English narration
Narrated by عمر بن الخطاب العدوي
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 Messenger (ﷺ)) 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."
النص العربي
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يُوسُفَ ، أَخْبَرَنَا سُفْيَانُ ، عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ عُرْوَةَ ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا ، قَالَ : قِيلَ لِعُمَرَ : أَلَا تَسْتَخْلِفُ ، قَالَ : "
إِنْ أَسْتَخْلِفْ ، فَقَدِ اسْتَخْلَفَ مَنْ هُوَ خَيْرٌ ، مِنِّي أَبُو بَكْرٍ ، وَإِنْ أَتْرُكْ ، فَقَدْ تَرَكَ مَنْ هُوَ خَيْرٌ مِنِّي ، رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ ، فَأَثْنَوْا عَلَيْهِ ، فَقَالَ : رَاغِبٌ رَاهِبٌ ، وَدِدْتُ أَنِّي نَجَوْتُ مِنْهَا كَفَافًا لَا لِي وَلَا عَلَيَّ لَا أَتَحَمَّلُهَا حَيًّا وَلَا مَيِّتًا
" .