Nasai

778. Commentary:

➊ The Ansar thought that since Madinah Munawwarah was originally their settlement, therefore the leader (the successor of the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) should be from among them. However, this was not merely an issue of appointing the leader of the city of Madinah, but rather it was the matter of the leader of the entire Islamic state. It is evident that the leader of the Islamic state should be someone who enjoys broad political support and belongs to a tribe that possesses fame, leadership, and honor—at least among the Arabs—because at that time Islam was limited to the Arabs, and in that era, no tribe other than Quraysh fulfilled these conditions. Due to being the custodians of the House of Allah (Baytullah), they enjoyed immense respect and honor throughout Arabia. All the Arabs acknowledged their leadership, and they were renowned and well-known across the entire Arabian Peninsula. These qualities were not possessed by the Ansar, which is why the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam had foretold or given guidance: «الأئمةُ من قريشٍ» "The caliphs will be from the Quraysh." [مسند أحمد : 129/3 ، و مسند أبي داود الطیالسي ، حدیث : 2247]

And among the Quraysh, the status and rank held by Abu Bakr radi Allahu anhu was unmatched by anyone else. He was the first to accept Islam, a friend of the Prophet even before prophethood, his companion and advisor until his death, his father-in-law, his companion during the migration (hijrah), the foremost among the ten given glad tidings of Paradise (asharah mubashsharah), superior to all the Companions in piety, generosity, and foresight, and respected and honored by all. For these reasons, the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam appointed him to lead the prayer during his illness. [صحیح البخاري ، الأذان ، حدیث : 678 ، و صحیح مسلم ، الصلاة ، حدیث : 418]

This was a clear indication that the next leader and caliph would also be Abu Bakr as-Siddiq (radi Allahu anhu), because it is not possible that the leader be someone and the congregation be led by someone else. The Ansar did not pay attention to this point. When Umar radi Allahu anhu drew their attention to it, the Ansar understood this point and the issue was resolved.

➋ The appointment of Abu Bakr as-Siddiq radi Allahu anhu to lead the prayer shows that only people of knowledge and virtue should be appointed to such a great position as leadership (imamah). Also, it is permissible to give preference to the most knowledgeable (a'lam) over the best reciter (aqra) when other objectives are considered, because according to authentic hadith, the best reciter (aqra) was Ubayy ibn Ka'b radi Allahu anhu. [جامع الترمذي ، المناقب ، حدیث : 3790 ، 3791 ، و سنن ابن ماجه ، السنة ، حدیث : 154]

However, it is not correct to deduce that the most knowledgeable (a'lam) should always be preferred over the best reciter (aqra) in an absolute sense, because the appointment of Abu Bakr as-Siddiq radi Allahu anhu was not only for leading the prayer, but it was also an indication towards the greater leadership (imamah kubra), i.e., his caliphate. And Allah knows best.