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