—nor will the believers—anyone but Abū Bakr.” And there are similar reports.

Another example is his statement:

“Among the nations before you were men granted inspiration. If there is anyone like that in my community, it is ‘Umar.”

And his statement to ‘Umar:

“Whenever Satan sees you taking a path, he takes a different path.”

And his statement:

“I saw in a dream that a vessel of milk was brought to me. I drank from it, then handed what remained to ‘Umar.” They asked, “How did you interpret it?” He replied, “Knowledge.”

And his statement:

“I saw in a dream that people were being presented before me wearing shirts. Some reached their chests, while others were shorter. ‘Umar was presented before me wearing a shirt so long that he was dragging it.” They asked, “How did you interpret it?” He replied, “Religion.”

And his statement:

“I saw in a dream that I was drawing water from a well. Then Ibn Abī Quhāfah took the bucket and drew one or two bucketfuls, though there was weakness in his drawing—may Allah forgive him. Then Ibn al-Khattāb took it, and it became a great bucket. I have never seen a man of exceptional strength draw water as he did, until the people departed with their camels fully watered.”

There are similar reports, such as his statement about ‘Uthmān:

“Should I not feel shy before a man before whom the angels of heaven feel shy?”

And the report:

“He said, ‘Who will buy the well of Rūmah and have Paradise?’ So ‘Uthmān bought it.”

And his statement about ‘Uthmān when he equipped the Army of Hardship:

“Whatever ‘Uthmān does after today will not harm him.”

And his statement on the day of the Pledge of Divine Pleasure, when he received the Muslims’ pledge beneath the tree:

“This hand of mine represents ‘Uthmān’s right hand.”

He had sent ‘Uthmān as an emissary to the people of Mecca. Ibn ‘Umar said: “During the lifetime of Allah’s Messenger, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, we used to say: ‘Abū Bakr, then ‘Umar, then ‘Uthmān.’” And there are similar reports.