Baada ya kuchunguza namna ya kuteuliwa kwa Khulafaa' Rashidun, ni wazi kwamba kulikuwa na upunguzaji wa idadi ya waliopendekezwa. Katika ukumbi wa Bani Sa'idah, waliopendekezwa walikuwa Abu Bakr, 'Umar, Abu Ubaydah na Sa'd ibn 'Ubadah. Hawa walitosha wakati ule, lakini 'Umar na Abu Ubaydah hawakumwona mtu yeyote kuwa sawa na Abu Bakr, kwa hiyo hawakumpinga. Hivyo ushindani ulibaki kati ya Abu Bakr na Sa'd ibn 'Ubadah. Kisha watu mashuhuri waliokuwepo ukumbini walimchagua Abu Bakr na kumpa Bay'ah ya mkataba. Siku iliyofuata, Waislamu walimpa Abu Bakr Bay'ah ya utii.

After examining the method of the appointment of the Khulafaa’ Rashidun, it is clear there was short listing of the nominees. In the hall of Bani Sa’idah, the nominees were Abu Bakr, ‘Umar, Abu Ubaydah and Sa’d ibn ‘Ubadah. These were enough at the time, but ‘Umar and Abu Ubaidah did not consider anybody equal to Abu Bakr, so they did not challenge him. Thus competition was limited to Abu Bakr and Sa’d ibn ‘Ubadah. Then the influential people present in the hall elected Abu Bakr and gave him the contracting Bayah. The next day, the Muslims gave Abu Bakr the Bayah of obedience. .

Abu Bakr alimteua ‘Umar kwa Waislamu kushika wadhifa wa Khalifah, bila kuwa na mgombea mwingine. Waislamu walimpa Bayah ya mkataba, kisha Bayah ya utii.

Abu Bakr nominated ‘Umar to the Muslims for the post of Khalifah, without having any other nominees. The Muslims gave him the contracting Bayah, and then the Bayah of obedience. .

ʿUmar aliteua watu sita na kuufunga Ukhalifa kwao, hivyo Waislamu wakapewa uchaguzi wa kumchagua Khalifa miongoni mwa hao sita. Baada ya kujiondoa miongoni mwa walioteuliwa, ʿAbdul Rahman alijadiliana na watano waliobaki, akipunguza idadi ya wagombea hadi wawili: ʿAli na ʿUthmān, baada ya wao kukabidhi jambo hilo kwake. Baada ya kuchunguza maoni ya watu, maoni yakakubaliana kumchagua ʿUthmān kuwa Khalifa.

‘Umar nominated six people and limited the Khilafah to them, whereby the Muslims were given the choice to choose a Khaleefah from amongst the six. After removing himself from the nominees, Abdul Rahman discussed with the remaining five, limiting the number of candidates to two; Ali and ‘Uthman, after they delegated the matter to him. After investigating the opinions of the people, the opinion settled on ‘Uthman as a Khaleefah. .

Kuhusu kuteuliwa kwa 'Ali, hakukuwa na mgombea mwingine wa Ukhalifa isipokuwa yeye, kwa hiyo wengi wa Waislamu wa al-Madinah na al-Kufah walimpa Bay'ah, naye akawa Khalifa wa nne.

As for the appointment of ’Ali, there was no other nominee for Khalifah beside him, so the majority of Muslims of al-Madinah and al-Kufah gave him the Bayah, and he became the fourth Khaleefah. .

Kwa kuwa Bay'ah ya 'Uthman (ra) ilijumuisha kipindi cha juu kabisa kinachoruhusiwa kwa kumchagua Khalifa, yaani siku tatu ikiwa ni pamoja na usiku wake mbili, pamoja na kuwekewa kikomo cha wagombea kuwa watu sita, ambao baadaye walipunguzwa hadi wawili, tutajadili matukio haya kwa undani kwa sababu ya umuhimu wake katika kuelewa somo hili kwa usahihi. 1- 'Umar (ra) alichomwa kisu wakati alipokuwa amesimama katika mihrab akiswali alfajiri ya Jumatano, siku nne kabla ya kumalizika kwa mwezi wa Dhul Hijjah mwaka 23 AH. 'Umar (ra) alifariki asubuhi ya Jumapili, mwanzoni mwa Muharram mwaka 24 AH, kutokana na jeraha alilosababishiwa na Abu Lu'luah, Mwenyezi Mungu amlaani. Suhaib (ra) aliswalia janazah (sala ya maiti) juu yake kwa mujibu wa wasia wa 'Umar (ra).

