Hadiths of Abu Bakr's succession

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The Hadiths of Abu Bakr's succession are a collection of varying Hadiths (transmitted statements of Muhammad) which are thought by Sunnis to (explicitly or implicitly) indicate the instruction of Muhammad for Abu Bakr to succeed him as leader of the Muslim community.

1 Narrations
2 Interpretation
3 Notes
4 See also
5 External links

[edit] Narrations

'Aisha said, "O my head!" Allah's Apostle said, "If that (i.e., your death) should happen while I am still alive, I would ask Allah to forgive you and would invoke Allah for you." 'Aisha said, "O my life which is going to be lost! By Allah, I think that you wish for my death, and if that should happen then you would be busy enjoying the company of one of your wives in the last part of that day." The Prophet said, "But I should say, 'O my head!' I feel like calling Abu Bakr and his son and appoint (the former as my successors lest people should say something or wish for something. Allah will insist (on Abu Bakr becoming a Caliph) and the believers will prevent (anyone else from claiming the Caliphate), " or "..Allah will prevent (anyone else from claiming the Caliphate) and the believers will insist (on Abu Bakr becoming the Caliph)." (Sahih Bukhari 9:89:324 and alternate narraration in Sahih Bukhari 7:70:570)
A'isha reported that Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) in his (last) illness asked me to call Abu Bakr, her father, and her brother too, so that he might write a document, for he feared that someone else might be desirous (of succeeding him) and that some claimant may say: I have better claim to it, whereas Allah and the Faithful do not substantiate the claim of anyone but that of Abu Bakr. (Sahih Muslim 31:1:5879)
...[Muhammad said:] If death approaches me soon, the (issue) of Caliphate (would be decided) by the consent of these six men with whom the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) remained well pleased till his death.... (Sahih Muslim 4:61:1151)
'Amr b. al-'As reported that Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) sent him in command of the army despatched to Dhat-as-Salasil. When 'Amr b. al-'As came back to the Holy Prophet (may peace be upon him) he said: Who amongst people are dearest to you? He said: A'isha. He then said: Who amongst men? He said: Her father, and I said: And who next? He said: Umar. He then enumerated some other men. (Sahih Muslim 31:1:5876 and alternate narration in Sahih Muslim 31:1:5876)
When the illness of the Apostle of Allah (peacebeupon him) became serious while I was with him among a group of people, Bilal called him for prayer. He said: Ask someone to lead the people in prayer. So Abdullah ibn Zam'ah went out and found that Umar was present among the people and Abu Bakr was not there. I said: Umar, get up and lead the people in prayer. So he came forward and uttered "Allah is Most Great". When the Apostle of Allah (peace be upon him) heard his voice, as Umar had a loud voice, he said: Where is Abu Bakr? Allah does not allow that, and the Muslims too; Allah does not allow that, and the Muslims too. So he sent for AbuBakr. He came after Umar had led the people in that prayer. He then led the people in prayer. (Sahih Bukhari 1:11:633 also see Hadith of Abu Bakr leading the prayer)
"...Then Allah made Abu Bakr Caliph, and by Allah, I was never disobedient to him, nor did I cheat him. Then 'Umar became Caliph, and by Allah, I was never disobedient to him, nor did I cheat him. Then I became Caliph. Have I not then the same rights over you as they had over me?' I replied in the affirmative. 'Uthman further said, 'The what are these talks which are reaching me from you? As for what you ha mentioned about Al-Walid bin 'Uqb; Allah willing, I shall give him the leg; punishment justly. Then Uthman ordered that Al-Walid be flogged fort lashes. He ordered 'Ali to flog him and he himself flogged him as well." (Sahih Bukhar 5:58:212)
Ali bin Abu Talib came out of the house of Allah's Apostle during his fatal illness. The people asked, "O Abu Hasan (i.e. Ali)! How is the health of Allah's Apostle this morning?" 'Ali replied, "He has recovered with the Grace of Allah." 'Abbas bin 'Abdul Muttalib held him by the hand and said to him, "In three days you, by Allah, will be ruled (by somebody else ), And by Allah, I feel that Allah's Apostle will die from this ailment of his, for I know how the faces of the offspring of 'Abdul Muttalib look at the time of their death. So let us go to Allah's Apostle and ask him who will take over the Caliphate. If it is given to us we will know as to it, and if it is given to somebody else, we will inform him so that he may tell the new ruler to take care of us." 'Ali said, "By Allah, if we asked Allah's Apostle for it (i.e. the Caliphate) and he denied it us, the people will never give it to us after that. And by Allah, I will not ask Allah's Apostle for it." (Sahih Bukhari 5:59:728 and alternate narration in Sahih Bukhar 8:74:282)

[edit] Interpretation

Sunnis, unlike shias view that Muhammad did not actually appoint a successor after his death, but were he to officially appoint one, Sunnis say it would've been Abu Bakr, followed than by Umar. Furthermore, Sunnis believe that the reason Muhammad didn't formally appoint any successor was because there was simply no need. They rested on the idea that God through divine interjection or the Muslim community through a democratic shura would make sure that Abu Bakr would become the leader as Sunnis feel he was the best man for the job. The above ahadith as well as others are part of the Succession Ahadith of Abu Bakr which is formed from many hadith collections but particularly the Sahih collections of Bukhari and Muslim. shias dont pay credance to this narration and unlike the hadith at the pond of Ghadir Khumm indicating Ali's succession (according to shias) and is accepted by both sunnis and shias, the narration of Abu Bakrs supposed succession is only present in sunni narrations.

[edit] Notes

For Sahih Bukhari hadith's quoted, the format is "Volume number:Book number:Hadith number".
For Sahih Muslim hadith's quoted, the format is "Book number:Chapter number:Hadith number", It's necessary for this to be clear because Sahih Muslim hadiths are often quoted simply as "Book number:Hadith number".