Sahih Muslim 2385
Sahih Muslim · Book 44: The Book of the Merits of the Companions · The Virtues Of Abu Bakr As-Siddiq (RA)
Ibn Abu Mulaika reported:
وَحَدَّثَنِي الْحَسَنُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ الْحُلْوَانِيُّ ، حَدَّثَنَا جَعْفَرُ بْنُ عَوْنٍ ، عَنْ أَبِي عُمَيْسٍ ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ بْنُ حُمَيْدٍ ، - وَاللَّفْظُ لَهُ - أَخْبَرَنَا جَعْفَرُ بْنُ عَوْنٍ ، أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو عُمَيْسٍ ، عَنِ ابْنِ، أَبِي مُلَيْكَةَ سَمِعْتُ عَائِشَةَ ، وَسُئِلَتْ ، مَنْ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم مُسْتَخْلِفًا لَوِ اسْتَخْلَفَهُ قَالَتْ أَبُو بَكْرٍ . فَقِيلَ لَهَا ثُمَّ مَنْ بَعْدَ أَبِي بَكْرٍ قَالَتْ عُمَرُ . ثُمَّ قِيلَ لَهَا مَنْ بَعْدَ عُمَرَ قَالَتْ أَبُو عُبَيْدَةَ بْنُ الْجَرَّاحِ . ثُمَّ انْتَهَتْ إِلَى هَذَا .
I heard `A'isha as saying and she was asked as to whom Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) would have nominated as his successor if he had to nominate one at all. She said: Abu Bakr. It was said to her: Then whom after Abu Bakr? She said: `Umar. It was said to her. Then whom after `Umar? She said: Abu `Ubaida b. al-Jarrah, and then she kept quiet at this.