As-salaamu `alaykum wa rahmatullaah

مصرحية القوي الأمين – المشهد الثاني
Play: The Strong and Trustworthy [Scene 2]

[In the bedroom of Abu Bakr on the following day]

[Abu Bakr lies on his mattress and with him is ‘Uthmaan ibn ‘Affaan, ‘Ali ibn Abee Taalib, ‘Abdur-Rahmaan ibn ‘Awf, Sa’eed ibn Zayd, Usayd ibn Hudhayr and Talha ibn ‘Ubaydallaah, radhi’Allaahu anhum ajma’een]

Ibn ‘Awf: Did you send for us Ya khaleefata-Rasoolillaah?
Abu Bakr: Yes, just like I sent for other than you from amongst the Muhaajireen and Ansaar, so that I may consult and seek guidance by your opinions. I am as you see me, my death has indeed drawn closer and I wish to appoint over you a strong and trustworthy man – and it has dawned on me that ‘Umar ibn al-Khattaab is that man. So what do you think? What do you think of ‘Umar Ya ‘Abdur-Rahmaan? Ibn ‘Awf: You have not asked me about a thing except that you know more about it than me.
Abu Bakr: And if not?
Ibn ‘Awf: By Allaah, he is better than what you think of him
Abu Bakr: And you, O ‘Uthmaan? Inform me about ‘Umar ibn al-Khattaab
‘Uthmaan: You are the most informed out of us regarding him, O Abu Bakr.
Abu Bakr: Upon that Ya Abaa ‘Abdillaah, I want to hear your opinion
‘Uthmaan: By Allaah, my knowledge of him is that his inner is better than his outer and that there is no one amongst us who is like him.

Usayd: He is pleased with that which pleases Allaah and he is displeased with that which displeases Allaah. That which he conceals is better than that which he reveals and this affair can never be governed by anymore more capable than him.
Abu Bakr: May Allaah reward you well, O brother of the Ansaar. And you O ‘Ali ibn Abee Taalib, what do you say about ‘Umar?
‘Ali: O successor of the Messenger of Allaah, what can I say about a man with whose acceptance of Islam, Islam itself was strengthened, and it was not strengthened by the submission of other than him. And indeed, I heard the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam say, “Truly, Allaah has established truth upon the tongue and heart of ‘Umar.”
Abu Bakr: You have been blessed O cousin of the Messenger of Allaah. But what then is the state of a people who say to me ‘Will you not fear Allaah in the appointment of ‘Umar over the Muslims.’
Talha: Then put your trust in Allaah and appoint him, for by Allaah there is none amongst us more capable over this affair than him.
Abu Bakr: All Praise be to Allaah for my heart feels tranquil at your counsel. May Allaah reward you all well – if you wish leave with thanks and let ‘Uthmaan ibn ‘Affaan remain with me.

[They all leave one after the other whilst bidding farewell to Abu Bakr and supplicating for him]

‘Uthmaan [sees Abu Bakr in pain]: I see you in pain, shall I call for your family?
Abu Bakr: No ‘Uthmaan, don’t do that. But bring your ink and pen so I may dictate to you Kitaab al-‘Ahd
‘Uthmaan: Now, Ya khaleefat-Rasoolillah?
Abu Bakr: Now O ‘Uthmaan, before my death

[The adhaan for Salaat al-‘Asr is heard]

Abu Bakr: Wait a little O ‘Uthmaan while I offer my ‘Asr prayer

[He pronounces takbeer for the prayer whilst sitting, then weakness over takes him and he lays down, completing his prayer in that position]

Abu Bakr: Come quick, O ‘Uthmaan.

‘Uthmaan: Dictate, O successor of the Messenger of Allaah.

[Abu Bakr dictates and ‘Uthmaan writes down the Will and Covenant]

Abu Bakr: Write down O ‘Uthmaan: In the Name of Allaah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. This is what Abu Bakr Ibn Abee Quhaafah has written in his last moments departing the world and his first moments entering the Hereafter – whereupon every disbeliever ends up believing, ever sinner becomes certain and every liar will bear witness to the truth of it. I (Abu Bakr) have appointed over you…

[Abu Bakr passes out]

‘Uthmaan: ‘I have appointed over you…’ dictate O Abu Bakr… Oh! He has been taken! Laa hawla wa la quwwata illaa billah!

[He calls]: O people of the household! Come quick to the khaleefa!

[Abu Bakr comes round]

Abu Bakr: Did you fear O ‘Uthmaan, did you fear that if my soul was taken then, that the people will differ?
‘Uthmaan: Yes.

Abu Bakr: Read to me what you have written

‘Uthmaan: ‘I have appointed over you, after me, ‘Umar ibn al-Khattaab so listen to him and obey him. And indeed, I have not failed Allaah, His Messenger, His Deen, my soul or yourselves with regards to the good. If he (‘Umar) is just, then that is what I knew of him, but if he is otherwise, then for every soul is what it earns from sin. I only intend goodness and I do not have knowledge of the Unseen – and those who do wrong will come to know by what overturning they will be overturned. Wasalaamu `alaikum wa rahmatullaahi wa barakaatuh

Abu Bakr: Correct Ya ‘Uthmaan. Take the seal and stamp it.
‘Uthmaan: I have already stamped it Ya Abu Bakr

[He returns the seal]

Abu Bakr: May Allaah reward you on behalf of Islaam and the Muslims. Go and call for Salaatan Jamaa’atan (congregate the people) Ya ‘Uthmaan, I want to speak to them through this window, then call ‘Umar to me.

[‘Uthmaan exits and Asmaa enters]

Asmaa: O Abu Bakr, here is ‘Aisha, Mother of the Believers

[‘Aisha enters]

Abu Bakr: Welcome ‘Aisha, welcome O mother of the believers, welcome O beloved of the Messenger of Allaah.

‘Aisha (kisses her father’s head): How are you today O father?
Abu Bakr: Alhamdulillaah ‘Aisha
‘Aisha: Every time I sent my maid to you, she said that there were men with you.
Asmaa: Indeed, the men wouldn’t leave him for the whole of today
‘Aisha: Won’t you be lenient upon yourself, O father?
Abu Bakr: O mother of the believers, how can a person entrusted with the affairs of this Ummah ever be lenient on themselves? Help me up Asmaa so I may look out at the people in the mosque through this window

[Asmaa takes his hand and ‘Aisha and Umm Farwa aid him from behind until he overlooks from the window]

Abu Bakr: O people, O gathering of believers! Pay attention to me for perhaps you will not hear my voice after today. I have indeed made a covenant and went to great lengths in thought, and I have not appointed a near kindred. Will you be pleased with whomsoever I appoint over you?

The people: We’re pleased O successor of the Messenger of Allaah. Whoever you appoint over us, we are pleased with him.
Abu Bakr: I have truly appointed over you ‘Umar ibn al-Khattaab, so listen to him and obey him.
The people: We hear and we obey O successor of the Messenger of Allaah.
_____________

[Extracted from the play: “Al-Qawiyyul-Ameen” by Ahmad Ali Baaktheer with slight variations]

Part 1 and 2 were taken from the ‘Al-‘Arabiyyatu Bayna Yadayk’ series, Book 3, written primarily by Dr. Muhammad ibn ‘Abdur-Rahmaan Aal Shaykh and 2 other shuyookh/professors from the Islamic universities of KSA.