Al-Adab Al-Mufrad — Hadith #36477

Sa'id ibn al-'As reported that 'Uthman and 'A'isha told him that Abu Bakr asked for permission to come in to the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, while he was lying of 'A'isha's bed, wearing 'A'isha's woollen shirt. He gave Abu Bakr permission to enter while he was like that. he gave him what he needed and then Abu Bakr left. Then 'Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, asked for permission to come in and he gave him permission to come in while he was like that. He gave him what he needed and then 'Umar left. 'Uthman said, "Then I asked for permission to come in and he sat up and told 'A'isha, 'Take your garment.' I told him what I needed and then I left.' 'A'isha asked, 'Messenger of Allah, why did I see that you did not do for Abu Bakr and 'Umar what you did for 'Uthman?' The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, ''Uthman is a modest man and I feared that if I gave him permission to come in while I was in that state he would not tell me what he needed.'"