What will you tell God when you meet Him if you do not...

What will you tell God when you meet Him if you do not appoint someone to succeed you?”[^3] ‘A’ishah refers to the same point and says to ibn Umar, “Convey my greetings to Umar and say to him, ‘Don’t leave the umma (the community) of the Prophet (saws) without leader, and don’t leave them to their chances after you lest sedition should befall them”.[^4] It is also reported that Abdullah ibn Umar has said to his father, “I wish you had designated someone to succeed you.

When you send someone who manages the affairs of the people, do you not like him to appoint someone to replace him?” “Yes, I do”. Umar said.

His son added: “If you employ someone to look after your sheep, do you not like to see him appoint someone to replace him?”[^5] When Mu’awiyyah wanted to appoint Yazid as his successor, he referred to the same point, and said, “I fear to leave the Ummah of Mohammad with no one to look after them like a flock of sheep without a shepherd”.[^6] Whenever he decided to go on a trip, the holy Prophet (saws) appointed a deputy, and he never left Medina without appointing someone to take care of things.

The Sira and history books have made a note of this and mentioned the names of those whom the Prophet had chosen to represent him (while he was away).