It is narrated from Abdullah bin Saba, he says: I heard Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) saying: This beard of mine will be stained with the blood of my head, and the most wretched man is waiting to treat me in such a manner. The people said: O Commander of the Faithful! Tell us about him so that we may not leave any trace even of his offspring. Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) said: If I do so, you will kill someone other than my actual killer. The people said: Well then, appoint someone as a caliph over us. He refused this as well and said: I will leave you just as the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) left you, that is, he (peace and blessings be upon him) did not appoint anyone as a caliph either. The people said: What will you say when you go to your Lord? He said: I will say: O Allah! As long as You willed, You kept me among them, then You called me to Yourself, and after me, You were among them; if You will, You may reform them, and if You will, You may cause discord among them.
Hadith Referenceالفتح الربانی / كتاب الخلافة والإمارة / 12389
Hadith Gradingمحدثین:صحیح
Hadith Takhrij«حسن لغيره، اخرجه ابن ابي شيبة: 14/ 596، وابويعلي: 341 ، (انظر مسند أحمد ترقيم الرسالة: 1078 ترقیم بيت الأفكار الدولية: 1078»