حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عُقْبَةَ، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ الْيَشْكُرِيُّ الْبَصْرِيُّ قَالَ: حَدَّثَتْنِي جَدَّتِي أُمُّ كُلْثُومٍ بِنْتُ ثُمَامَةَ، أَنَّهَا قَدِمَتْ حَاجَّةً، فَإِنَّ أَخَاهَا الْمُخَارِقَ بْنَ ثُمَامَةَ قَالَ: ادْخُلِي عَلَى عَائِشَةَ، وَسَلِيهَا عَنْ عُثْمَانَ بْنِ عَفَّانَ، فَإِنَّ النَّاسَ قَدْ أَكْثَرُوا فِيهِ عِنْدَنَا، قَالَتْ: فَدَخَلْتُ عَلَيْهَا فَقُلْتُ: بَعْضُ بَنِيكِ يُقْرِئُكِ السَّلاَمَ، وَيَسْأَلُكِ عَنْ عُثْمَانَ بْنِ عَفَّانَ، قَالَتْ: وَعَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ وَرَحْمَةُ اللهِ، قَالَتْ: أَمَّا أَنَا فَأَشْهَدُ عَلَى أَنِّي رَأَيْتُ عُثْمَانَ فِي هَذَا الْبَيْتِ فِي لَيْلَةٍ قَائِظَةٍ، وَنَبِيُّ اللهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَجِبْرِيلُ يُوحِي إِلَيْهِ، وَالنَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَضْرِبُ كَفَّ، أَوْ كَتِفَ، ابْنِ عَفَّانَ بِيَدِهِ: اكْتُبْ، عُثْمُ، فَمَا كَانَ اللَّهُ يُنْزِلُ تِلْكَ الْمَنْزِلَةَ مِنْ نَبِيِّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِلاَّ رَجُلاً عَلَيْهِ كَرِيمًا، فَمَنْ سَبَّ ابْنَ عَفَّانَ فَعَلَيْهِ لَعْنَةُ اللهِ.
Umm Kulthum, the daughter of Thumama, related that she went out to answer a call of nature,. Her brother, al-Makhariq ibn Thumama, said, "Go to 'A'isha and ask her about 'Uthman ibn 'Affan. People have said a lot about him. She said, "I went to her and said, 'One of your brothers sends you greetings and asks you about 'Uthman ibn 'Affan.' 'A'isha said, 'Peace be upon and the mercy of Allah.' 'A'isha then went on, 'I testify that I saw 'Uthman in this house one hot night when the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, had received revelation through Jibril. The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, struck the palm - or held the hand - of Ibn 'Affan, saying, 'Write, 'Uthma! Allah has placed in this house with His Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, only a man who is honoured with Him. If anyone curses Ibn 'Affan, the curse of Allah is on him.'"
Cited in Al-Adab al-Mufrad (No. 828).