It is narrated from Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) that when the blessed soul of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) departed and Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him) was chosen as the Caliph, a difference of opinion arose between Sayyiduna Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) and Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) regarding the inheritance of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him), while deciding the matter, said: "Whatever the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) left behind and did not touch, I too will not touch it." When Sayyiduna Umar Farooq (may Allah be pleased with him) was chosen as the Caliph, both of them brought their matter to him, but he also said: "Whatever Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him) did not touch, I too will not touch it." When the caliphate was entrusted to Sayyiduna Uthman Ghani (may Allah be pleased with him), both of them also came to Sayyiduna Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him). After hearing their position, Sayyiduna Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him) remained silent and bowed his head. Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) says: "I feared that Sayyiduna Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him) might take it into the possession of the government, so I placed my hand between the two shoulders of my father, Sayyiduna Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him), and said to him: 'Dear father! I adjure you to hand it over to Ali (may Allah be pleased with him).' Thus, he handed it over to Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him)."