lest anyone make a claim or harbour ambitions; but Allah will prevent it, and the believers will refuse.’” (1)

This authentic hadith shows that he considered writing a document appointing Abū Bakr to the caliphate, lest anyone say, “I (2) have a greater right to it.” Then he said, “Allah and the believers will refuse that.” Since the Messenger knew that Allah Most High would choose none but Abū Bakr, and that the believers would choose none but him, he deemed this sufficient and dispensed with writing the document. May Allah cast far away whoever does not choose what Allah, His Messenger, and the believers have chosen.

The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, intended to do this twice during his illness. (* He said to ‘Ā’isha, “Summon your father and your brother for me.” Earlier, when ‘Ā’isha complained of pain, he had said, “I have considered writing a document for Abū Bakr.” (3) Then, on Thursday during his illness, he resolved *) (4) once again to write the document, as reported in the two Sahīhs from Ibn ‘Abbās, who said:

“Thursday—and what a Thursday it was! The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, was suffering severe pain. He said, ‘Bring me a shoulder blade so that I may write you a document after which you will never go astray.’ They began disputing, although disputing in the presence of a prophet is not fitting. They said, ‘What is the matter with him? Is he speaking deliriously? Ask him to clarify.’ They began addressing him again, and he said, ‘Leave me alone, for my present state is better than what you are calling me to.’

“He then gave them three instructions, saying, ‘Expel the Jews from the Arabian Peninsula, and give gifts to the delegations as I used to give them.’ He remained silent about the third—or said, ‘I forgot it.’” (5)