The manner of the pledge of allegiance

Sayyiduna Ubadah bin al-Samit (may Allah be pleased with him) said: We pledged allegiance to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) to hear and obey, "in hardship and ease, in what we like and dislike, that we would not contest the authority of those entitled to it, that we would stand by (or speak) the truth wherever we are, and that we would not fear the blame of any blamer."

Same as the previous narration.

Same as the previous narration, but at the end these words are added: "We will not dispute (with those in authority) in any matter, except when we see open disbelief for which there is proof from Allah."

Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) said: We used to pledge allegiance to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) to hear and obey, as far as we were able.

Sayyiduna Jarir (may Allah be pleased with him) said: I pledged allegiance to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) to hear and obey, and he (peace and blessings be upon him) prompted me (to add): "As far as I am able, and to be sincere to every Muslim."

Sayyiduna Jabir bin Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with them both) relates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) stayed in Makkah for ten years. He (peace and blessings be upon him) would meet people in their dwellings, at the market of Ukaz and at Majannah, and during the Hajj season (at various places), saying: "Who will help me so that I may convey the message of Allah? And for him is Paradise." (The narrator says that eventually) we said (among ourselves): "(How long) will we leave the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) alone, wandering in the mountains of Makkah and fearing (his enemies)?" So seventy of our men went during the Hajj season, and we agreed to meet him at the Shi'b (valley) of al-Aqabah. When we had gathered there, we asked him (peace and blessings be upon him): "On what shall we pledge allegiance to you?" He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Pledge allegiance to me that you will hear and obey (me) in every state, that you will spend (in the way of Allah) in hardship and in ease, that you will enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong, that you will speak (the truth) regarding Allah without fearing the blame of any blamer, that you will help me when I come to you, and that you will defend me just as you defend yourselves, your wives and your children (and for you is Paradise)." So we pledged allegiance to him (peace and blessings be upon him) on these matters.

Sayyiduna Ma'qil bin Yasar al-Muzani (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The people pledged allegiance to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) on the day of al-Hudaybiyah under the tree, and I was holding up one of its branches. We did not pledge allegiance to him to die, but we pledged allegiance to him that we would not flee.

Sayyiduna Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) said: On the day of al-Hudaybiyah we were 1,400. We pledged allegiance to him (peace and blessings be upon him) while Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) was holding his (peace and blessings be upon him) hand under the tree. We did not pledge allegiance to him (peace and blessings be upon him) to die, but rather that we would not flee.

Sayyiduna Salamah bin al-Akwa' (may Allah be pleased with him) said: I pledged allegiance to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) on the day of al-Hudaybiyah, then I moved aside, and the people began pledging allegiance. He said to me: "Will you not pledge allegiance?" I said: "I have already pledged." He said: "And (pledge) again." (Yazid bin Abi Ubayd said:) I asked him: "On what did you pledge allegiance?" He said: "On death."

Same as the previous narration.

Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Zayd (may Allah be pleased with him) relates that at the time of (the battle of) al-Harrah, a man came and said: "There is so-and-so, taking the pledge of allegiance from people." He asked: "On what?" He replied: "On death." He said: "After the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), I will not pledge allegiance to anyone on this."

Ibn al-Afif (may Allah be pleased with him) said: I saw Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) taking the pledge of allegiance from people after the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). People were gathered around him, and he was saying: "Pledge allegiance to me to hear and obey, for Allah, for His Book, and then for the leader." The people pledged allegiance, but I did not. I stood by him for a while, and I was at that time at the age of puberty or a little above it, and first I learned his conditions; then I came and pledged allegiance on all of them as well. Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) raised his gaze to me and then lowered it, and I saw that he was very pleased with me, may Allah have mercy on him.

Sayyiduna al-Miswar bin Makhramah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The group whom Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) had appointed (to choose the caliph) gathered and consulted one another. Sayyiduna Abd al-Rahman bin Awf (may Allah be pleased with him) said to them: "I am not one who will compete with you for this matter, but if you wish, I will choose for you one from among you." So they left that to Sayyiduna Abd al-Rahman (may Allah be pleased with him). When they had entrusted their matter to Sayyiduna Abd al-Rahman (may Allah be pleased with him), the people flocked to him and all inclined towards him, until I did not see anyone following any one of that group or treading on his heels. The people turned to Sayyiduna Abd al-Rahman (may Allah be pleased with him), consulting him and speaking to him in private during those nights, until the night after whose morning we pledged allegiance to Sayyiduna Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him).
Sayyiduna al-Miswar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: Sayyiduna Abd al-Rahman (may Allah be pleased with him) came to me after part of the night had passed and knocked on my door, and I woke up. He said: "I see you are asleep! By Allah, I have not had much sleep these three (nights). Go and call Sayyiduna al-Zubayr and Sayyiduna Sa'd (may Allah be pleased with them both)." I called them for him, and he consulted them both. Then he called me and said: "Call Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) for me." I called him, and he spoke with him in private until the middle of the night had passed. Then he (Ali) got up from him hopeful (of being chosen), and Sayyiduna Abd al-Rahman (may Allah be pleased with him) was somewhat apprehensive about Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him). Then he said: "Call Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him) for me," and he spoke with him in private for a long time, until the caller to the dawn prayer separated them. When the people had prayed the dawn prayer and that group had gathered at the pulpit, Sayyiduna Abd al-Rahman (may Allah be pleased with him) sent for those of the Muhajirun and the Ansar who were present, and sent for the commanders of the armies, who had come to that Hajj with Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him). When they had gathered, Sayyiduna Abd al-Rahman (may Allah be pleased with him) bore witness (to the faith) and said: 'Amma ba'd' (after that): "O Ali (may Allah be pleased with him)! I have looked carefully into the people's matter, and I have not seen them consider anyone equal to Sayyiduna Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him), so do not give (anyone) cause against yourself." Then he took the hand of Sayyiduna Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him) and said: "I pledge allegiance to you upon the Sunnah of Allah, the Sunnah of His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), and (the way of) the two caliphs after him." So Sayyiduna Abd al-Rahman (may Allah be pleased with him) pledged allegiance to him, and then the people pledged allegiance to him: the Muhajirun, the Ansar, the commanders of the armies and the Muslims.

Abdullah bin Dinar (may Allah have mercy on him) said that Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) wrote to Abd al-Malik bin Marwan, who was asking him for his pledge of allegiance: "Bismillah al-Rahman al-Rahim (In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful). Amma ba'd (to proceed): To Abd al-Malik, the Commander of the Believers, from Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both). Salamun alayka (Peace be upon you). I praise Allah, besides whom there is no god, and I affirm (my commitment) to hear and obey, according to the Sunnah of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), as far as I am able."

This has already preceded.