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Musnad Ahmad 299 (Book 2, Hadith 206) #33981
Appointing a Successor

SUMMARY: Umar was asked why he did not appoint a successor, to which he replied that if he did not do it, neither did the Prophet Muhammad and if he did, then Abu Bakr had done it as well.

It was narrated from Ibn ʻUrmar that It was said to 'Umar: Why don't you appoint a successor? He said: If I do not do that, one who is better than me did not do it either, namely the Messenger of Allah ; if I do that, one who is better than me did it too, namely Abu Bakr.
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بِشْرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا هِشَامُ بْنُ عُرْوَةَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، أَنَّ عُمَرَ، قِيلَ لَهُ أَلَا تَسْتَخْلِفُ فَقَالَ إِنْ أَتْرُكْ فَقَدْ تَرَكَ مَنْ هُوَ خَيْرٌ مِنِّي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ وَإِنْ أَسْتَخْلِفْ فَقَدْ اسْتَخْلَفَ مَنْ هُوَ خَيْرٌ مِنِّي أَبُو بَكْرٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ‏.‏

TOPICS
khalifah  *  succession  *  leadership  *  caliphate  *  ikhtiyar

QUICK LESSONS:
Plan ahead for your own succession so your work can continue even after you are gone .

EXPLANATIONS:
This hadith is about the importance of appointing a successor. Umar was asked why he didn't appoint someone to take his place after him and his response was that if he didn't do it, neither did the Prophet Muhammad and if he did, then Abu Bakr had done it as well. This shows us how important succession is in leadership roles. It is important for leaders to ensure that there will be someone who can take their place when they are no longer able to lead so that there will be continuity in leadership. The Prophet Muhammad and Abu Bakr both understood this importance and appointed successors before they passed away so that their work could continue even after them. This teaches us the value of planning ahead for our own succession so that our work can continue even after we are gone.

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