Abu Musa al-Ash'ari reported that while Allah's Messenger ( صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ) was in one of the gardens of Madinah, reclining against a pillow and fixing a stick in a mud, that a person came asking for the gate to be opened, whereupon he said: Open it for him and give him glad tidings of Paradise and, lo, it was Abu Bakr. I opened (the gate) for him and gave him the glad tidings of Paradise. Then another person asked for the door to be opened, whereupon he said: Open it and give him the glad tidings of Piradise. He said: I went away and, lo, it was 'Umar. I opened it for him and gave him the glad tidings of Paradise. Then still another man asked for the door to be opened, and thereupon Allah's Apostle ( صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ) said: Open it and give him the glad tidings of Paradise after a trial would afflict him. I went and, lo, it was 'Uthman bin 'Affan. 1 opened the door and gave him the glad tidings of Paradise and informed him (what the Holy Prophet ( صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ) had said). Thereupon he said: O Allah, grant me steadfastness. Allah is one Whose help is to be sought.

This hadith has been transmitted on the authority of Abu Musa al-Ash'ari with a slight variation of wording.

Abu Musa Ash'ari reported that he performed ablution in his house and then came out saying: I would remain with Allah's Messenger ( صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ) the whole day long. He came to the mosque, and asked about Allah's Apostle ( صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ) . They (his Companions) said: He has gone in this direction. He (Abu Musa Ash'ari) said: I followed his steps asking about him until I came to Bi'r Aris (it is a well in the suburb of Madinah). I sat by its wooden door until Allah's Messenger ( صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ) had relieved himself and then performed ablution. I went to him and he was sitting with his shanks uncovered hp to the knees and his legs dangl- ing in that well. I offered him salutations. I then came back and sat at the door as if I had been a chamberlain at the door of Allah's Messenger ( صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ) that day. There came Abu Bakr (RA) and knocked the door and I said: Who is it? He said: This is Abu Bakr. I said: Wait, please. I went and said: Allah's Messenger, here is Abu Bakr (RA) seeking permission. Thereupon he said: Admit him and give him glad tidings of Paradise. I came and I said to Abu Bakr (RA) to get in (and also told him) that Allah's Messenger ( صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ) was giving him the glad tidings of Paradise. Abu Bakr (RA) got in and sat on the right side of Allah's Messenger ( صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ) and dangled his feet in the well as Allah's Messenger ( صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ) had done, and he uncovered his shanks. I then returned and sat there and I had left my brother as he had been performing ablution and he was to meet me and I said: If Allah would intend goodness for such and such he would intend goodness for his brother and He would bring him. I was thinking this that a person stirred the door. I said: Who is it. He said: This is Umar bin , Khattab. I said: Wait. Then I came to Allah's Messenger ( صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ) , greeted him and said: Here is 'Umar seeking your. permission to get in. Thereupon he said: Let him come in and give him glad tid- ings of Paradise. I came to Umar and said: There is permission for you and glad tidings for you from Allah's Messenger ( صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ) for Paradise. He got in and sat on the left side of Allah's Messenger ( صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ) with his feet dangling in the well. I then returned and sat and said: If Allah would intend goodness for such and such (that is for his brother), He would bring him. And I was contemplat- ing over it that a man stirred the door and I said: Who is it? He said: This is 'Uthman bin Affan. I said: Wait, please. I then came to Allah's Messenger ( صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ) and informed him. and he said: Admit him and give him glad tidings (and inform) him of the turmoil which he shall have to face. I came and said: Get in, Allah's Messenger ( صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ) gives you the glad tidings of Paradise along with the trial which you shall have to face. He got in and saw the elevated plan round the well fully occupied. He sat on the other side. Sharik said that Sa'id bin al-Musayyib reported: I drew a conclusion from it that their groves would be (in this very state, the graves of Hadrat Abu Bakr, 'Umar Faruq by the tide of the Holy Prophet ( صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ) [may peace be upon him] and the grave of Hadrat 'Uthman away from their graves).

Abu Musa. reported: I set out with the intention (of meeting) Allah's Messenger ( صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ) and came to know that he had gone to the gardens (in the suburb of Madinah). I followed him and found him in a garden sitting upon an elevated place round the well with his shanks uncovered which had been dangling in the well. The rest of the hadith is the same but with this variation that there is no mention of the words of Sa'id: all drew a conclusion from it pertaining to their graves."

Sa'id bin al-Musayyib reported Abu Musa Ash'ari having said that Allah's Messenger ( صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ) set out one day to the suburbs of Madinah for reliev- ing himself. I followed his steps. The rest of the hadith is the same. Ibn Musayyib said: I concluded (from the manner of their sitting) the (order) of their graves. (The three) would be together (the graves of the Holy Prophet, Hadrat Abu Bakr (RA) and Hadrat Umar) and that of 'Uthman would be separate (from them).