It was mentioned in the presence of ʿAisha that the Prophet ﷺ had appointed ʿAli as successor by will. Thereupon she said, "Who said so? I saw the Prophet, while I was supporting him against my chest. He asked for a tray, and then fell on one side and expired, and I did not feel it. So how (do the people say) he appointed ʿAli as his successor?"
أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ أَوْصَى إِلَى عَلِيٍّ فَقَالَتْ مَنْ قَالَهُ لَقَدْ رَأَيْتُ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ وَإِنِّي لَمُسْنِدَتُهُ إِلَى صَدْرِي فَدَعَا بِالطَّسْتِ فَانْخَنَثَ فَمَاتَ فَمَا شَعَرْتُ فَكَيْفَ أَوْصَى إِلَى عَلِيٍّ