, Talha, al-Zubayr, Sa‘d, and ‘Abd al-Rahmān ibn ‘Awf—Sa‘īd ibn Zayd was not included among them, although he was one of the ten promised Paradise and belonged to Banū ‘Adī, ‘Umar’s tribe—he said of his son ‘Abd Allāh: “ ‘Abd Allāh will attend your deliberations, but he will have no part in the decision.” He also instructed that Suhayb should lead the prayers after his death until they agreed upon one man.

When ‘Umar died and they gathered by the pulpit, Talha said: “Whatever claim I have in this matter, I relinquish to ‘Uthmān.” Al-Zubayr said: “Whatever claim I have in this matter, I relinquish to ‘Alī.” Sa‘d said: “Whatever claim I have in this matter, I relinquish to ‘Abd al-Rahmān ibn ‘Awf.” Thus three withdrew and three remained.

They then met, and ‘Abd al-Rahmān ibn ‘Awf said: “Let one of us withdraw and appoint one of the others.” ‘Uthmān and ‘Alī remained silent, so ‘Abd al-Rahmān said: “I will withdraw.” It is also reported that he said he was bound by Allah’s covenant and solemn pledge to appoint the better of the two.

‘Abd al-Rahmān ibn ‘Awf then spent three days and nights consulting the Emigrants, the Helpers, and those who followed them in righteousness. He also consulted the Mothers of the Believers and the governors of the provinces, who were in Medina, having performed Hajj with ‘Umar and been present at his death. ‘Abd al-Rahmān ibn ‘Awf eventually said: “For three days I have not closed my eyes in sleep.”

On the third day, he said to ‘Uthmān: “Do you bind yourself by Allah’s covenant and solemn pledge to rule justly if I appoint you, and to listen and obey if I appoint ‘Alī?” He replied: “Yes.”

He said to ‘Alī: “Do you bind yourself by Allah’s covenant and solemn pledge to rule justly if I appoint you, and to listen and obey if I appoint ‘Uthmān?” He replied: “Yes.”

Then he said: “I have found that the people regard no one as equal to ‘Uthmān.”

So ‘Alī, ‘Abd al-Rahmān, and all the other Muslims pledged allegiance to him willingly and by their own choice, without any inducement he offered them or any threat with which he frightened them.