Abu Bakra told that a man said to God's messenger, "I saw as though a scale descended from the sky. You and Abu Bakr were weighed and you were heavier Abu Bakr and `Umar were weighed and Abu Bakr was heavier; `Umar and `Uthman were weighed and `Umar was heavier; then the scale was taken up." God's messenger was grieved about that, meaning that what the man told him grieved him. He then said, "There will be a caliphate on the model of prophecy, then God will give the kingdom to whom He wills." Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud transmitted it.
Hadith Referenceمشكوة المصابيح / كتاب المناقب / 6066
Hadith Gradingالألبانی:صَحِيح | زبیر علی زئی:سنده ضعيف
Hadith Takhrij´تحقيق و تخريج: محدث العصر حافظ زبير على زئي رحمه الله` «سنده ضعيف، رواه الترمذي (2287 وقال: حسن صحيح) و أبو داود (4634) ٭ الحسن البصري مدلس و عنعن .»