Question

What is the translation of the following Hadith?

أن عائشة، قالت: لقد راجعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم في ذلك، وما حملني على كثرة مراجعته إلا أنه لم يقع في قلبي: أن يحب الناس بعده رجلا، قام مقامه أبدا، ولا كنت أرى أنه لن يقوم أحد مقامه إلا تشاءم الناس به، فأردت أن يعدل ذلك رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم عن أبي بكر

Answer

This narration is recorded in Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim.

The translation is as follows:

Sayyidah ‘Aishah (radiyallahu ‘anha) says, “I repeatedly consulted Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) [trying to dissuade him during his final illness, from appointing Sayyiduna Abu Bakr -radiyallahu ‘anhu- as the Imam to lead the Salah]. The only reason I did so was that I never thought that after [the demise of] Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) the people could ever love someone who had taken his place. I felt that people would regard it as a bad omen if someone were to take his place [while he was ill, but still alive]. I therefore wished that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) desist from [appointing] Abu Bakr (radiyallahu ‘anhu).”

(Sahih Bukhari, Hadith: 4445, Sahih Muslim, Hadith: 418 with slight variation in the wording)

See here.

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.

Answered by: Mawlana Suhail Motala

Approved by: Mawlana Muhammad Abasoomar