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Sahih al-Bukhari 7218 (Book 93, Hadith 78) #6933
Appointing a Successor - A Reflection of Umar's Wisdom

SUMMARY: Umar was asked to appoint a successor, but he chose not to as it was done by someone better than him (Abu Bakr) and also left undecided by someone even better than him (Prophet Muhammad).

Narrated 'Abdullah bin 'Umar: It was said to 'Umar, "Will you appoint your successor?" 'Umar said, "If I appoint a Caliph (as my successor) it is true that somebody who was better than I (ie, Abu Bakr) did so, and if I leave the matter undecided, it is true that somebody who was better than I (ie, Allah's Messenger ﷺ) did so". On this, the people praised him'.Umar said, "People are of two kinds: Either one who is keen to take over the Caliphate or one who is afraid of assuming such a responsibility. I wish I could be free from its responsibility in that I would receive neither reward nor retribution I won't bear the burden of the caliphate in my death as I do in my life".
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يُوسُفَ، أَخْبَرَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ عُرْوَةَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ قَالَ قِيلَ لِعُمَرَ أَلاَ تَسْتَخْلِفُ قَالَ إِنْ أَسْتَخْلِفْ فَقَدِ اسْتَخْلَفَ مَنْ هُوَ خَيْرٌ مِنِّي أَبُو بَكْرٍ، وَإِنْ أَتْرُكْ فَقَدْ تَرَكَ مَنْ هُوَ خَيْرٌ مِنِّي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَأَثْنَوْا عَلَيْهِ فَقَالَ رَاغِبٌ رَاهِبٌ، وَدِدْتُ أَنِّي نَجَوْتُ مِنْهَا كَفَافًا لاَ لِي وَلاَ عَلَىَّ لاَ أَتَحَمَّلُهَا حَيًّا وَمَيِّتًا‏.‏
TOPICS
succession  *  caliphate  *  responsibility  *  reward  *  retribution  *  ikhtiyar  *  khilafah  *  ajaib  *  jazaa  *  adhaab

QUICK LESSONS:
Respect others and their decisions; Be humble; Make wise decisions; Take responsibility for your actions; Do what is right even if you don't get rewarded for it .

EXPLANATIONS:
When the people of Medina asked Umar to appoint his successor, he refused. He said that if he appointed someone, it would be true that Abu Bakr had done so before him and if he left the matter undecided, it would be true that Prophet Muhammad had done so. This shows us how wise and humble Umar was. He did not want to take on the responsibility of appointing a successor because he knew that no one could do it better than Abu Bakr or Prophet Muhammad. He also did not want to bear the burden of being responsible for his decision in life or death.

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