English narration
Narrated by عثمان بن عفان
While I was with 'Uthman, a man came to him and said, "Appoint your successor." 'Uthman said, "Has such successor been named?" He replied, "Yes, Az-Zubair." 'Uthman said, thrice, "By Allah! Indeed you know that he is the best of you."
النص العربي
حَدَّثَنِي عُبَيْدُ بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو أُسَامَةَ ، عَنْ هِشَامٍ ، أَخْبَرَنِي أَبِي , سَمِعْتُ مَرْوَانَ ، كُنْتُ عِنْدَ عُثْمَانَ أَتَاهُ رَجُلٌ ، فَقَالَ : اسْتَخْلِفْ ، قَالَ : وَقِيلَ ذَاكَ ، قَالَ : نَعَمْ الزُّبَيْرُ ، قَالَ : "
أَمَا وَاللَّهِ إِنَّكُمْ لَتَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّهُ خَيْرُكُمْ ثَلَاثًا
" .