204 - ‘Abdullāh narrated to us, saying: My father narrated to me, saying: Ja‘far ibn ‘Awn narrated to us, saying: Abū al-‘Umays narrated to us, from Ibn Abī Mulaykah, who said:

I heard ‘Ā’ishah when she was asked, “Whom would the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, have appointed as his successor had he appointed anyone?”

She replied, “Abū Bakr.”

Then she was asked, “Who after Abū Bakr?”

She replied, “‘Umar.”

Then she was asked, “After ‘Umar?”

She replied, “Abū ‘Ubaydah.” Then she stopped there.