Therefore, he addressed al-Zubayr and said, “O al-Zubayr!
Therefore, he addressed al-Zubayr and said, “O al-Zubayr! You are avaricious, small hearted and ill tempered. In anger, you are an infidel and a mu’min if in a happy mood! If you get the caliphate you will fight for a little barley!” He told about Talhah, “He is [1] Al-Sawā`iq al-Muhriqah, Page 104 [2] Al-Kāmil fit-Tārīkh, Vol 3, Page 104 proud and conceited.
On one occasion he talked such an impertinent thing that the Prophet (a.s) was very upset with him and remained so until the end!” He then turned towards Sa`d and said, “You are a good archer but the caliphate is out of your reach because you are from Banū-Zahrah and what Banū-Zahrah has to do with the caliphate!” He told `Abd al-Rahman ibn `Awf, “You are very fond of rest and pleasures!
If you become the caliph, you might leave the affairs of the caliphate to your wife!” Ibn Qutaybah records the following words: “O `Abd al-Rahman! I might have given the caliphate to you, but you are the Pharaoh for this Ummah!”[1] If the members select one person unanimously, it is well and good. `Umar told `Uthman, “If the caliphate is given to you, then you will put the burden of Banū-Umayyah and Banū-al-`As on the necks of the people!
The bayt al-mal will become the fiefdom of your tribe.” Finally he turned to `Ali (a.s) and said, “You are suitable in all respects for the position of the caliph. But the trait of humor dominates your nature!” After these comments he asked the members of the Shūra to decide about the successor within three days. He also asked them to invite al-Hasan ibn `Ali (a.s), `Abdullah ibn `Abbas and some more important persons from the Ansar.
But they should not have any say in the matter of the Caliphate. Abū-Talhah al-Ansari was appointed the director of the Shūra. He asked Abū-Talhah to gather all the members of the Shūra after his death in the room of `A’ishah and tell them that they must decide about the successor within the allotted time and during the interim period the responsibility of leading the prayers should rest with Suhayb al-Rūmi. If they select the successor unanimously, it is well and good.
If five are on one side and one is in opposition, then he must be killed. If three are on one side and the three on other, then his son, `Abdullah ibn `Umar to be the arbiter. Whichever side he supported, the caliph will be their nominee. Then he advised his son, “If there is difference of opinion in the Ummah you should side with the majority.