Bayhaqi 16535 — The leaders are from Quraysh

Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) said that Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: When the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) passed away, we learned that the Ansar were opposing us and had all gathered in the Saqifah (portico) of Banu Sa'idah, and Sayyiduna Ali and Sayyiduna al-Zubayr (may Allah be pleased with them both) and those with them also stayed away from us. The Muhajirun gathered and came to Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him). I said: "O Abu Bakr! Come with us to these brothers of ours from the Ansar." We set out towards them, and when we drew near to them, two righteous men from among them met us and mentioned what the people had agreed upon. They asked: "Where are you going, O Muhajirun?" We said: "To these brothers of ours from the Ansar." They said: "Do not go near them; settle your own matter (yourselves)." I said: "By Allah! We will certainly go to them." We went and reached them in the Saqifah of Banu Sa'idah, and there was a man wrapped up in a cloak in their midst. I asked: "Who is this?" They said: "This is Sayyiduna Sa'd bin Ubadah (may Allah be pleased with him)." I asked: "What is the matter with him?" They said: "He has a fever." When we had sat for a little while, their speaker bore witness (to the faith), praised Allah Almighty as He deserves, and then said: 'Amma ba'd' (after praise and glorification): We are the helpers of Allah('s religion) and the battalion of Islam, and you, O Muhajirun, are a small group among us. A small band of your people has crept in, and they want to cut us off from our roots and exclude us from the leadership. When he fell silent, I wanted to speak. I had prepared a speech that pleased me, which I wanted to put forward before Abu Bakr, and I used to spare him some of my sharpness. When I wanted to speak, Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "Wait." I disliked angering him, so Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) spoke, and he was more forbearing and more dignified than me. By Allah, he did not leave out a single word that had pleased me in my prepared speech except that he said the like of it, or better, on the spot, until he fell silent. He said: "Whatever good you have mentioned about yourselves, you are worthy of it, but this matter (leadership) will not be recognised except for this clan of Quraysh. They are the most central of the Arabs in lineage, home and standing. I am pleased for you with one of these two men, so pledge allegiance to whichever of them you wish." Then he took hold of my hand and the hand of Sayyiduna Abu Ubaydah bin al-Jarrah (may Allah be pleased with him), who was sitting between us. Nothing he said displeased me except that. By Allah, to be brought forward and have my neck struck, without that bringing me near to any sin, would have been dearer to me than to be made leader over a people among whom is Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him), unless my soul should tempt me at death with something I do not find (in it) now. Then a speaker of the Ansar said: "I am its well-rubbed stump and its well-propped palm (i.e. the one whose counsel is sought); O Quraysh, let there be one leader from us and one leader from you." Then there was much clamour and voices were raised, until I feared that disagreement would break out, so I said to Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him): "Stretch out your hand." He stretched out his hand, and I pledged allegiance to him; then the Muhajirun pledged allegiance, and after that the Ansar pledged allegiance to him.