It is narrated from Yariyah bin Qudamah, who says: The year when the assassination attempt was made on Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), I performed Hajj that year and then came to Madinah Munawwarah. Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) addressed the people and said: I saw in a dream as if a red rooster pecked me once or twice. Then it happened that indeed an assassination attempt was made on him. When people were allowed to visit him, first the companions of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) went to him, then the rest of the people of Madinah, then the people of Sham, and then the people of Iraq. I was also among those people. When people would go to him, they would praise him and begin to weep. When we went, his stomach was tied with a black turban and blood was flowing. We said: Please advise us. No one except our group had requested him for advice. Upon hearing our request, he said: Hold fast to the Book of Allah; as long as you follow it, you will not go astray. We said: Please advise us further. He said: I advise you regarding the Muhajirun; the number of people is increasing and the number of Muhajirun is decreasing. And I also advise you regarding the Ansar; they are the valley in which Islam found refuge. I also advise you regarding the Bedouins, for they are the original and fundamental essence of the Muslims. And I also advise you regarding the Dhimmis; your Prophet granted them protection and they are also a means of livelihood for your families. Now, you may leave me. Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) did not speak to us more than this. Shu’bah says: After that, once I asked him about the Bedouins, and he said: I advise you regarding the Bedouins, for they are your brothers and the enemies of your enemies.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both), he says: When Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) was attacked, I was the first to go to him and he said to me: Remember three things of mine, I fear that people may not reach me. First, that I have not made any final decision regarding the matter of Kalalah. Second, that I have not appointed anyone as the caliph over the people. And third, that all the slaves who are in my possession are all free. Then the people said to him: Please appoint someone as caliph. He said: Whichever of the two matters I do, the superior personality before me has already done it. If I leave the matter of caliphate to the people, then the Prophet of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) also did the same, and if I appoint someone as caliph, then before me Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) did this, and he is better than me. I said to him: Glad tidings of Paradise to you, you had the honor of long companionship with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), you were entrusted with the position of Commander of the Faithful, so you demonstrated strength and fulfilled the trust excellently. Hearing this, Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: As for your giving me glad tidings of Paradise, by Allah, I fear the Hereafter so much that before knowing the final outcome, even if I had the wealth of the whole world, I would give it all as ransom to escape this fear. Regarding what you said about the caliphate and leadership over the believers, I would prefer that if the reckoning is even, that is, I neither gain anything nor am I accused of any crime, then I would consider this sufficient for myself. However, as for the companionship of the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that you mentioned, that honor is indeed a source of distinction.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said to Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him): I heard people talking about certain things, so I resolved to mention those things to you. People are saying that you are not appointing anyone as a caliph. Upon hearing this, Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) lowered his head for a while, then raised it and said: Indeed, Allah Almighty will protect His religion. If I do not appoint anyone as a caliph, then the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) also did not appoint anyone. And if I do appoint someone as a caliph, there is no harm in that either, because Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) did appoint someone. Upon hearing this, Sayyiduna Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: By Allah! When he mentioned the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him), these two personalities, I knew that he would not equate anyone with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and would not appoint anyone as a caliph.

It is narrated from Abu Rafi’ that Sayyiduna Umar bin Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) was sitting, leaning on Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) for support. Sayyiduna Ibn Umar and Sayyiduna Sa’id bin Zayd (may Allah be pleased with them both) were also present with him. Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: Remember, I have not made any final decision regarding the matter of Kalalah, and I have not nominated anyone as a caliph after me. At the time of my death, all the Arab slaves who are in my possession will be freed from the wealth of Allah Almighty. Sayyiduna Sa’id bin Zayd (may Allah be pleased with him) said to him: If you indicate towards any Muslim regarding the caliphate, people will consider you trustworthy in this matter, just as Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) did so and people considered him trustworthy. Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: I have seen intense eagerness for the caliphate among my companions, so I am entrusting this matter to those six persons with whom the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) was pleased at the time of his death. Then Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: If I had found either of these two individuals, I would have entrusted this matter to him and relied upon him—one is Salim, the freed slave of Abu Hudhaifah, and the other is Abu Ubaidah bin Al-Jarrah.1