The Illustrious Sahaabah The Illustrious Sahaabah of Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)
Before passing away, Hazrat ‘Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) formed a Shura (council) consisting of the following six Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum): Hazrat ‘Ali (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), Hazrat ‘Uthmaan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), Hazrat Zubair (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), Hazrat Talhah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), Hazrat Sa’d (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) and Hazrat Abdur Rahmaan bin ‘Auf (radhiyallahu ‘anhu).
In regard to these six Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum), Hazrat ‘Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) mentioned, “I do not find any people to be more worthy of the Khilaafah than this group of Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) on account of the fact that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) left this world in the condition that he was extremely pleased with them.”
When Hazrat ‘Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) passed away, Hazrat Miqdaad bin Aswad (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) gathered the Shura members in the home of Hazrat Miswar bin Makhramah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu). They then sat in the house to make the decision while Hazrat Abu Talhah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) stood guard to prevent people from entering and disturbing the Shura.
The members of the Shura agreed that three of them would forego their right and make it over to another member of the Shura. In this way, Hazrat Zubair (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) made his right over to Hazrat ‘Ali (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), Hazrat Sa’d (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) made his right over to Hazrat Abdur Rahmaan bin ‘Auf (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), and Hazrat Talhah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) made his right over to Hazrat ‘Uthmaan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu).
Hazrat Abdur Rahmaan bin ‘Auf (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) also agreed to forgo his right of khilaafah on condition that he be allowed to decide as to which of the two would be appointed as the Khalifah. Hazrat ‘Uthmaan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) and Hazrat ‘Ali (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) agreed to his proposal and also pledged that they would wholeheartedly abide by his decision. The members of the Shura then dispersed.
For the next three days and nights, Hazrat Abdur Rahmaan bin ‘Auf (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) approached the people of Madinah Munawwarah, asking them who they felt should be appointed as the Khalifah.
Hazrat Abdur Rahmaan bin ‘Auf (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) barely slept during these three days and nights. Instead, he remained engaged in salaah, du‘aa, istikhaarah and consulting the people.
After the three days and nights had elapsed, Hazrat Abdur Rahmaan bin ‘Auf (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) came to the home of his nephew, Hazrat Miswar bin Makhramah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu). On arriving, he found him asleep, and thus awoke him saying, “You are sleeping, O Miswar? By Allah, I indeed had very little sleep for the last three days!”
Hazrat Abdur Rahmaan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) then said to him, “Go and call Hazrat ‘Ali (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) and Hazrat ‘Uthmaan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu).” Hazrat Miswar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) asked, “Who should I call first?” Hazrat Abdur Rahmaan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) replied, “Whoever you wish.”
Hazrat Miswar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) then went to Hazrat ‘Ali (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) and Hazrat ‘Uthmaan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) informing them that Hazrat Abdur Rahmaan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) had called for them. The three of them thus set off towards Hazrat Abdur Rahmaan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu).
On arriving at the home of Hazrat Miswar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), they found Hazrat Abdur Rahmaan bin ‘Auf (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) standing in salaah. When he completed his salaah, he turned to Hazrat ‘Ali (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) and Hazrat ‘Uthmaan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) and said, “I have asked the people regarding the two of you, and I did not find any person who considered anyone from among the people to be greater than you both in deeni status and position.”
Hazrat Abdur Rahmaan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) then made Hazrat ‘Ali (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) and Hazrat ‘Uthmaan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) pledge that from the two of them, the one whom he appointed as Khalifah would definitely rule with justice, and the one who was not appointed would definitely be pleased with the decision that was taken and accept the other person as Khalifah.
Hazrat Abdur Rahmaan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) thereafter wore the turban that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) had tied on his head, wore his sword and went with Hazrat ‘Ali (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) and Hazrat ‘Uthmaan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) to the musjid. Hazrat Abdur Rahmaan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) sent a message, summoning the people to the musjid. Accordingly, people began to gather in the musjid, forming rows, until the musjid was filled with people.
Hazrat ‘Uthmaan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) could not find any place to sit and thus, on account of his high level of hayaa (modesty), sat behind all the people in the musjid.
Hazrat Abdur Rahmaan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) then ascended the mimbar of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) and stood on the step which Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) would sit on. He stood there for a lengthy period and made a long audible du‘aa. He then addressed the people saying, “O people! I have asked you (regarding Hazrat ‘Ali (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) and Hazrat ‘Uthmaan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu)) in private and in public, in pairs and individually, and I found that you did not equate anybody to these two Sahaabah.”
Hazrat Abdur Rahmaan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) then held the hand of Hazrat ‘Uthmaan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) and declared him to be the Khalifah. He thereafter made Hazrat ‘Uthmaan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) sit on the step of the mimbar below him so that the people could come to him and pledge their allegiance. From all the people, it was Hazrat ‘Ali (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) who came first and pledged his allegiance to Hazrat ‘Uthmaan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu).
(Al-Bidaayah-wan-Nihaayah vol 7 pg. 297-298)