Since the Bayah of ‘Uthman (ra) included the maximum period allowed for electing a Khaleefah, i.e. three days including their two nights, as well as the limiting of the nominees to six people, which were shortlisted to two, we are going to discuss these events in detail because of its value in understanding this subject correctly. 1- ‘Umar (ra) was stabbed whilst he was standing in the mihrab praying on the dawn of Wednesday, 4 days before the end of Dhul Hijjah 23 AH. ‘Umar (ra) passed away on Sunday morning, at the beginning of Muharram in 24 AH, as a result of his injury caused by Abu Lu’luah, may Allah curse him. Suhaib (ra) prayed janazah (funeral prayer) on him according to the will of ‘Umar (ra). .

2- Baada ya kuzikwa kwa ‘Umar, Al-Miqdad aliwakusanya watu sita wa shura waliopendekezwa na ‘Umar nyumbani, ambako Abu Talha alikuwa akilinda. Wakaketi wakishauriana wao kwa wao. Kisha wakamkabidhi Abdul Rahman ibn Awf, miongoni mwao, jukumu la kumchagua Khalifah kutoka miongoni mwao, kwa ridhaa yao.

2- When ‘Umar was buried, Al-Miqdad gathered the six people of shura recommended by ‘Umar in a house, which Abu Talha guarded. They sat down consulting with each other. Then they delegated Abdul Rahman ibn Awf from amongst themselves to choose a Khalifah from them, with their consent. .

3- Abdul Rahman alianza kujadiliana nao, na akamuuliza kila mmoja wao: "Isipokuwa wewe mwenyewe, unamwona nani anastahili mamlaka haya miongoni mwa kundi hili?" Jibu lao halikwenda zaidi ya ’Ali na ‘Uthman. Hatimaye, ‘Abd al-Rahman alilifunga jambo hilo kwa hao wawili.

3- Abdul Rahman started discussing with them, and asked each one of them: “Apart from yourself, who do you think is worthy of this authority from among this group?" Their answer was not beyond ’Ali and ‘Uthman. Finally, ‘Abd al- Rahman confined the matter to those two. .

4- Baada ya hapo Abd al-Rahman alianza kuwashauri watu kama ilivyotajwa hapo juu.

4- After that Abd al-Rahman started consulting the people as was mentioned above. .

5- Usiku wa Jumatano, yaani usiku wa siku ya tatu baada ya kifo cha ‘Umar (ra) (yaani Jumapili), ‘Abdul Rahman alikwenda nyumbani kwa mpwa wake, Al-Muswar ibn Makhramah, ambapo Ibn Kathir anaripoti yafuatayo katika kitabu chake Al-Bidayah Wan-Nihayah: .

5- On Wednesday night, i.e. the night of the third day after the death of ‘Umar (ra) (i.e. Sunday), Abdul Rahman went to the house of his nephew, Al- Muswar ibn Makhramah, where Ibn Kathir reports the following in his book Al- Bidayah Wan-Nihayah: .

Usiku uliopoanza siku ya nne baada ya kifo cha ‘Umar ulipoanza, alikuja nyumbani kwa mpwa wake, Al-Muswar ibn Makhramah, akasema, “Umelala, ewe Muswar? Wallahi! Sijapata usingizi mwingi tangu siku tatu…” yaani usiku tatu baada ya kifo cha ‘Umar asubuhi ya Jumapili, maana yake usiku wa Jumatatu, Jumanne na Jumatano. Aliendelea kusema, “Nenda ukamwite ‘Ali na ‘Uthman kwa ajili yangu…” Kisha aliwaleta msikitini, na watu wakaitwa kuhudhuria sala ya hadhara. Hii ilikuwa alfajiri ya Jumatano. Kisha alimshika mkono ‘Ali (ra) akamwuliza kuhusu kula kiapo cha utii (Bay‘ah) kwa kitabu cha Allah, na Sunnah ya Mtume Wake, na kitendo cha Abu Bakr na ‘Umar. ‘Ali (ra) alimjibu jibu lile maarufu: Kwa kitabu na Sunnah, ndiyo; kuhusu kitendo cha Abu Bakr na ‘Umar, yeye atafanya ijtihadi yake mwenyewe. Basi, akaachia mkono wake, akamshika mkono wa ‘Uthman na kumwuliza swali lile lile. ‘Uthman alisema, “Ndiyo, wallahi.” Hivyo ndivyo bay‘ah ilivyokamilika kwa ‘Uthman (ra).

