2522 – Muhammad ibn ʿAbd al-Rahman ibn al-ʿAbbas informed us; Ahmad ibn Sulayman narrated to us; al-Zubayr ibn Bakkar said, and Muhammad ibn Muhammad ibn Abi Qudamah also told me, from ʿUthman ibn ʿUbayd Allah ibn ʿAbd Allah ibn ʿUmar ibn al-Khattab, who said:

“When Abu Bakr al-Ṣiddiq was near death, he summoned ʿUthman ibn ʿAffan and dictated his decree. Before he could name anyone, Abu Bakr lost consciousness, so ʿUthman wrote: ‘ʿUmar ibn al-Khattab.’ When Abu Bakr came to, he asked ʿUthman, ‘Did you write someone’s name?’ He replied, ‘Given your condition and my fear of discord, I wrote ʿUmar ibn al-Khattab.’ Abu Bakr said, ‘May Allah have mercy on you; had you written your own name you would have been worthy of it.’

Then Talhah ibn ʿUbayd Allah entered and said, ‘I come as the spokesman for those outside. They say: “You already know how stern ʿUmar has been with us during your lifetime; what will happen after your death if you entrust our affairs to him? By Allah, ⦗1404⦘ He will question you about it, so consider well what answer you will give Him.”’

Abu Bakr replied, ‘Seat me upright. Are you attempting to frighten me with Allah? Ruined indeed is the one who entertains delusions about your concerns. If Allah questions me, I shall say: ‘I appointed over Your servants the best of them for them.’ Convey this message from me to them.”