In the early dawn of Islamic history, during a moment of great upheaval, the Muslim world witnessed a transition of power that not only defined leadership for centuries to come but also introduced one of the earliest examples of a formal electoral process.
The Tragic Assassination Attempt on Umar ibn al-Khattab (RA)
It began with a moment of chaos. As Umar ibn al-Khattab (RA), the second Caliph of Islam, stood in prayer at the mosque, he was suddenly attacked by a Persian slave named Abu Lu’lu’ah Firoz. Struck with a poisoned dagger, Umar (RA) collapsed to the ground. Firoz attempted to flee, but he was quickly surrounded by Muslims. Realizing he had no way out, he took the same dagger and ended his life.
The wounded Caliph was carried to his home. When dates soaked in water and milk were given to him, they flowed out from his wounds. This confirmed the worst fears of his physician—his injuries were fatal. The doctor told him plainly, “O Ameer al-Mu’minin, remember Allah now. Survival is no longer possible.”
Umar’s Concern: Who Will Lead After Me?
Even in his final moments, Umar (RA) wasn’t consumed by pain or regret. Instead, his mind turned to the Ummah. Who would lead the Muslims after him? The Caliphate, once a simple system under Abu Bakr (RA) and then Umar (RA), had grown into the most powerful empire on Earth, stretching from the borders of the Persian Empire to Egypt.
Many companions, ministers, and generals came to Umar (RA) for advice and gave their opinions. One suggested, “O Ameer al-Mu’minin, it is common in the world that after a great ruler, his son takes over. So why not appoint your son, Abdullah ibn Umar?”
But Umar (RA) responded with striking clarity, “May Allah destroy this thought of yours. Never in my life have I desired the Caliphate for my family. I do not want the leadership of Muslims to become like the kingdoms of the Romans and Persians, where power stays in one family.”
The First Shura (Council) and the Idea of an Islamic Election
Instead of passing the leadership to his family, Umar (RA) called his son Abdullah and instructed him to write down six names six companions he believed were worthy of leading the Muslim world. These weren’t ordinary men. They were from the Asharah Mubasharah
the ten companions promised Paradise by the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
However, three of those ten were already deceased, and one was Umar (RA) himself. That left six living companions:
Ali ibn Abi Talib (RA)
Uthman ibn Affan (RA)
Talha ibn Ubaydullah (RA)
Zubayr ibn al-Awwam (RA)
Sa’d ibn Abi Waqqas (RA)
Abdur Rahman ibn Awf (RA)
Umar excluded Sa’id ibn Zayd (RA), despite being among the ten, because he was Umar’s cousin. Again, Umar avoided even the slightest suspicion of nepotism.
He ordered that these six be locked in a house immediately after his burial and given three days to decide among themselves who would be the next Caliph. Fifty armed men would guard the house to prevent external influence from families or tribes. No lobbying. No politics. Just sincere consultation and agreement.
Umar also commanded that Abdullah ibn Umar be part of the consultation process but under no circumstances be allowed to become Caliph himself.
He left clear instructions: “Whosoever these six companions choose unanimously must be accepted by all. And if anyone refuses, he shall be executed.” This marked the first Islamic electoral council—and one of the first democratic processes in world history.
Consultation Begins: A Historic Moment in Madinah
Once Umar (RA) passed away and was buried, the six companions gathered in the designated house in Madinah. Among them, three were seasoned military commanders—Zubayr (RA), Talha (RA), and Sa’d ibn Abi Waqqas (RA)—while the other three were more politically experienced civilians—Ali (RA), Uthman (RA), and Abdur Rahman ibn Awf (RA).
Out of humility, the three generals withdrew their candidacies and cast their votes:
Zubayr (RA) voted for Ali (RA)
Talha (RA) voted for Uthman (RA)
Sa’d (RA) voted for Abdur Rahman ibn Awf (RA)
The Tragic Assassination Attempt on Umar ibn al-Khattab (RA)
That left three potential leaders.
But then Abdur Rahman ibn Awf (RA), a man of wealth, trust, and integrity, also stepped down from candidacy. He took on the immense responsibility of selecting between the final two: Ali ibn Abi Talib (RA) and Uthman ibn Affan (RA).
Abdur Rahman’s Nationwide Consultation
Before making his decision, Abdur Rahman ibn Awf (RA) did something remarkable. For three days and nights, he walked through Madinah and asked everyone for their opinion—noblemen, scholars, soldiers, youth, and even women and slaves. He gathered their thoughts and assessed the will of the people.
He found that both Uthman and Ali (RA) were immensely respected. However, Uthman ibn Affan (RA) was slightly more popular among the masses due to:
His generosity and wealth (he was the richest man in the Muslim world)
His gentle and soft-natured leadership style
His avoidance of strict policies like those of Umar (RA), which made people believe he would be a more lenient ruler
Ali (RA), on the other hand, was known to be just and firm like Umar (RA), which some found intimidating.
When asked privately whom they would choose if they had the power, both Uthman and Ali (RA) humbly pointed to the other. This mutual respect displayed their sincerity and deep understanding of the responsibility at hand.
References:
The Historic Announcement in Masjid al-Nabawi
On the third day, as Fajr prayer ended, the mosque of the Prophet ﷺ was filled to capacity. People held their breath.
Abdur Rahman ibn Awf (RA) stood before the crowd and called upon Ali (RA). Holding his hand, he asked, “Will you rule by the Book of Allah, the Sunnah of His Messenger ﷺ, and the example of Abu Bakr and Umar?” Ali (RA) replied, “To the best of my ability.”
Then he called upon Uthman (RA) and asked the same. Uthman (RA) said, “By Allah, I shall.”
At that moment, Abdur Rahman ibn Awf (RA) raised his hands to the sky and declared, “O Allah! You are witness that I hand over the leadership of the Muslims to Uthman ibn Affan.”
The first to pledge allegiance (bay’ah) was none other than Ali (RA). Then the entire congregation followed.
The Beginning of Uthman’s Caliphate
At nearly 70 years old, Uthman (RA) climbed the pulpit of Masjid al-Nabawi and delivered his first speech as Caliph. He urged the Muslims to prepare for the Hereafter and detach from the luxuries of the world.
His first official act was to increase the salaries of soldiers and government officials, signaling generosity and economic growth. Letters were sent from Madinah to governors across the Islamic world Basra, Kufa, Damascus, Alexandria declaring that although Umar (RA) had passed, the Caliphate would continue with the same justice and responsibility.
Thus began the era of Caliph Uthman ibn Affan (RA) an era of expansion, Quran preservation, and transformation that would be remembered for centuries.
In The Last
The succession after Umar ibn al-Khattab (RA) was not a chaotic power struggle but a carefully structured decision based on consultation, integrity, and public opinion. The process reflected the Islamic values of justice, humility, and service. It wasn’t just a leadership choice; it was a defining moment in Islamic governance.
Reference
Sahih al-Bukhari
Al-Tabari’s Tarikh al-Rusul wa al-Muluk
Ibn Sa’d’s Kitab al-Tabaqat al-Kabir
Islamic history scholars: Ibn Kathir, Al-Mawardi
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