33/2. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 1823a — Succession
Appointing a successor or not doing so
Hadith About Succession and the Burden of Leadership
Sahih Muslim : 1823a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 1823a
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو كُرَيْبٍ، مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْعَلاَءِ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو أُسَامَةَ، عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ عُرْوَةَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، قَالَ حَضَرْتُ أَبِي حِينَ أُصِيبَ فَأَثْنَوْا عَلَيْهِ وَقَالُوا جَزَاكَ اللَّهُ خَيْرًا . فَقَالَ رَاغِبٌ وَرَاهِبٌ قَالُوا اسْتَخْلِفْ فَقَالَ أَتَحَمَّلُ أَمْرَكُمْ حَيًّا وَمَيِّتًا لَوَدِدْتُ أَنَّ حَظِّي مِنْهَا الْكَفَافُ لاَ عَلَىَّ وَلاَ لِي فَإِنْ أَسْتَخْلِفْ فَقَدِ اسْتَخْلَفَ مَنْ هُوَ خَيْرٌ مِنِّي - يَعْنِي أَبَا بَكْرٍ - وَإِنْ أَتْرُكْكُمْ فَقَدْ تَرَكَكُمْ مَنْ هُوَ خَيْرٌ مِنِّي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم . قَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ فَعَرَفْتُ أَنَّهُ حِينَ ذَكَرَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم غَيْرُ مُسْتَخْلِفٍ .
`Abdullah bin `Umar Narrated from:
I was present with my father when he was wounded. People praised him and said: May God give you a noble recompense! He said: I am hopeful (of God's mercy) as well as afraid (of His wrath) People said: Appoint anyone as your successor.He said: Should I carry the burden of conducting your affairs in my life as well as in my death? (So far as Caliphate is concerned) I wish I could acquit myself (before the Almighty) in a way that there is neither anything to my credit nor anything to my discredit. If I would appoint my successor, (I would because) one better than me did so. (He meant Abu Bakr.) If I would leave You alone, (I would do so because) one better than me, i. e. the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), did so. 'Abdullah says: When he mentioned the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) I understood that he would not appoint anyone as Caliph.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1823aIn-book reference : Book 33, Hadith 13USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 20, Hadith 4485
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 1823a
This hadith about succession shows how heavy leadership can feel to a person who fears accountability. Abdullah b. Umar was present when his father was wounded. People praised Umar and asked him to appoint a successor. Umar answered with hope and fear. He said he wished to come out of the matter with nothing for him and nothing against him. He then mentioned two examples: if he appointed a successor, Abu Bakr had done so; if he left people without naming one, the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) had done so. The text teaches that public leadership is not a prize. It is a burden that a careful person weighs with fear of Allah.
What we learn from this hadith
- Leadership can feel like a heavy responsibility, not a personal honor.
- Umar expressed both hope and fear before Allah.
- He considered the precedent of Abu Bakr and the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم).
- The narration shows care before making public decisions.
