the positions Aaron held in relation to Moses—peace be upon him—by virtue of the exception] (1), and among (2) Aaron’s positions was that he served as Moses’ deputy. Had he outlived Moses, he would likewise have been his successor; otherwise, (it would follow that) this would be open to invalidation (3). Moreover, because he was his deputy (4) while Moses was still alive and absent for only a short time, then after Moses’ death, when the absence would be prolonged (5), he would have had an even stronger claim to be his successor” (6).
The answer is:
This hadith is established (7), beyond doubt, in the two Sahih collections and elsewhere. The Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—said this to him (8) during the expedition to Tabūk (9). Whenever the Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—traveled on a military expedition, for ʿumra, or for Hajj, he would appoint one of the Companions as his deputy over Medina, as he did during the campaign of Dhī . . .: he appointed (10) Uthmān (11), and during the campaign against Banū Qaynuqāʿ
(1) The text between square brackets appears only in K. Perhaps the correct reading is: “without exception.”
(2) K reads: “and included among.”
(3) N reads: “otherwise, by way of deficiency, to it”; S and B: “otherwise, by way of the text, to it”; M: “otherwise, deficiency would extend to it” (the word is written without dots). The text follows K.
(4) N, M, and S read: “and because he was a deputy”; B: “and because he deputized for him.” The text follows K.
(5) N, M, S, and B read: “Then, at his death, the absence would be prolonged.” The text follows K.
(6) N, M, and S read: “would have a stronger claim to be a successor”; B: “therefore, he would have a stronger claim to be a successor.” The text follows K.
(7) S and B read: “that these hadiths are established,” which is erroneous.
(8) The expression “to him” is omitted from B.
(9) This hadith was cited previously at 1:349.
(10) The word *Amarr* is omitted from B, with a blank in its place in both B and N. In S, a blank follows *Dhī* and is followed by *Amarr*.
(11) Ibn Hishām states in *al-Sīra*, 3:49: “When the Messenger of Allah—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—returned from the expedition of al-Sawīq, he remained in Medina for the rest of Dhū al-Hijja. He then launched an expedition into Najd, heading for Ghatafān. This was the expedition of Dhī . . . Amarr, and he placed Uthmān ibn Affān in charge of Medina, according to Ibn Hishām.” See also the account of this expedition in Ibn Sad, *al-Tabaqāt*, 2:34–35; *Zād al-Maād*, 3:190; and Ibn Kathīr, *al-Sīra al-Nabawiyya*, 3:3.