Volume 9, Book 89, Number 325:
Narrated ‘Abdullah bin ‘Umar:
It was said to ‘Umar, “Will you appoint your successor?” Umar said, “If I appoint a Caliph (as my
successor) it is true that somebody who was better than I (i.e., Abu Bakr) did so, and if I leave the
matter undecided, it is true that somebody who was better than I (i.e., Allah’s Apostle) did so.” On
this, the people praised him. ‘Umar said, “People are of two kinds: Either one who is keen to take over
the Caliphate or one who is afraid of assuming such a responsibility. I wish I could be free from its
responsibility in that I would receive neither reward nor retribution I won’t bear the burden of the
caliphate in my death as I do in my life.”