Why would our Prophet sit up straight when ʿUthmān (Hz. Osman) came in?

- Why did the Prophet (pbuh) sit up when Hz. Uthman entered though he did not change his position when Hz. Abu Bakr and Hz. Umar were there?

Dear Brother / Sister,

The hadith mentioned in the question is included in Muslim (Fadailus-Sahaba 26-27, (2401-2402). Since the hadith is included in Sahihu Muslim and since its narrators are reliable, it should be regarded as sound.  

If Hz. Uthman had seen that the Prophet was lying down, he would have left without asking a question so as not to disturb him. The Prophet (pbuh) knew about it, sat up and enabled Hz. Uthman to ask his question. As a matter of fact, the following explanation of the Prophet indicates it:   

"Uthman is a very shy person. If I had allowed him to enter without changing my position, I feared that he would have left without mentioning the reason why he had come."

This practice shows us that it is permissible to speak to friends by lying down. The Messenger of Allah, who is a model for us with all of his deeds, teaches his ummah something with this practice.

That Hz. Aisha wanted to put a cover on her when Hz. Uthman wanted to enter shows that this incident took place at some other time. For, it cannot be thought that Hz. Aisha was without a cover when Hz. Umar entered. It means the incidents that took place at different times were narrated in the same hadith. As a matter of fact, Muhammed b. Abi Harmala, who narrated the hadith said, "They did not take place on the same day." (Muslim, ibid) Thus, he clarified the issue. Accordingly, it is not in question for Hz. Aisha not be careful about covering her body when Hz. Umar was present.

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