Sālim ibn ʿAbd Allāh narrated from his father: ʿUthmān, ʿAlī, al-Zubayr, ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn ʿAwf, and Saʿd came in to see ʿUmar—while Ṭalḥah was absent. He looked at them and said, “I have examined the people’s affair on your behalf and found that no schism is feared except one that might arise among you. Your community will choose only one of you three.

ʿAbd al-Raḥmān, if the people’s authority is placed in your hands, do not set the Banū Abī Muʿayṭ on the people’s necks.
ʿUthmān, if the people’s affair devolves upon you, do not set your relatives on the people’s necks.
ʿAlī, if the people’s affair devolves upon you, do not set the Banū Hāshim on the people’s necks.
Rise, consult among yourselves, and appoint one of you.”
So they rose and began to consult.

Ibn ʿUmar said: ʿUthmān called for me once or twice, wanting to include me in the matter, although ʿUmar had not named me. By Allah, I would not have liked to be among them, for my father knew that what would come of their business would be just as he had said; and, by Allah, I rarely heard anything cross his lips that did not prove true. When ʿUthmān persisted in summoning me, I said, “Do you not comprehend? You are being considered for leadership while the Commander of the Believers is still alive!” By Allah, it was as though I had awakened them. ʿUmar then said, “Be patient. Should anything happen to me, let Suhayb lead the people in prayer for three days. On the third day gather the nobles and the commanders of the troops and appoint one of you. Whoever seizes authority without consultation—strike off his head.”

Ibn ʿUmar also related: ʿUmar’s head was in my lap and he said, “Place my cheek on the ground.” I did so, and he cried, “Woe to me, and woe to my mother, if my Lord does not show me mercy.”

Abū al-Ḥuwairith reported: When ʿUmar died and was laid out for the funeral prayer, ʿAlī and ʿUthmān each stepped forward, wondering who should lead the prayer over him. ʿAbd al-Raḥmān said, “This is indeed….”