Al-Madāʾinī relates—through Jarīr ibn Ḥāzim, from Hizzān ibn Saʿīd—who said: Rajāʾ ibn Ḥaywah told me:
When Sulaymān ibn ʿAbd al-Malik grew gravely ill, ʿUmar ibn ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz saw me in the palace going in and out, pacing back and forth. He said, “Rajāʾ, I call Allah and the religion of Islam to witness: do not mention me to the Commander of the Faithful or suggest me, for by Allah I have no strength for this responsibility.”
I rebuked him, saying, “You are eager for the caliphate!” He felt ashamed, and I went in to Sulaymān. He asked, “Whom do you deem fit for this office?”
I replied, “Fear Allah, for you are about to meet Him—Exalted is He—and He will question you about this trust and what you have done with it.”
He said, “Whom do you recommend?”
I answered, “ʿUmar ibn ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz.”
He said, “What shall I do about ʿAbd al-Malik’s covenant to al-Walīd and then to me concerning ʿĀtikah’s two sons—whichever of them survives?”
I responded, “Appoint him after al-Walīd.”
He said, “You have spoken correctly. Bring me a sheet.”
So I brought him a sheet, and he wrote a decree appointing ʿUmar, and after him Yazīd ibn ʿAbd al-Malik. I then summoned some men; they entered, and he said, “My testament is in this document with Rajāʾ—bear witness to it and seal the sheet.”
Not long afterwards he died. I restrained the women from wailing and went out to the people. They asked, “How is the Commander of the Faithful?” I said, “Since he became ill he has never been calmer than he is now.” They said, “Praise be to Allah.”
Ibn ʿUyaynah said: A man who was present at Dābiq—the rallying place of the army—told me that Sulaymān died there. Rajāʾ ibn Ḥaywah, who managed his affairs and counsel, came out to the people, informed them of his death, ascended the pulpit and said, “The Commander of the Faithful has written a document and made a covenant”—having told them of his death—“are you listening and ready to obey?”
They said, “Yes.”
Hishām added, “We will listen and obey, provided the successor named is a man from the house of ʿAbd al-Malik.” The people pulled him down until he fell to the ground, saying, “We hear and obey!”
Then Rajāʾ said, “Rise, O ʿUmar,”—and he was still on the pulpit.
ʿUmar said, “By Allah, this is a position I have never once asked Allah for.”