(9) باب فِي الْخُلَفَاءِ
'Awf said:
I heard al-Hajjaj addressing the people say: The similitude of 'Uthman with Allah is like the similitude of Jesus son of Mary. He then recited the following verse and explained it: "Behold! Allah said: O Jesus! I will take thee and raise thee to Myself and clear thee (of the falsehood) of those who blaspheme." He was making a sign with his hand to us and to the people of Syria.
Reference: Sunan Abi Dawud 4641
In-book reference: Book 42, Hadith 46
English translation: Book 41, Hadith 4624