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THREE WHO WERE PROMISED PARADISE

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“Abu Musa Ash'ari made his ablution in his house then left with the intention to be near the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, and spend the day in his company. When he arrived at the Mosque he inquired about the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, and was told that he had left in a certain direction. Abu Musa said, ‘I went after him and inquired about him and found him in a place called the Well of Aries. I sat down at the door till he had completed his ablution. Then I went to him and saw him sitting on the ledge of the well. The Prophet had pulled his loin cloth up to his knees and dangled his feet in the well. I greeted him and returned to the door and said to myself: 'I shall be the Prophet's doorman today.'

Presently Abu Bakr came and knocked on the door, I asked, ‘Who is it?’ he replied, 'Abu Bakr.' I asked him to wait a moment and I went to the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, and said, 'O Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, Abu Bakr is at the door and asks for permission to enter.' He told me, 'Give him permission and greet him with the promise of Paradise.' I returned and told Abu Bakr: ‘You may enter, and the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, greets you with the promise of Paradise.’ Abu Bakr entered and sat down beside the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, on the ledge, he pulled his loin cloth up to his knees and dangled his feet in the well just as the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, had done. I returned to the door and sat down.

I had left my brother at home, making his ablution, intending that he join me. I said to myself, 'If Allah wants good for him, He will bring him here.' Just then someone knocked at the door and I asked: 'Who is there?' The voice replied, ‘Omar, the son of Khattab.' So I asked him to wait for a moment and went to the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him. After greeting him I said, 'Omar is at the door and asks for permission to enter.' The Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, said, 'Give him permission and greet him with the promise of Paradise.' I returned to Omar and told him, 'You have permission to enter and the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, greets you with the promise of Paradise.' He entered and sat down with the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, on the ledge at his left and dangled his feet in the well.

I returned to the door, sat down and said to myself, 'If Allah wants good for my brother, He will bring him here.' Then someone knocked at the door and I asked: ‘Who is it?’ The voice replied, ‘Osman, the son of Affan.’ I asked him to wait a moment, and went to tell the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him. The Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, said, ‘Give him permission to enter and greet him with the promise of Paradise together with a misfortune which shall afflict him.’ I returned to him and said, ‘You may enter, and the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, greets you with the promise of Paradise, together with a misfortune which shall afflict you.’ He entered and finding no place on the ledge sat down on the other side opposite to them.

Sa'id, the son of Musayyab said that the order in which they sat down indicated that the three who sat close to each other would have their graves close to one another and that the grave of Osman would be distanced from theirs. The Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, directed me to guard the door. When Osman was told his news he said, ‘Praise be to Allah, the Most High, the Owner of Might and Glory, He is my Helper.'”

Bukhari and Muslim with a chain up to Abu Musa Ash'ari who related this hadith.