It is narrated from Abu Nadrah that Sayyiduna Uthman bin Affan (may Allah be pleased with him), giving a parable of tribulation (fitnah), said: "The parable of tribulation is like a group of three people who set out together on a journey. They travelled by night and reached a place where three roads met. One of them said: I will go to the right. So he went to the right and lost his way. The second said: I will go to the left. So he turned to the left and lost his way. And the third said: It is still night; I will remain in my place until morning so that I can take the right road (in the light)."

It is narrated from Abu al-Aliyah that he said: We used to be told that a time will soon come upon the people in which the best of them will be the one who sees the truth clearly near and so keeps away from the tribulations.