The Electoral Committee and Election of Hazrat Uthman (ra)
Hazrat Miswar bin Makhrama relates that when Hazrat Umar (ra) was in good health and would be requested to appoint a Khalifa after him, he would always refuse to do so. However, one day, Hazrat Umar (ra) came to the pulpit and mentioned a few things and then said, “If I pass away, then I entrust your affairs to six individuals, whom the Holy Prophet (sa) was pleased with at the time of his demise. They are: Hazrat Ali bin Abu Talib (ra) and bearing similarity to him, Hazrat Zubair (ra) bin Awwam; Hazrat Abdur Rahman (ra) bin Auf and bearing similarity to him, Hazrat Uthman (ra) bin Affan; Hazrat Talhah (ra) bin Ubaidullah and bearing similarity to him, Hazrat Sa’d (ra) bin Malik. Hearken for I instruct you to adopt Taqwa and justice whilst carrying out your decisions.”
Abu Jafar relates that Hazrat Umar (ra) bin Khattab told the members of the Electoral Committee, “Consult with one another and if your decision is equally split then consult again and if there are four votes to two, then go with the majority.”
Zaid bin Aslam relates from his father that Hazrat Umar (ra) stated that if there was a split in the votes, i.e. three on each side, then choose and show obedience to the one who Hazrat Abdur Rahman (ra) bin Auf voted for.
Abdur Rahman bin Saeed states that when Hazrat Umar (ra) sustained an injury, he instructed that [after his demise] Hazrat Suhaib (ra) would be Imam-ul-Salat, i.e. he would lead them in prayer and Hazrat Umar (ra) repeated this three times. Hazrat Umar (ra) then stated that [after his demise] they would consult with one another to appoint the next Khalifa and entrusted this matter to six individuals. He also stated that anyone who disobeys their decision and opposes them, should be killed. Thus, these six individuals were entrusted with appointing the next Khalifa and during this time, Hazrat Suhaib (ra) was to lead the congregational prayers.
Hazrat Anas (ra) bin Malik narrates shortly before his demise, Hazrat Umar (ra) sent a message to Hazrat Abu Talha (ra) stating, “O Abu Talha, take 50 men from among your tribe of the Ansar and go to those six men who are part of the electoral committee and remain there for three days until they appoint someone from amongst themselves as the Khalifa. O Allah, You are my guardian over them.”
Ishaq bin Abdullah relates that Hazrat Abu Talha (ra) stood beside the grave of Hazrat Umar (ra) for a while along with his men and then remained with the members of the electoral committee. When members of the committee decided to entrust the responsibility of electing their leader with Hazrat Abdur Rahman (ra) bin Auf, Hazrat Abu Talha (ra) along with his men stood guard at the house of Hazrat Abdur Rahman (ra) bin Auf for three days until people took the Bai‘at of Hazrat Uthman (ra).
Hazrat Salma bin Abi Salma (ra) relates from his father that the first person to take the Bai‘at at the hands of Hazrat Uthman (ra) was Hazrat Abdur Rahman (ra) bin Auf and after that it was Hazrat Ali (ra).
Umar bin Umairah, the freed slave of Hazrat Umar (ra) relates from his grandfather that the first person to take the Bai‘at of Hazrat Uthman (ra) was Hazrat Ali (ra) and after that everyone else took the Bai‘at.
(al-Tabaqaat-ul-Kubra li ibn Sa‘d, Vol. 3, pp. 44-46, Dhikr al-Shura wa maa kana min Amrihim, Dhikr Bai’ah Uthman, Dar-ul-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 1990)
According to a narration of Bukhari, it is stated that when Hazrat Umar (ra) stood to lead the prayer and had just started it by saying “Allahu Akbar”, someone attacked him and in his state of injury, Hazrat Umar (ra) held the hand of Hazrat Abdur Rahman (ra) bin Auf, who was standing close to him and directed him to lead the prayer. Hazrat Abdur Rahman (ra) bin Auf led the prayer but kept it short.
