Sahih al-Bukhari 7218

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كتاب الأحكام ›

Chapter: The appointment of a caliph

Chain of Narration (Isnad)

Narrated by Ibn Umar 5 narrators

Muhammad bin Yusuf al-Baykandi Atbāʿ Atbāʿ al-Tābiʿīn Sufyan bin 'Uyaynah Atbāʿ al-Tābiʿīn 107 AH – 196 AH Hisham bin Urwa Tābiʿī ~61 AH – 146 AH 'Urwa ibn al-Zubayr Tābiʿī 23 AH/643 CE – 93 AH/713 CE Ibn Umar Companion 10 BH/613 CE – 74 AH/693 CE

Narrated `Abdullah bin `Umar:It was said to `Umar, "Will you appoint your successor?" `Umar said, "If I appoint a Caliph (as my successor) it is true that somebody who was better than I (i.e., Abu Bakr) did so, and if I leave the matter undecided, it is true that somebody who was better than I (i.e., Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)) did so." On this, the people praised him. `Umar said, "People are of two kinds: Either one who is keen to take over the Caliphate or one who is afraid of assuming such a responsibility. I wish I could be free from its responsibility in that I would receive neither reward nor retribution I won't bear the burden of the caliphate in my death as I do in my life."

Reference

Sahih al-Bukhari 7218

In-book reference

Book 93, Hadith 78

USC-MSA web (English)

Vol. 9, Book 89, Hadith 325

Translation by Muhsin Khan · Language: EN

Arabic Text

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يُوسُفَ، أَخْبَرَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ عُرْوَةَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ قَالَ قِيلَ لِعُمَرَ أَلاَ تَسْتَخْلِفُ قَالَ إِنْ أَسْتَخْلِفْ فَقَدِ اسْتَخْلَفَ مَنْ هُوَ خَيْرٌ مِنِّي أَبُو بَكْرٍ، وَإِنْ أَتْرُكْ فَقَدْ تَرَكَ مَنْ هُوَ خَيْرٌ مِنِّي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَأَثْنَوْا عَلَيْهِ فَقَالَ رَاغِبٌ رَاهِبٌ، وَدِدْتُ أَنِّي نَجَوْتُ مِنْهَا كَفَافًا لاَ لِي وَلاَ عَلَىَّ لاَ أَتَحَمَّلُهَا حَيًّا وَمَيِّتًا‏.‏

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