It is narrated from Qays bin Ubad: I heard Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) saying on the day of the Battle of the Camel: "O Allah, I declare before You my innocence of the blood of Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him). On the day Uthman was martyred my mind reeled, and I felt a stranger to myself. People came to me for the pledge of allegiance, and I said: By Allah, I feel shame before Allah to take the pledge of people who killed a man about whom the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: 'Should I not feel shy of one of whom even the angels feel shy?' And I feel shame before Allah to take the pledge while Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him) lies slain on the ground and has not yet been buried." So those people went back. Then, when he had been buried, the people came again and demanded the pledge of allegiance from me, and I said: "O Allah, I am fearful of this (heavy responsibility) towards which I am stepping." Then, with firm resolve, I accepted the pledge. When the people addressed me as "O Amir al-Mu'minin," it was as if my heart split, and I said: "O Allah, take (retribution or account) from me on behalf of Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him) until You are pleased." This hadith is sahih (authentic) on the condition of the two Shaykhs (Bukhari and Muslim), but they did not record it.