صحيح مسلم
Muslim
كتاب فضائل الصحابةThe Book of the Merits of the Companions
باب مِنْ فَضَائِلِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ الصِّدِّيقِ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ:Chapter: The Virtues Of Abu Bakr As-Siddiq (RA)
وحَدَّثَنِي الْحَسَنُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ الْحُلْوَانِيُّ ، حَدَّثَنَا جَعْفَرُ بْنُ عَوْنٍ ، عَنْ أَبِي عُمَيْسٍ . ح ، وحَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ بْنُ حُمَيْدٍ وَاللَّفْظُ لَهُ ، أَخْبَرَنَا جَعْفَرُ بْنُ عَوْنٍ ، أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو عُمَيْسٍ ، عَنْ ابْنِ أَبِي مُلَيْكَةَ ، سَمِعْتُ عَائِشَةَ : وَسُئِلَتْ مَنْ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ مُسْتَخْلِفًا لَوِ اسْتَخْلَفَهُ ؟ قَالَتْ : أَبُو بَكْرٍ ، فَقِيلَ لَهَا : ثُمَّ مَنْ بَعْدَ أَبِي بَكْرٍ ؟ قَالَتْ : عُمَرُ ، ثُمَّ قِيلَ لَهَا : مَنْ بَعْدَ عُمَرَ ؟ قَالَتْ : أَبُو عُبَيْدَةَ بْنُ الْجَرَّاحِ ، ثُمَّ انْتَهَتْ إِلَى هَذَا " .
Ibn Abu Mulaikah reported: I heard A'isha as saying and she was asked as to whom Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) would have nominated his successor if he had to nominate one at all. She said: Abu Bakr. It was said to her: Then whom after Abu Bakr? She said: Umar. It was said to her. Then whom after 'Umar? She said: Abu Ubaida bin Jarrab, and then she kept quiet at this.
Explanation & Benefits
Shaykh Maulana Abdul Aziz Alvi
Hadith Commentary:
Benefits and Issues:
From this hadith, it is understood that although the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) gave clear indications towards the caliphate of Abu Bakr (radi Allahu anhu)—that after me, Abu Bakr will be the caliph—he did not explicitly appoint him by name for the caliphate.
Therefore, in the beginning, there was some disagreement, but later, due to his virtues, the noble Companions (radi Allahu anhum) unanimously agreed upon his caliphate.
If Ali (radi Allahu anhu) had been appointed as the executor (wasi) and caliph, then he or one of his companions would have mentioned this after the passing of the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam).
Benefits and Issues:
From this hadith, it is understood that although the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) gave clear indications towards the caliphate of Abu Bakr (radi Allahu anhu)—that after me, Abu Bakr will be the caliph—he did not explicitly appoint him by name for the caliphate.
Therefore, in the beginning, there was some disagreement, but later, due to his virtues, the noble Companions (radi Allahu anhum) unanimously agreed upon his caliphate.
If Ali (radi Allahu anhu) had been appointed as the executor (wasi) and caliph, then he or one of his companions would have mentioned this after the passing of the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam).
Source: Tuhfat al-Muslim: Commentary on Sahih Muslim, Page: 6178
