Formation of the Khilafat Electoral Committee
With regard to the electoral committee for Khilafat formed for the election of Hazrat Uthman (ra), Hazrat Miswarra bin Makhrama relates that when Hazrat Umar (ra) bin Khattab recovered somewhat after the attack on him, he would be requested to appoint a Khalifa after him; however, he would always refuse to do so.
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 Awam; Hazrat Abdur Rahman (ra) bin Auf and bearing similarity to him, Hazrat Uthman (ra) bin Affan; Hazrat Talha (ra) bin Ubaidullah and bearing similarity to him, Hazrat Saad (ra) bin Malik. Hearken, for I instruct you all to adopt righteousness 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 bin Auf (ra) voted for.
Abdur Rahman bin Saeed states that when Hazrat Umar (ra) was injured [after the attack on him], he instructed that [after his demise] Hazrat Suhaib (ra) would lead them in prayer for three days, i.e. he appointed Hazrat Suhaib (ra) as the imam al-Salat. 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 opposes this, should be killed.
Hazrat Anas bin Malik (ra) 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 the guardian over them.”
Ishaq bin Abdillah 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 and stated that he should appoint whoever he decides, Hazrat Abu Talha (ra) along with his men stood guard at the house of Hazrat Abdur Rahman (ra) bin Auf until the people pledged allegiance to Hazrat Uthman (ra).
Hazrat Salama bin Abi Salama (ra) relates from his father that the first person to pledge allegiance 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 pledge allegiance to Hazrat Uthman (ra) was Hazrat Ali (ra) and after that everyone else pledged allegiance.
(Ibn Saad, Al-Tabaqat al-Kubra, Vol. 3, Dhikr Shura wa ma kana min Amrihim, Dhikr Bai‘at Uthman [Beirut, Lebanon: Dar Ihya al-Turath al-Arabiyy, 1996], pp. 34-35)