The Messenger of Allah (saw) died without appointing a specific person to succeed him (saw) as a Khaleefah. After the Sahabah (ra) met and deliberated, they decided to select Abu Bakr (ra) as the Khaleefah. All the Sahabah (ra), including Ali (ra), gave the Bay‟ah to Abu Bakr (ra). Before he died, Abu Bakr (ra) nominated Umar bin Al-Khattab (ra) to be his successor, after consulting with the people of Madinah. Umar (ra) became the Khaleefah; however, only after being given the Bay‟ah. On his deathbed, Umar (ra) nominated 6 people and suggested that the Khaleefah be chosen from among them.

Included in this list of nominees were Ali bin Abi Talib (ra) and Uthman bin al-Affan (ra). After Umar's death and his burial, the group which Umar had nominated gathered except for Talha who was in travel. It is reported that their meeting took place in Aisha‟s (ra) house, and Abdullah b. Umar was with them. They asked Abu Talha Al Ansari to shield them. Once they settled, Abdul-Rahman b. Awf said: "Who would take himself out of it (the Khilafah) and preside over the meeting on condition that he gives it to the best among you?" That is, who would renounce his right to the Khilafah, on condition that everyone makes him judge (arbitrator), to choose by himself a Khaleefah from amongst them as he deemed fit." Having said this, Abdul-Rahman b. Awf waited for an answer but no one answered him, so he went on saying: I myself renounce my right to the Khilafah. Upon this Uthman said: "I am the first to accept, for I heard the Messenger of Allah (saw) say:

“A trustee on earth is a trustee in the heveans,” Al-Zubayr and Sa‟ad also said: "We agree". Ali kept silent; so Abdul-Rahman asked him: "What do you say O Abul Hassan!" Ali replied: "Give me an Oath that you would prefer the truth and not to follow the whims and not to favour any member of your family and not neglect the interest of the Ummah". Abdul-Rahman replied: "Give me (all of you) your Oaths that you would stand with me against whoever changes, and that you would accept whoever I choose for you (on your behalf) and I give you my Oath that By Allah, I shall not favour a relative nor shall I neglect the interest of the Ummah." He took an Oath from them and gave them an Oath himself. Then he started to consult each one of them individually saying: "Apart from yourself, who do you think is worthy of this authority from among this group?" or words to that effect. Ali said: "Uthman." Uthman said: "Ali." Sa‟ad said: "Uthman," so did Al-Zubayr. Then Abdul-Rahman sought the opinion of the prominent figures in Madina, and asked all the Muslims in Madina one by one, men and women. He left no one without asking him about whom, he or she, would like to be the Khaleefah from amongst that group. A group of them chose Uthman and another group chose Ali.