When the night that begins the fourth day after the death of ‘Umar started, he came to the house of his nephew, Al-Muswar ibn Makhramah and said, “Are you sleeping, O Muswar? By Allah! I have not enjoyed much sleep since three…” i.e. the three nights after the death of ‘Umar on Sunday morning, meaning the nights of Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. He continued to say, “Go and call ’Ali and ‘Uthman for me…”, then he brought them to the masjid and the people were called to attend a public prayer. This was at dawn on Wednesday. Then he held the hand of Ali (ra) and asked him about taking the Bayah over the book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger and the action of Abu Bakr and ‘Umar. ‘Ali (ra) gave him the well known answer: Over the book and the Sunnah, yes; as for the action of Abu Bakr and ‘Umar, he would make his own ijtihad. So, he dropped his hand and held the hand of ‘Uthman and asked him the same question. ‘Uthman said, “Yes, by Allah.” Thus the bayah was concluded to ‘Uthman (ra). .

Suhaib aliwaongoza watu katika swala ya alfajiri na ya adhuhuri ya siku hiyo. Kisha ‘Uthman (ra) aliwaongoza watu katika swala ya ‘asr akiwa Khalifah wa Waislamu. Hii ina maana kwamba licha ya kuanza kwa kiapo cha utii (Bayah) kwa ‘Uthman (ra) tangu swala ya alfajiri, uongozi wa Suhaib haukuisha isipokuwa baada ya kiapo cha utii cha watu mashuhuri wa al-Madinah kwa ‘Uthman. Hili lilikamilika punde kabla ya ‘Asr, wakati Maswahaba walipoitana kumpa ‘Uthman kiapo cha utii, mpaka baada ya katikati ya mchana kupita na kabla ya ‘asr. Kiapo cha utii kilipokamilika kabla ya ‘asr, uongozi wa Suhaib ukamalizika, na ‘Uthman akawaongoza watu katika swala ya ‘asr kama Khalifah wao. Mwandishi wa al-Bidayah wa al-Nihayah anaeleza sababu ya Suhaib kuwaongoza watu katika swala ya adhuhuri ingawa ‘Uthman alipokea kiapo cha utii alfajiri. Anasema: “Watu walimpa kiapo cha utii msikitini, kisha akapelekwa nyumbani kwa shura (yaani nyumba ambayo watu wa shura walikutania), na watu waliobaki wakampa kiapo cha utii. Inaonekana hakumaliza kupokea kiapo cha utii mpaka baada ya adhuhuri. Hivyo, Suhaib aliswali adhuhuri hiyo katika msikiti wa Mtume ﷺ, kwa hiyo swala ya kwanza ambayo Khalifah, Amir ul-Mu’minin, ‘Uthman aliwaongoza Waislamu ilikuwa swala ya ‘asr.”

Suhaib led the people in the fajr and zuhr prayers of that day. Then ‘Uthman (ra) led the people in the ‘asr prayer as the Khalifah of the Muslims. This means that despite the contracting Bayah to ‘Uthman (ra) starting at the fajr prayer, the leadership of Suhaib did not expire except after the Bayah of the influential people in al-Madinah to ‘Uthman. This was completed little before ’Asr, when the Sahabah summoned each other to give bayah to ‘Uthman until after the middle of that day had passed and before asr. When the taking of the Bayah was completed before asr the leadership of Suhaib finished, and ‘Uthman led the people in the asr prayer as their Khalifah. The author of al-Bidayah wa al-Nihayah explains why Suhaib led the people in the zuhr prayer though ‘Uthman took the Bayah at fajr. He says: “The people gave him the Bayah in the masjid, then he was taken to the house of shura (i.e. the house where the people of shura met), so the rest of the people gave him the Bayah. It seems he did not finish taking the Bayah until after zuhr. So, Suhaib prayed that zuhr in the Prophet’s mosque, thus the first prayer in which the Khalifah, amir ul-mu’minin, ‘Uthman led the Muslims was salat al-asr.” .

