—nor did he name Saʿīd ibn Zayd ibn ʿAmr ibn Nufayl al-ʿAdawī among them, because he was of his own tribe and he feared that the choice of ruler might be swayed on account of kinship. He charged the one who would succeed him to deal kindly with the people, each according to his station and rank.

He (may Allah be pleased with him) died three days later and was buried on Sunday, the first day of Muḥarram in the year 24 AH, in the Prophetic Chamber, next to al-Ṣiddīq, with the permission of the Mother of the Believers ʿĀʾishah (may Allah be pleased with her). On that same day the authority of the Commander of the Believers passed to ʿUthmān ibn ʿAffān (may Allah be pleased with him).

Al-Wāqidī (1) (may Allah have mercy on him) said: Abū Bakr ibn Ismāʿīl ibn Muḥammad ibn Saʿd related to me, from his father, who said: ʿUmar was stabbed on Wednesday when four nights remained of Dhū al-Ḥijjah in the year 23 AH, and he was buried on Sunday morning, at the appearance of the Muḥarram crescent of the year 24 AH. His tenure lasted ten years, five months, and twenty-one days, and allegiance was given to ʿUthmān on Monday, when three days had passed of the [month of] Muḥarram.

He continued: I mentioned that to ʿUthmān al-Akhnasī (2), and he replied, “It seems to me you have erred (3). ʿUmar died when four nights remained of Dhū al-Ḥijjah, and the bayʿah to ʿUthmān took place on the night when one night remained of Dhū al-Ḥijjah; thus his caliphate properly began with Muḥarram of the year 24 AH.”

Abū Maʿshar said: ʿUmar was killed when four nights remained of Dhū al-Ḥijjah, completing the year 23 AH; his caliphate lasted ten years, six months, and four days, and allegiance was given to ʿUthmān ibn ʿAffān (4).

Ibn Jarīr (5) transmitted from Hishām ibn Muḥammad that ʿUmar was killed when three nights remained of Dhū al-Ḥijjah in the year 23 AH; his caliphate lasted ten years, six months, and four days.

Sayf reported—on the authority of Khalīd ibn Dhafrah (6) and Mujālid—that allegiance was given to ʿUthmān [after three] (7) days of Muḥarram, whereupon he came out and led the people in the ʿAṣr prayer.

ʿAlī ibn Muḥammad al-Madāʾinī related, through Shurayk, from al-Aʿmash—or Jābir al-Juʿfī—from ʿAwf ibn Mālik al-Ashjaʿī and ʿĀmir ibn Abī Muḥammad, from the elders of his tribe, and ʿUthmān ibn ʿAbd al-Raḥmān, from al-Zuhrī, who said: “ʿUmar was stabbed on Wednesday when seven nights remained of Dhū al-Ḥijjah.” The first report is the most widely accepted, and Allah—Glorified and Exalted—is most knowing.