29.1
ʿAbd al-Razzāq, on the authority of Maʿmar, on the authority of al-Zuhrī, on the authority of Sālim, on the authority of Ibn ʿUmar, who said:
When ʿUmar had been stabbed, he called for ʿAlī, ʿUthmān, ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn ʿAwf, and al-Zubayr—and I believe he also mentioned Saʿd ibn Abī Waqqāṣ—and said, “I have examined the state of the people and have not found any discord in their midst. If discord does appear, then it shall be from you. What’s more, your people will recognize one of you as Commander of the Faithful in three days’ time. And you, ʿAlī, if you find yourself in power over the affairs of the people, be mindful of God and do not burden them with the yoke of the Hāshim clan!”
29.2
Maʿmar said: someone other than al-Zuhrī said:
Do not burden the people with the yoke of the Abū Rukānah clan!283
29.3
Maʿmar said: al-Zuhrī continued his report related on the authority of Sālim, from Ibn ʿUmar:
ʿUmar said, “And you, ʿUthmān, if you find yourself in power, be mindful of God and do not burden the people with the yoke of the Abū Muʿayṭ clan!284 And you, ʿAbd al-Raḥmān, if you find yourself in power over the people’s affairs, be mindful of God and do not burden the people with the yoke of your kin. Go now, assemble the Shura, and appoint one of you as Commander of the Faithful.” They then rose up to convene the Shura.
ʿAbd Allāh ibn ʿUmar said, “ʿUthmān called on me to come participate in the Shura, for ʿUmar had not appointed me to the assembly. When they persisted in calling me to attend, I replied, ‘Do you not fear God? Will you appoint a new ruler while the Commander of the Faithful still lives?’ It was as if my words awakened ʿUmar, for he then called for them and commanded, ‘Proceed slowly and let Ṣuhayb lead the people in prayer; then convene the Shura. By the third day, you must come to a consensus on who will lead you, and also on who will command the armies; but if anyone attempts to lead without convening a Shura of Muslims, kill him!’”
Ibn ʿUmar continued, “By God, I am glad I was not with them, for I barely saw ʿUmar’s lips move except to say what words he uttered then.”285
29.4
Al-Zuhrī said:
When ʿUmar died, they gathered together. ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn ʿAwf said to them, “If you all wish, I can choose one of your number,” and so they appointed him to the task. Al-Miswar said, “Never have I seen the like of ʿAbd al-Raḥmān. By God, there was not a single Emigrant, or Ally, or anyone else known for their sage judgment, with whom he did not consult that night.”