why does he reproach me for a shortcoming which Allah Almighty has already forgiven? The command of Allah, the Exalted, is: {إِنَّ الَّذِینَ تَوَلَّوْا مِنْکُمْ یَوْمَ الْتَقَی الْجَمْعَانِ إِنَّمَا اسْتَزَلَّہُمُ الشَّیْطَانُ بِبَعْضِ مَا کَسَبُوْا وَلَقَدْ عَفَا اللّٰہُ عَنْہُمْ} ... Indeed, those among you who turned their backs on the day when the two armies met, it was Satan who caused them to slip because of some of what they had earned. But Allah has already forgiven them. (Surah Al-Imran: 155) As for his saying that he did not stay behind from the Battle of Badr, I was engaged in nursing Sayyida Ruqayyah, the daughter of the Messenger (may Allah be pleased with her), and during those days she passed away. And the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) granted me the same share as he gave to the participants of Badr. Now, whoever the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) gave a share to, it means he was considered present. And as for his saying that he did not abandon the way of Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), my submission is that I do not have the ability to do so. Go and convey these things to him."

1 The meaning of not having the strength for the way of Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) is that Umar Farooq (may Allah be pleased with him) was extremely disinterested in the world, extremely concerned about the Hereafter, very compassionate towards his subjects, took great care of them, ensured justice for the oppressed, provided security for the fearful, was very gentle with the pious and virtuous, and extremely harsh with the oppressors and wrongdoers.

Uthman Ghani (may Allah be pleased with him) wants to say that I do not have the strength to adopt such lofty qualities. [دیکھیں مسند محقق، جلد:۱، ص: ۵۲۶] (Abdullah Rafiq)