穆斯林任命哈里发的时限是三天，包括其中的夜晚。穆斯林若超过三夜仍未有效忠的誓约（bayah）系于颈上，这是被禁止的。之所以允许的最长时限为三夜，是因为任命哈里发在前任哈里发去世或被罢免的那一刻起就成为义务。然而，只要穆斯林在三天（包括其中的夜晚）之内都在忙于手头的事务，推迟任命是被允许的。如果超过三夜仍未任命哈里发，则应当审视此事：若穆斯林已在着手任命哈里发，却因超出其控制和能力范围的正当理由，未能在三夜之内完成，那么罪责便从他们的颈上卸下，因为他们一直在努力履行这一职责，只是违背其意愿而被迫推迟了履行该义务。伊本·罕拔尼和伊本·马哲根据伊本·阿拔斯的记载，他说：安拉的使者ﷺ说：……

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: .

"安拉已宽恕我的乌玛在错误、遗忘以及他们被迫所做之事上的过失。"[al-Nawawi, al-Majmu’ Sharh al-Muhadhdab, vol.8, p.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] .

但是，如果他们没有参与这项任务，那么在任命哈里发之前，他们全都会有罪，直到那时罪责才会从他们身上卸下。至于他们因怠于任命哈里发这一职责而犯下的罪，这罪并不会从他们身上消除，而是依然存在，安拉（SWT）会像惩罚穆斯林因未履行某项义务而犯下的任何罪过一样惩罚他们。

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. .

关于哈里发职位空缺时必须立即进行哈里发宣誓效忠（bayah）的义务，其理由在于：圣门弟子在先知（PBUH）去世后，于Bani Sai'dah议事厅讨论了此事，时间就在他去世当天、下葬之前。阿布·伯克尔的契约性效忠宣誓也在他去世当天完成。第二天，民众聚集在清真寺，向阿布·伯克尔宣誓效忠与顺服。

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. .

至于穆斯林任命哈里发的最长期限为三天（包括其间的夜晚），其证据是：当欧麦尔感到自己即将去世时，他委托协商委员会（Shura）的成员任命一位哈里发，并给他们三天的期限，指示他们在三天过后，若有人持不同意见，就将其处死。他把执行这一指示（即杀死可能持异议者）的任务交给了穆斯林中的五十人，尽管该团体由协商委员会成员和资深圣门弟子组成。此事发生在圣门弟子面前，无人反对或谴责该指示。这便成为圣门弟子的普遍共识，即穆斯林不得无哈里发超过三天（包括其间的夜晚），而圣门弟子的共识与《古兰经》和圣训一样，是伊斯兰教法的证据。

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. .

布哈里在《圣训实录》中（第7207段）转述了阿勒-米斯瓦尔·伊本·马赫拉马的话，他说：“在夜过了一部分之后，阿卜杜勒·拉赫曼敲我的门，我才醒来。他说：‘我看你睡着了。真主在上，这三夜我几乎没有睡好……’（即那三个夜晚）。”人们做完晨礼之后，对奥斯曼的效忠宣誓便完成了。

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. .

因此，哈里发职位空缺后，穆斯林有义务着手筹备下一任哈里发的宣誓效忠（bayah），并须在三天之内完成。如果他们没有着手进行哈里发的宣誓效忠，哈里发制度被废除，而他们对此保持沉默，那么从哈里发制度被废除的那一刻起，直到他们沉默的这段时间里，他们都是有罪的。今天的情况也是如此：自公历1924年3月3日（伊历1342年拉比阿尔·阿希拉月28日，即Rajab 28, 1342H，应为伊历1342年5月28日，即1924年1月28日左右）哈里发制度被废除之时起，直到他们重建哈里发制度之前，穆斯林都因未建立哈里发而有罪。除了那些在一个真诚、诚实的团体中，投身于建立哈里发的严肃工作的人之外，没有人能免于这一罪过；如果他投身于此，便能使自己摆脱这一罪过。这一罪过非常严重，先知ﷺ的圣训中已有解释：

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) : .

“谁死时颈上没有效忠之约（bayah），他就是死于蒙昧时代（jahiliyyah）的死法。”［布哈里《萨希赫》，第7054条；穆斯林《萨希赫》，第4767条］这说明了这种罪过的严重性。

“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. .