(Sahih Bukhari, Kitab Fada‘il Ashab An-Nabi(sa), Bab Qissatul Bai‘ah wal-Ittifaq alaa Uthman bin Affan, Hadith 3700)
Mentioning the role of Hazrat Abdur Rahman (ra) bin Auf during the election of Hazrat Uthman (ra), Hazrat Musleh Maud (ra) states (in the earlier two narrations, except for one detail, all the other details that have been mentioned are the same):
“When Hazrat Umar (ra) was injured and realised that his demise was imminent, he nominated six persons and advised them to elect the Khalifa from among themselves. They included Hazrat Uthman (ra), Hazrat Ali (ra) Hazrat Abdur Rahman (ra) bin Auf, Hazrat Sa‘d (ra) bin Abi Waqas, Hazrat Zubair (ra) and Hazrat Talha (ra). In addition to them, he included Hazrat Abdullah bin Umar (ra) as an advisor, but did not declare him entitled to Khilafat. He also admonished that these people should give their verdict within three days, and Hazrat Suhaib (ra) should lead the prayer during that period of time.
“He appointed Hazrat Miqdad (ra) bin al-Aswad to oversee the consultation and election process and directed him to gather the Electoral College at one place and to guard them with his sword.”
In the earlier narrations, it was stated that Hazrat Talha (ra) was instructed to stand guard but after consulting various sources, Hazrat Musleh Maud (ra) has concluded that according to him, it was Hazrat Miqdad (ra) bin al-Aswad who was instructed to stand guard until the Khalifa was elected.
“Hazrat Umar (ra) then stated that the people should take the Bai‘at of the person who is elected by the majority of votes, and if any one declines to do so, then he should be killed. If there be three votes on each side, then Hazrat Abdullah bin Umar (ra) would recommend who the Khalifa should be. If members of the Electoral College do not agree to the decision of Hazrat Abdullah bin Umar (ra), then the person favoured by Hazrat Abdur Rahman (ra) bin Auf should be appointed as Khalifa.
“These five companions discussed this matter (as Hazrat Talha (ra) was not in Medina at that time).”
According to Hazrat Musleh Maud (ra), Hazrat Talha (ra) was not in Medina at the time, hence there were five companions.
“However, they could not come to any conclusion. After a lengthy discussion, Hazrat Abdur Rahman (ra) bin Auf asked if anyone wanted to withdraw their name, but all of them remained quiet. On this, Hazrat Abdur Rahman (ra) bin Auf withdrew his name, then Hazrat Uthman (ra) withdrew his name and then two others did the same. Hazrat Ali (ra) remained quiet, however he then took a pledge from Hazrat Abdur Rahman (ra) bin Auf that he (i.e. Hazrat Abdur Rahman (ra)) would be completely impartial, and they all entrusted the responsibility of making the decision to Hazrat Abdur Rahman (ra) bin Auf. For three days, Hazrat Abdur Rahman (ra) bin Auf visited every house in Medina to obtain the opinion of every man and woman in regard to who they thought should be elected as Khalifa. All of them expressed their agreement to the Khilafat of Hazrat Uthman (ra). Thus, he gave his verdict in favour of Hazrat Uthman (ra) and he became the Khalifa.”
(Khilafat-e-Rashidah, Anwar-ul-Ulum, Vol. 15, pp. 484-485)
There is another narration in reference to this, however it is quite lengthy, therefore I will separately mention it later, if needed, whilst continuing to relate the accounts of Hazrat Abdur Rahman (ra) bin Auf, insha-Allah. Or it is possible this lengthy narration may be mentioned with reference to Hazrat Uthman’s (ra) Khilafat or in relation to the accounts of Hazrat Umar’s (ra) life. However, apart from this narration, there are a few more accounts in relation to Hazrat Abdur Rahman (ra) bin Auf’s life, piety and character which I will insha-Allah narrate in the future sermon.