Kuna baadhi ya riwaya zinazotofautiana kuhusu siku ambayo ‘Umar alijeruhiwa, siku ya kifo chake, na siku ya bay‘ah kwa ‘Uthman. Hata hivyo, tumejitahidi kutaja riwaya yenye ushahidi wenye nguvu zaidi.

There are some reported differences about the days in which ‘Umar was injured, the day of his death and the day of bayah to ‘Uthman. However we have endeavoured to mention the report with the strongest evidence. .

Kwa hiyo, mambo yafuatayo lazima yazingatiwe wakati wa kupendekeza wagombea wa wadhifa wa Khilafah baada ya kukosekana (kwa kifo au kuondolewa), nayo ni: 1- Kazi ya kumteua Khalifa lazima ifanywe mchana na usiku hadi kazi hiyo itakapokamilika.

Consequently the following matters must be considered when making nominations for the post of Khilafah after it becomes vacant (through death or dismissal), which are: 1- The work to appoint a Khaleefah must be done day and night until the task is completed. .

2- Wagombea lazima wachujwe kwa kuzingatia kutimiza masharti ya mkataba, jambo linalofanywa na mahkamat al-mazalim.

2- Nominees have to be shortlisted in terms of fulfilling the contractual conditions, a matter that is conducted by the mahkamat al-mazalim. .

3- Wagombea wanaorodheshwa kwa mara mbili: hadi sita, kisha hadi wawili. Baraza la Ummah ndilo linalofanya uorodheshaji huu kama wawakilishi wa Ummah. Hii ni kwa sababu Ummah ulimkabidhi ‘Umar (ra) awawakilishe, ambaye aliwateua watu sita, na wagombea hao sita wakamkabidhi mwakilishi miongoni mwao, Abul Rahman, ambaye baada ya majadiliano alipunguza wagombea hadi wawili. Hivyo, marejeo katika haya yote ni Baraza la Ummah, yaani wawakilishi wake.

3- Nominees are short listed twice: to six, and then to two. The council of the Ummah conducts this short listing as representatives of the Ummah. This is because the Ummah delegated ‘Umar (ra) to represent them, who nominated six people, and the six nominees delegated a representative from amongst themselves, Abul Rahman, who shortlisted the nominees to two after discussion. Thus, the reference in all of this is the Ummah’s council, i.e. its representatives. .

4- Kazi ya amiri wa muda inamalizika baada ya kukamilika kwa kupokea Bay'ah kutoka kwa Khalifah, si kwa kutangazwa kwa matokeo. Uongozi wa Suhaib haukumalizika kwa kuchaguliwa kwa 'Uthman, bali kwa kukamilika kwa Bay'ah yake.

4- The task of the provisional amir expires after the completion of the taking of the Bayah by the Khalifah, rather than by the announcement of the results. The leadership of Suhaib did not finish by the election of ‘Uthman, but rather by the completion of his Bayah. .

Kwa hiyo, sheria itatolewa inayoamua njia ya kumchagua Khalifah katika siku tatu pamoja na usiku zake. Sheria hii tayari imeshapitishwa, nayo itajadiliwa na kupitishwa kwa wakati unaofaa, insha'Allah.

Accordingly, a law will be issued that determines the way of electing the Khalifah during the three days including their nights. This law has already been enacted, and it will be discussed and adopted at the right time, insha’allah. .

Hii ni kesi ikiwa kulikuwa na Khalifah na akafariki au akaondolewa, na inahitajika kumteua Khaleefah wa kumrithi. Lakini ikiwa hakuna Khaleefah kabisa, inakuwa wajibu kwa Waislamu kumteua Khaleefah, ili kutekeleza hukumu za Shariah na kubeba da’wah ya Kiislamu duniani, kama ilivyo sasa tangu kuondolewa kwa Khilafah ya Kiislamu huko Istanbul, tarehe 28 Rajab 1342 H (3 Machi 1924). Katika hali kama hii, kila moja ya nchi za Kiislamu katika ulimwengu wa Kiislamu inafaa kumteua Khalifah, na Khilafah itamfikia yeye. Kwa hiyo, ikiwa moja ya nchi za Kiislamu ilitoa Bay'ah kwa Khaleefah, na Khilafah ikamfikia yeye, inakuwa wajibu kwa Waislamu katika nchi nyingine kumpa Bay'ah ya utiifu, yaani bay'ah ya kujisalimisha kwa mamlaka yake. Hii ni baada ya Khilafah kumfikia yeye kupitia Bay'ah ya watu wa nchi yake. Hata hivyo, masharti yafuatayo lazima yatimizwe katika nchi hiyo: .

