Musnad Ahmad — Hadith #44577

Yahya bin Hammad told us, Abu Awanah told us, on the authority of Al-Amash, on the authority of Ismail bin Raja, on the authority of Umayr, the client of Al-Abbas, on the authority of Ibn Abbas, he said, when the Messenger of God, may God bless him and grant him peace, was arrested and Abu Bakr was appointed as his successor, he disputed with Al-Abbas over matters that the Messenger of God had left behind. God, may God’s prayers and peace be upon him, and Abu Bakr, may God be pleased with him, said: There is something that the Messenger of God, may God’s prayers and peace be upon him, left behind and he did not move it, so I will not move it. When Omar was appointed successor, they went to him and he said, “There is something that Abu Bakr did not move, so I will not move it.” He said, “When he was appointed successor, Othman, may God be pleased with him. They disputed with him. He said, “Othman remained silent and lowered his head.” Ibn Abbas said, “I was afraid that he would take him, so I hit my hand between Abbas's shoulders, so I said, O father, I swear to you that I will not hand it over to Ali. He said, so he handed it over to him.