( 165 )
The Sunni scholars unanimously agree that the Holy
Prophet never appointed a successor. This means that they
agree that he did not make Abu Bakr his successor .
However it is reported that a contemporary Medinite
scholar from the Wahabis claimed that the Messenger of
God appointed Abu Bakr as his successor. ( 5 )
He supported his claim by a hadith which reported that the Messenger
said: "And God and the believers reject (any leadership)
except that of Abu Bakr." He also claimed that this hadith
is "Mutawatir" (reported through numerous channels which
makes it certain)
This hadith is what Muslim in his Sahih recorded
through his channel to Urwah who reported that Ayeshah
said: "The Messenger said to me: Call for me your father
Abu Bakr and your brother
so that I can write a directive.
I fear that a wisher may wish and a sayer may say: I have
more right (to the leadership than Abu Bakr) and God and
the believers reject (any leadership) except that of Abu
Bakr." ( 6)
Al-Bukhari recorded it in a similar way but it contained
the word: "I almost attempted to call Abu Bakr and his son
and write a directive. . . ." ( 7)
It is worthy to note that this hadith is not mutawatir as
this Wahabi scholar claimed
for it was not reported by
numerous companions. As a matter of fact
it was reported
only by Ayeshah.
However
introducing this hadith as evidence for the appointment of Abu Bakr as a successor is evidence of the
lack of profound knowledge of the hadiths
for this hadith
is opposed by three authentic hadiths which are reported by
Ayeshah herself:
Ayeshah Reported the Opposite
Muslim recorded through his channel to Masrooq that
Ayeshah said: "The Messenger of God did not leave behind
( 5 ) Sheikh Mohammad Jawad Mugneyah recorded this in his book Hathi Hiya Al- Wahabiyah (This Is the Wahabism)
( 6 ) Muslim Sahih Muslim Part 15 p. 155.
( 7 ) Al-Nawawi in his commentary on Sahih Muslim conveyed this.
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