مشكوة المصابيح
Mishkat al-Masabih
كتاب المناقب
The Book of Merits
(ذِكْرُ المُسْتَحِقِّينَ لِلْخِلَافَةِ)
(Mention of those deserving of the caliphate)
Hadith 6133
وَعَن عَليّ قَالَ: قيل لرَسُول اللَّهِ: مَنْ نُؤَمِّرُ بَعْدَكَ؟ قَالَ: «إِنْ تُؤَمِّرُوا أَبَا بَكْرٍ تَجِدُوهُ أَمِينًا زَاهِدًا فِي الدُّنْيَا رَاغِبًا فِي الْآخِرَةِ وَإِنْ تُؤَمِّرُوا عُمَرَ تَجِدُوهُ قَوِيًّا أَمِينًا لَا يَخَافُ فِي اللَّهِ لَوْمَةَ لَائِمٍ وَإِنْ تُؤَمِّرُوا عَلِيًّا-وَلَا أَرَاكُمْ فَاعِلِينَ-تَجِدُوهُ هَادِيًا مَهْدِيًّا يَأْخُذُ بِكُمُ الطَّرِيقَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ» . رَوَاهُ أَحْمد
`Ali told that when God's messenger was asked whom they should appoint commander after he had gone, he replied, "If you appoint Abu Bakr as commander you will find him trustworthy, with little desire for worldly goods but eager for the next world; if you appoint `Umar as commander you will find him trustworthy and strong, fearing for God's sake no one's blame; and if you appoint `Ali as commander, but I cannot see you doing so, you will find him a guide who is rightly guided who will lead you in the straight way." Ahmad transmitted it.
