Tempoh masa yang dibenarkan bagi kaum Muslimin untuk melantik seorang Khalifah ialah tiga hari termasuk malam-malamnya. Haram bagi seorang Muslim untuk bermalam lebih daripada tiga malam tanpa bai'ah di lehernya. Adapun dibenarkan maksimum tiga malam, ini kerana pelantikan seorang Khalifah menjadi wajib sejak saat Khalifah terdahulu meninggal dunia atau diturunkan. Namun, dibenarkan menangguhkan pelantikan selagi kaum Muslimin sibuk dengan tugas yang sedang dilakukan selama tiga hari termasuk malam-malamnya. Jika had itu melebihi tiga malam dan seorang Khalifah belum dilantik pada masa itu, perkara tersebut perlu diteliti: Jika kaum Muslimin terlibat dalam usaha melantik seorang Khalifah tetapi gagal melakukannya dalam tempoh tiga malam kerana sebab-sebab yang mendesak di luar kawalan dan kemampuan mereka, maka dosa itu gugur daripada leher mereka, kerana mereka sedang berusaha melaksanakan tugas tersebut dan terpaksa, di luar kehendak mereka, melewatkan pelaksanaan kewajipan itu. Ibn Hibban dan Ibn Majah meriwayatkan daripada Ibn Abbas, beliau melaporkan bahawa Rasulullah ﷺ bersabda: .

The time limit allowed for the Muslims to appoint a Khalifah is three days including their nights. It is forbidden for a Muslim to spend more than three nights without having a bayah on his neck. As for allowing a maximum of three nights, this is because appointing of a Khalifah becomes compulsory from the very moment the former Khalifah dies or is removed. However, it is allowed to delay the appointment as long as the Muslims are involved with the task at hand for three days including their nights. If the limit exceeds three nights and a Khalifah is not appointed by that time the matter should be examined: If the Muslims were involved in the appointment of a Khalifah and failed to do so within three nights for compelling reasons beyond their control and ability, then the sin would fall from their necks, for they were endeavouring in their task to perform this duty and were compelled against their will to delay the implementation of that duty. Ibn Hibban and Ibn Majah narrated from Ibn Abbas who reported that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: .

"Allah telah mengampuni umatku atas kesilapan, kelupaan, dan apa yang mereka dipaksa melakukannya." [al-Nawawi, al-Majmu’ Sharh al-Muhadhdab, jilid 8, hlm. 450]

"Allah had forgiven my Ummah for the mistake and forgetfulness and that which they were compelled of". [al-Nawawi, al-Majmu’ Sharh al-Muhadhdab, vol.8, p.450] .

Tetapi jika mereka tidak terlibat dalam tugas tersebut, maka mereka semua akan berdosa sehingga seorang Khalifah dilantik, dan hanya ketika itulah dosa tersebut gugur daripada leher mereka. Adapun dosa yang mereka lakukan kerana mengabaikan kewajipan melantik seorang Khalifah, dosa itu tidak gugur daripada mereka, bahkan ia kekal, dan Allah (SWT) akan menghukum mereka sebagaimana Dia menghukum apa-apa dosa yang dilakukan oleh seorang Muslim kerana tidak melaksanakan sesuatu kewajipan.

But if they were not involved in the task they would all be sinful until such time that a Khalifah was appointed, and only then would the sin fall from their necks. As for the sin they had committed by neglecting the duty of appointing a Khalifah, this would not fall from them, rather it remains, and Allah (S.W.T) would punish them as he would punish any sin committed by a Muslim for not performing a duty. .

Mengenai kewajipan untuk segera terlibat dalam bai'ah kepada Khalifah apabila jawatan Khilafah menjadi kosong, ini adalah kerana para Sahabat membincangkan perkara ini di balai Bani Sa'idah selepas kewafatan Rasulullah ﷺ, pada hari yang sama dengan kewafatan baginda dan sebelum pengebumiannya. Bai'ah akad kepada Abu Bakr telah dimuktamadkan pada hari yang sama dengan kewafatan baginda. Pada hari kedua, orang ramai berkumpul di masjid untuk memberikan bai'ah ketaatan kepada Abu Bakr.

As for the obligation of the immediate involvement in the bayah of the Khalifah once the Khilafah post becomes vacant, this is because the Sahabah addressed this matter in the hall of Bani Sai’dah after the death of the Messenger (PBUH) , on the same day of his death and before his burial. The contracting bayah of Abu Bakr was concluded on the same day of his death. On the second day, the people were gathered in the masjid to give the bayah of obedience to Abu Bakr. .

