Sahih Muslim Hadith 4713 – Appointing A

English

[4713] 11 – (1823) It was narrated that Ibn 'Umar said: "I was with my father when he was wounded. They praised him and said: 'May Allah reward you with good.' He said: 'I hope (for Allah's mercy) and I fear (His wrath).' They said: 'Appoint a successor.' He said: 'Should I carry the burden of your affairs in life and in death? Would that my caliphate would conclude with nothing to my credit or counting against me. If I appoint a successor, then one who was better than me appointed a successor' – meaning Abil Bakr – 'and if I do not do that, then one who was better than me, the Messenger of Allah , did not do that either." 'Abdullâh said: "Then I knew, when he mentioned the Messenger of Allah , that he was not going to appoint a successor."