But there was the ancient tribal custom of Arabs that when a...

But there was the ancient tribal custom of Arabs that when a man was accepted as Chief even by some of the members of the tribe, others accepted him as such without grumbling. When it was known that Abu Bakr had been elected as Caliph, the majority of the Muslims followed him, according to the old rule. The second Caliph, `Umar ibn al-Khattab was not elected but nominated by the first Caliph.

`Umar, at the time of his death appointed a committee of six persons and said that they should select one amongst…