Why the Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, did not appoint Abu Bakr as a Caliph by clear-cut text

23-7-2006 | IslamWeb

Question:

Why didn't Muhammad, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, select a ruler (Khalifa) after him in his lifetime?

Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.

 

There is no clear-cut text from the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) in which he appointed Abu Bakr  may  Allaah  be  pleased  with  him as a leader after him, according to the correct position of the scholars  may  Allaah  have  mercy  upon  them. However, the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) gave the Muslims several indications which led them toward that direction. Moreover, the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) endorsed Abu Bakr  may  Allaah  be  pleased  with  him and was even about to issue a decree about his caliphate, but when he knew that the Muslims would consent about his leadership he left the matter to them. 'Aa'ishah  may  Allaah  be  pleased  with  her said, “When the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) was sick [during his death sickness] he said to me: "Call Abu Bakr and your brother to me, so that I would write a decree, as I fear that someone would say: ''I am more deserving than him, and Allaah and all the believers refuse anyone else but Abu Bakr." [Muslim]

As a matter of fact, the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) had chosen him to lead the people in prayer during the death sickness, and the Companions  may  Allaah  be  pleased  with  them considered this an indication from him that Abu Bakr  may  Allaah  be  pleased  with  him was his successor, as they said, "The Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) has accepted him for our religion, then will we not accept him for our worldly affairs." This is reported by Ibn 'Abdul-Baar  may  Allaah  have  mercy  upon  him in his book 'At-Tamheed' from the narration of 'Ali  may  Allaah  be  pleased  with  him and many scholars  may  Allaah  have  mercy  upon  them quoted this report.

The method of using this evidence as a proof for the qualification of Abu Bakr  may  Allaah  be  pleased  with  him to lead the Muslims after the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) is called “Qiyaas Al-‘Awla” (Proving what is lower, by an analogy, on an evidence that proves what is higher)by the majority of the scholars of Usool  may  Allaah  have  mercy  upon  them.

The consensus of the believers on Abu Bakr’s leadership as a Caliph  may  Allaah  be  pleased  with  him suffice us from needing a text in this connection.

Furthermore, there are many points of wisdom for not having a text from the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) appointing Abu Bakr  may  Allaah  be  pleased  with  him. Among these points is the knowledge of the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) that the believers will not accept anyone other than Abu Bakr  may  Allaah  be  pleased  with  him as a leader as mentioned in a narration reported by Muslim  may  Allaah  have  mercy  upon  him. In addition, in this (not writing) there is an affirmation for the right of the Muslims to choose their own leader and so forth.

For more benefit, please refer to Fatwa 84781.

Allaah Knows best.

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