Sebahagian daripada dalil bahawa tempoh maksimum yang dibenarkan bagi kaum Muslimin untuk melantik seorang Khalifah ialah tiga hari termasuk malam-malamnya ialah apabila ‘Umar merasakan kematiannya sudah hampir, beliau menyerahkan urusan kepada ahli Syura untuk melantik seorang Khalifah dengan memberikan mereka tempoh tiga hari, dan memerintahkan supaya sesiapa yang tidak bersetuju dengan kumpulan itu dibunuh apabila tiga hari telah berlalu. Beliau menugaskan pelaksanaan perintah tersebut, iaitu membunuh orang yang mungkin tidak bersetuju, kepada lima puluh orang daripada kaum Muslimin, walaupun kumpulan itu terdiri daripada ahli Syura dan para Sahabat yang terkemuka. Perkara ini berlaku di hadapan para Sahabat dan tiada seorang pun yang membantah atau mengkritik perintah tersebut. Hal ini menjadi ijmak umum para Sahabat yang menyatakan bahawa haram bagi kaum Muslimin kekal tanpa seorang Khalifah lebih daripada tiga hari termasuk malam-malamnya, dan ijmak para Sahabat ialah dalil syarak sama seperti Al-Qur'an dan Sunnah.

As for the fact that the maximum time limit allowed for the Muslims to appoint a Khalifah is three days including their nights, its evidence is that when ‘Umar felt that his death was imminent he delegated the people of the Shura to appoint a Khalifah giving them a time limit of three days and instructing them to kill anyone who disagreed with the group once the three days had lapsed. He assigned the execution of such instruction, i.e. killing the one who might disagree, to fifty people from the Muslims despite the fact that the group was formed of the Shura people and the senior Sahabah. This took place in the presence of the Sahabah and no one objected or condemned such instruction. This became a general consensus of the Sahabah stating that it is forbidden for Muslims to remain without a Khalifah for more than three days including their nights and the consensus of the Sahabah is Sharia evidence just like the Qur’an and the Sunnah. .

Al-Bukhari meriwayatkan daripada Al-Miswar bin Makhramah bahawa dia berkata: "Abd al-Rahman mengetuk pintu rumahku selepas sebahagian malam berlalu sehingga aku terjaga. Dia berkata, 'Aku nampak kamu sedang tidur. Demi Allah, aku tidak menikmati tidur yang banyak dalam tiga malam ini…'" (Iaitu tiga malam tersebut). [Bukhari, Sahih, #7207]. Setelah orang ramai menunaikan solat Subuh, bai'ah telah dimuktamadkan kepada 'Uthman.

Al-Bukhari reported from Al-Miswar ibn Makhramah that he said: “Abd al- Rahman knocked at my door after a part of the night passed till I woke up. He said, “I see you have been sleeping. By Allah, I did not enjoy much sleep in these three…” (I.e. the three nights).” [Bukhari, Sahih, #7207]. Once the people prayed fajr, the bayah was concluded to ‘Uthman. .

Maka, adalah wajib ke atas kaum Muslimin apabila jawatan Khalifah menjadi kosong, untuk bersegera menyediakan bai'ah bagi Khalifah yang seterusnya, dan menyempurnakannya dalam tempoh tiga hari. Sekiranya mereka tidak bersegera dalam bai'ah Khalifah, dan Khilafah telah dihapuskan lalu mereka berdiam diri mengenainya, maka mereka berdosa sejak dari saat Khilafah dihapuskan dan sepanjang tempoh mereka berdiam diri mengenainya. Inilah keadaannya pada hari ini, di mana kaum Muslimin berdosa kerana mereka tidak menegakkan Khilafah sejak ia dihapuskan pada 28 Rejab 1342 H sehingga mereka menegakkannya. Tiada seorang pun akan terlepas daripada dosa tersebut kecuali mereka yang bersungguh-sungguh dalam usaha serius untuk menegakkannya di dalam sebuah kumpulan yang ikhlas dan benar. Dalam keadaan itu, dia akan terlepas daripada dosa tersebut. Dosa ini sangat besar sebagaimana yang dijelaskan dalam hadis Rasulullah ﷺ: .

So, it is obliged upon Muslims once the post of the Khalifah becomes vacant, to engage in preparing the bayah for the next Khalifah, and to complete it within three days. If they however did not engage in the bayah of the Khalifah, the Khilafah was removed and they remained silent about it, then they are sinful from the moment the Khilafah was removed and for the period they remained silent about it. This is the case today, where Muslims are sinful because they did not establish the Khilafah from the moment it was eliminated on 28 Rajab 1342 H until they establish it. No one would be free of that sin except those who were engaged in the serious work for establishing it within a sincere truthful group. In that case he would relieve himself of the sin. This sin is great as explained in the hadith of the Messenger of Allah ( PBUH) : .

"Sesiapa yang meninggal dunia tanpa ada bai'ah di lehernya, maka dia mati dengan kematian jahiliyyah." [Bukhari, Sahih, #7054 dan Muslim, Sahih, #4767] Ini menunjukkan betapa besarnya dosa tersebut.

“Whoever passed away without having a bayah on his neck he would have died the death of jahiliyyah.” [Bukhari, Sahih, #7054 and Muslim, Sahih, #4767] This indicates the greatness of the sin. .