than doing so. But if he feared that the Ummah would not do it unless he commanded it, then issuing the command was more appropriate.

Thus, when Abu Bakr—may Allah be pleased with him—feared that they would differ after his death, he designated Umar as his successor. But when the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—knew that they would pledge allegiance to Abu Bakr, he did not command them to do so (1).

As related in the two Sahīhs, he said to Aisha:

“Call your father and your brother to me so that I may write a document concerning Abu Bakr, lest the people differ over him after me.” Then [he said] (2): “Allah and the believers will accept none but Abu Bakr.” (3)

It was thus known that Allah would appoint none but Abu Bakr and that the believers would pledge allegiance to none but Abu Bakr (4). Likewise, all the other authentic hadiths indicate that he knew this. His refraining from issuing the command, despite this knowledge, was better, as [the Prophet] (5)—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—did. For if the Ummah appointed him voluntarily, without being obligated to do so—and he was the one whom Allah and His Messenger approved—this was better for the Ummah and demonstrated its knowledge and religious commitment.

Had it been compelled to do so, it might have been said that it was coerced into accepting the truth and did not choose it willingly, as [the like] (6) had occurred with the Children of Israel. Someone might then suppose that vestiges of the Age of Ignorance remained within the Ummah, causing lineage to be given precedence, for they wanted no one to assume authority unless he belonged to Banū Abd Manāf, as did Abu Sufyān and others