Mukhtasar Muslim

`Sayyiduna Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) says that` I went to Umm al-Mu’minin Hafsa (may Allah be pleased with her) and she said, “Do you know that your father will not appoint anyone as caliph?” I said, “He will not do so.” She said, “He will surely do so.” I swore that I would mention this to him. Then I remained silent; even the next morning I could not say it to him, but I felt as if I was carrying a mountain in my hand (such was the burden of the oath). Finally, I returned to him; he began asking me about the people’s condition, and I kept informing him. Then I said, “I have heard something from the people and have sworn that I will mention it to you. They think that you will not appoint anyone as caliph. If you had a shepherd for your camels or goats, and then he came to you leaving those camels and goats behind, would you not think that those animals have been ruined? In that case, the matter of people is even more important.” My saying this made him thoughtful, and for a while he kept his head bowed (pondering). Then he raised his head and said, “Allah, Glorious and Majestic, will protect His religion. If I do not appoint a caliph, then the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) did not appoint anyone as caliph. And if I do appoint a caliph, then Sayyiduna Abu Bakr al-Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him) appointed a caliph.” Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) said, “By Allah, when he mentioned the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and Sayyiduna Abu Bakr al-Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him), I understood that he would not equate anyone with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), and he would not appoint a caliph.”