Narrated Ubaid-ullah bin Adi bin Al-Khiyar (RA):
Al-Miswar bin Makhrama and Abdur-Rahman bin Al-Aswad bin Abu Yaghuth said (to me), "What forbids you to talk to Uthman about his brother Al-Walid because people have talked much about him?" So I went to Uthman and when he went out for prayer I said (to him), "I have something to say to you and it is a piece of advice for you " Uthman said, "O man, from you." (Umar said: I see that he said, "I seek Refuge with Allah from you.") So I left him and went to them. Then the messenger of Uthman came and I went to him (i.e. Uthman), Uthman asked, "What is your advice?" I replied, "Allah sent Muhammad with the Truth, and revealed the Divine Book (i.e. Quran) to him; and you were amongst those who followed Allah and His Apostle, and you participated in the two migrations (to Ethiopia and to Medina) and enjoyed the company of Allahs Apostle ﷺ and saw his way. No doubt, the people are talking much about Al-Walid." Uthman said, "Did you receive your knowledge directly from Allahs Apostle ﷺ ?" I said, "No, but his knowledge did reach me and it reached (even) to a virgin in her seclusion." Uthman said, "And then Allah sent Muhammad with the Truth and I was amongst those who followed Allah and His Apostle ﷺ and I believed in what ever he (i.e. the Prophet) was sent with, and participated in two migrations, as you have said, and I enjoyed the company of Allahs Apostle ﷺ and gave the pledge of allegiance him. By Allah! I never disobeyed him, nor did I cheat him till Allah took him unto Him. Then I treated Abu Bakr (RA) and then Umar similarly and then I was made Caliph. So, dont I have rights similar to theirs?" I said, "Yes." He said, "Then what are these talks reaching me from you people? Now, concerning what you mentioned about the question of Al-Walid, Allah willing, I shall deal with him according to what is right." Then he called Ali and ordered him to flog him, and Ali flogged him (i.e. Al-Walid) eighty lashes.