Abdullaah ibn ‘Umar (a Companion) narrated:
‘ “The Prophet of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, sent an army with Zayd ibn Haarithah as the leader, and he said: “If Zayd is killed or martyred, then Ja’far is the leader, and if Ja’far is killed or martyred, then ‘Abdullaah ibn Rawaahah is the leader.” ‘Abdullaah said: “I was in that battle, and we looked for Ja’far ibn Abu Taalib and found him amongst the dead. There were over ninety wounds in his body from sword blows and arrows.”
Anas ibn Maalik narrated (about the same above incident) that the Prophet of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, gave a speech, and said:
“Zayd took the banner until he was killed. Then Ja’far took the banner until he was killed. Then ‘Abdullaah ibn Rawaahah took the banner, and he was killed.” He, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, was crying as he said this. Then he, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said “Then Khaalid ibn AlWaleed took the banner without an order [given to him] and was granted victory.”
Aa’ishah narrated:
“I saw the Prophet of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, kiss ‘Uthmaan ibn Math’oon when he died, until I saw his tears on his cheeks.” In another narration: “His eyes were filled with tears.”
Muttalib ibn ‘Abdullaah (a Companion) narrated that when ‘Uthmaan ibn Math’oon (a Companion) died, he was taken to be buried. The Prophet of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, ordered a man to bring him a rock, but the man could not lift it. The Prophet of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, went to it and lifted up his sleeves.
Muttalib said: “The one who narrated this narration to me said: ‘It is as if I am looking at the whiteness of the forearms of the Prophet of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, when he uncovered them.’ He, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, then picked it up, and placed it by his head. He, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “I will recognize the grave of my brother by it [the rock], and I will bury close to it whoever dies from my family.’”
‘Uthmaan ibn Math’oon was the brother of the Prophet of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, from breastfeeding. He migrated to Ethiopia and to Madinah, and fought in the Battle of Badr. He used to forbid drinking alcohol even before Islam and was the first of the Muhaajireen (Muslims who migrated from Makkah to Madinah) to die in Madinah, in the month of Sha’baan, exactly thirty months after the migration. He was a devout worshipper and one of the best of the Companions