Narrated Al-Miswar bin Makhrama:The group of people whom `Umar had selected as candidates for the Caliphate gathered and consulted each other. `Abdur-Rahman said to them, "I am not going to compete with you in this matter, but if you wish, I would select for you a caliph from among you." So all of them agreed to let `Abdur-Rahman decide the case. So when the candidates placed the case in the hands of `Abdur-Rahman, the people went towards him and nobody followed the rest of the group nor obeyed any after him. So the people followed `Abdur-Rahman and consulted him all those nights till there came the night we gave the oath of allegiance to `Uthman. Al-Miswar (bin Makhrama) added: `Abdur-Rahman called on me after a portion of the night had passed and knocked on my door till I got up, and he said to me, "I see you have been sleeping! By Allah, during the last three nights I have not slept enough. Go and call Az-Zubair and Sa`d.' So I called them for him and he consulted them and then called me saying, 'Call `Ali for me." I called `Ali and he held a private talk with him till very late at night, and then 'Al, got up to leave having had much hope (to be chosen as a Caliph) but `Abdur-Rahman was afraid of something concerning `Ali. `Abdur-Rahman then said to me, "Call `Uthman for me." I called him and he kept on speaking to him privately till the Mu'adh-dhin put an end to their talk by announcing the Adhan for the Fajr prayer. When the people finished their morning prayer and that (six men) group gathered near the pulpit, `Abdur-Rahman sent for all the Muhajirin (emigrants) and the Ansar present there and sent for the army chief who had performed the Hajj with `Umar that year. When all of them had gathered, `Abdur- Rahman said, "None has the right to be worshipped but Allah," and added, "Now then, O `Ali, I have looked at the people's tendencies and noticed that they do not consider anybody equal to `Uthman, so you should not incur blame (by disagreeing)." Then `Abdur-Rahman said (to `Uthman), "I gave the oath of allegiance to you on condition that you will follow Allah's Laws and the traditions of Allah's Apostle and the traditions of the two Caliphs after him." So `Abdur-Rahman gave the oath of allegiance to him, and so did the people including the Muhajirin (emigrants) and the Ansar and the chiefs of the army staff and all the Muslims.
Reference
Sahih al-Bukhari 7207
In-book reference
Book 93, Hadith 67
USC-MSA web (English)
Vol. 9, Book 89, Hadith 314
Translation by Dr. M. Muhsin Khan · Language: EN
Sahih
Al-Miswar ibn Makhrama reported that the group whom 'Umar appointed [to decide on the next khalif] gathered and consulted one another. [He said,] "'Abdu'r-Rahman said to them, 'I am not going to contend with you for this business, but if you wish, I will select one of you for you.' They assigned that to 'Abdu'r-Rahman. When they put 'Abdu'r-Rahman in charge of their business, the people inclined to 'Abdu'r-Rahman so that I did not see any of the people following the rest of the group or going after them. The people inclined to 'Abdu'r-Rahman and consulted him during those nights until the night on which we gave allegiance to 'Uthman." Al-Miswar said, "'Abdu'r-Rahman came to me after part of the night had passed and knocked on the door until I woke up. He said, 'I see you are sleeping. By Allah, for these past three nights, I have not slept. Go and call az-Zubayr and Sa'd [ibn Abi Waqqas].' I called them for him and he consulted them. Then he called me and said, 'Call 'Ali for me.' I called him and he conversed privately with him until the middle of the night. Then 'Ali left him with high hopes. 'Abdu'r-Rahman feared something cocnerning 'Ali. Then he said, 'Call 'Uthman for me.' I called him and he conversed privately with him until the mu'adhdhin parted them with the Subh prayer. When the people had prayed Subh, people and that group had joined him at the minbar, he sent for those of the Muhajirun and Ansar who were present and he sent for the generals of the armies* who had come to perform hajj in that year with 'Umar. When they had gathered, 'Abdu'r-Rahman said the shahada and then said, 'Following on from that, 'Ali, I have looked into the business of the people and I do not see them considering that anyone is equal to 'Uthman, so do not bring about any cause for blame on yourself.' Then 'Abdu'r-Rahman said [to 'Uthman], 'I give you allegiance according to the sunna of Allah and His Messenger and the two khalifs after him.' So 'Abdu'r-Rahman gave him his allegiance and the people, the Muhajirun, Ansar, generals of the armies and the Muslims gave their allegiance to him." [*Mu'awiya. amir of Syria, 'Umayr ibn Sa'd, amir of Homs, al-Mughira ibn Shu'ba, amir of Kufa, Abu Musa al-Ash'ari, amir of Basra, 'Amr ibn al-'As, amir of Egypt.]
Reference
Sahih al-Bukhari 7207
In-book reference
Book 93, Hadith 67
USC-MSA web (English)
Vol. 9, Book 89, Hadith 314
Translation by Aisha Bewley · Language: EN
Sahih
