Anas said: When the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, ordered the Pledge of Allegiance of Ridwan (at Hudaybiyah) ‘Uthman ibn ‘Affan was the messenger of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and his family and grant them peace, to the people of Makkah. So people pledged allegiance. The Prophet, may Allah bless him and his family and grant them peace, said, ”Uthman ibn ‘Affan is upon the business of Allah and the business of His Messenger,’ and he struck one of his two hands upon the other, so that the hand of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, was better than their hands were for them themselves.
He was absent, but he was present, rady Allahu ‘anh. He was at the periphery, he was at the center.
Beyond the outward fame of this is a little known echo of etiquette, that upon his return he reportedly also made the formal Pledge.
Totally informal, and also respectful discipleship.
Enter [the knowledge of] Almighty Allah through all the doors [of loving worship].
Also, this also has a resonance with that saying that it is better to be used for wisdom than to be wise.
And Almighty Allah knows best.