This is the case if there was a Khalifah and he passed away or was removed, and a Khaleefah needs to be appointed to replace him. However, if there is no Khaleefah at all, it becomes obligatory upon the Muslims to appoint a Khaleefah, to implement the rules of the Shariah and to carry the Islamic da’wah to the world, as is currently the case since the removal of the Islamic Khilafah in Istanbul, on 28th Rajab 1342 H (3rd March 1924). In such a situation, every one of the Muslim countries in the Islamic world is suitable to appoint a Khalifah, and the Khilafah would be concluded to him. So, if one of the Muslim countries gave the Bayah to a Khaleefah, and the Khilafah was concluded to him, it becomes obligatory upon the Muslims in the other countries to give him the Bayah of obedience, i.e. a bayah of submission to his authority. This is after the Khilafah has been concluded to him through the Bayah of the people of his country. However, the following conditions have to be fulfilled in that country: .

1. Mamlaka ya nchi lazima iwe mikononi mwa Waislamu, na si mikononi mwa nchi isiyo ya Kiislamu wala chini ya ushawishi wa nchi isiyo ya Kiislamu.

1. The authority of the country must be in the hands of the Muslims and not in the hands of a non-Islamic country or under a non-Islamic influence. .

2. Usalama wa Waislamu katika nchi hiyo lazima uhakikishwe na Uislamu, yaani ulinzi wao ndani na nje ya nchi unapaswa kuwa kwa jina la Uislamu na kwa vikosi vya Kiislamu, kwa kuwatenga wengine wote.

2. The security of the Muslims in that country must be guaranteed by Islam, i.e. its protection at home and abroad should be in the name of Islam and by Islamic forces to the exclusion of all others. .

3. Utekelezaji wa Uislamu unapaswa kufanyika mara moja, kwa njia kamili na ya kimsingi; Khalifah lazima ahusike katika kufikisha Ujumbe wa Kiislamu.

3. The implementation of Islam should take place with immediate effect in a comprehensive and radical manner; the Khalifah must be involved in the conveying of the Islamic Message. .

4. Khalifa lazima atekeleze masharti yote ya kimkataba, ingawa huenda asitekeleze masharti yaliyopendekezwa, kwa kuwa jambo la msingi ni masharti ya mkataba wenyewe.

4. The Khalifah must fulfil all the contractual conditions, although he might not fulfil the preferred conditions, since what really matters are the conditions of the contract. .

Iwapo nchi hiyo itatimiza masharti haya manne, basi Khilafah itaanzishwa kwa Bay'ah ya nchi hiyo peke yake, na Khilafah itakamilika kwa nchi hiyo peke yake. Khalifah ambaye wamempa Bay'ah atakuwa Khalifah halali, na Bay'ah yoyote kwa mtu mwingine asiyekuwa yeye itakuwa batili. Nchi yoyote ambayo baadaye inaweza kutoa Bay'ah kwa Khalifah mwingine, Bay'ah yake itakuwa batili, kutokana na kauli ya Mtume wa Allah ﷺ: .

Should that country satisfy these four conditions then the Khilafah would be established by the Bayah of that country alone, and the Khilafah would be concluded by her alone. The Khalifah to whom they gave the Bay’ah would become the legitimate Khalifah, and any Bay’ah to other than him would be invalid. Any country that might give the Bayah to another Khalifah after that, his Bayah would be invalid, due to the saying of the Messenger of Allah (P.B.U.H): .

"Ikiwa bay'ah ilichukuliwa kwa makhalifa wawili, basi muueni wa mwisho wao." [Muslim, Sahih, #1853].

“If Bay’ah was taken to two Khaleefah, then kill the latter of them.” [Muslim, Sahih, #1853] .