Jami at-Tirmidhi 2225
Jami at-Tirmidhi · Book 33: Chapters On Al-Fitan · What Has Been Related About Al-Khilafah
Salim bin 'Abdullah narrated from his father who said:
حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ مُوسَى ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّزَّاقِ ، أَخْبَرَنَا مَعْمَرٌ ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ ، عَنْ سَالِمِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ ، قَالَ قِيلَ لِعُمَرَ بْنِ الْخَطَّابِ لَوِ اسْتَخْلَفْتَ قَالَ إِنْ أَسْتَخْلِفْ فَقَدِ اسْتَخْلَفَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ وَإِنْ لَمْ أَسْتَخْلِفْ لَمْ يَسْتَخْلِفْ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى وَفِي الْحَدِيثِ قِصَّةٌ طَوِيلَةٌ . وَهَذَا حَدِيثٌ صَحِيحٌ قَدْ رُوِيَ مِنْ غَيْرِ وَجْهٍ عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ .
"It was said to 'Umar bin Al-Khattab: 'Perhaps you should endorse your successor.' He said: 'If I appoint a successor, then indeed Abu Bakr appointed a successor. And if I do not appoint a successor, the Messenger of Allah(s.a.w) did not appoint a successor."'
Grade: Sahih (Darussalam)