544 - And Al-Maymuni informed us, saying: Ibn Hanbal narrated to us, saying: Abu Mu'awiyah narrated to us, saying: Al-A'mash narrated to us, from 'Abd Allah ibn Sinan, he said: 'Abd Allah [ibn Mas'ud] said when 'Uthman was appointed as Caliph: "We have not spared any effort regarding the best of them, the one who possesses [excellent] qualities."
٥٤٤ - وَأَخْبَرَنَا الْمَيْمُونِيُّ، قَالَ: ثَنَا ابْنُ حَنْبَلٍ، قَالَ: ثَنَا أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ، قَالَ: ثَنَا الْأَعْمَشُ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ سِنَانٍ، قَالَ: قَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ حِينَ اسْتُخْلِفَ عُثْمَانُ: «مَا أَلَوْنَا عَنْ أَعْلَاهَا ذَا فُوقٍ»
