“Allah and the believers will accept no one but Abū Bakr.” (1)

And so it came to pass: Allah put him in command and the believers, to a man, pledged their allegiance to him, as has already been mentioned.

Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī also relates that a woman once asked, “Messenger of Allah, suppose I come and do not find you?”—hinting at his death. He replied, “If you do not find me, then go to Abū Bakr.” (2)

Moreover, both Ṣaḥīḥs record—on the authority of Ibn ʿUmar and Abū Hurayrah—that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

“While I was sleeping I found myself at a well. I drew from it as much water as Allah willed. Then the son of Abū Quḥāfah took the bucket and drew one or two bucketfuls; his drawing was weak—may Allah forgive him. Then the son of al-Khaṭṭāb took it, and it turned into a huge water-skin; never have I seen anyone of mankind perform such mighty work. He continued until the people had watered their herds and were fully satisfied.” (3)

Imām al-Shāfiʿī (4) (may Allah have mercy on him) said: “The dreams of the prophets are revelation.” His comment, “his drawing was weak,” refers to the brevity of Abū Bakr’s tenure, his swift passing, and his preoccupation with the Wars of Apostasy, which prevented him from attaining the conquests that ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb achieved during his longer reign.

I say: this vision is a glad-tidings of their successive leadership over the people, and events occurred exactly as foretold.

For that reason another ḥadīth has come down, transmitted by Aḥmad, al-Tirmidhī, Ibn Mājah, and Ibn Ḥibbān—from Rubayʿī ibn Ḥirāsh, from Ḥudhayfah ibn al-Yamān—in which the Prophet ﷺ said: “Follow the two who will come after me: Abū Bakr and ʿUmar.” (5) May Allah be pleased with them both. Al-Tirmidhī graded this report ḥasan.

He (6) also narrated it through Ibn Masʿūd, from the Prophet ﷺ.