[Machine] "And he said, by Allah, I have never been eager for leadership, neither day nor night, nor have I desired it. I have never asked Allah, Almighty and Glorious, for it, neither secretly nor openly. But I feared Fitnah (trials and tribulations), and I am not at ease with leadership. However, I have been entrusted with a great task, for which I have no strength or capability except by relying on the strength and might of Allah, Almighty and Glorious. If I had wished, the Muslims would have accepted my leadership today. The Muhajirun (those who migrated from Mecca to Medina), accepted what I said and did not object to it. Ali and Zubair also did not express anger, except because we were deprived of participating in the consultation. We believe that after the Prophet ﷺ, Abu Bakr is the most deserving of leadership. He was the companion of the cave and the second of the two, and we are well aware of his nobility and greatness. Indeed, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ instructed him to lead the people in prayer while he was alive."
وَقَالَ وَاللَّهِ مَا كُنْتُ حَرِيصًا عَلَى الْإِمَارَةِ يَوْمًا وَلَا لَيْلَةً قَطُّ وَلَا كُنْتُ فِيهَا رَاغِبًا وَلَا سَأَلْتُهَا اللَّهَ ﷻ فِي سِرٍّ وَلَا عَلَانِيَةٍ وَلَكِنِّي أَشْفَقْتُ مِنَ الْفِتْنَةِ وَمَا لِي فِي الْإِمَارَةِ مِنْ رَاحَةٍ وَلَكِنْ قُلِّدْتُ أَمْرًا عَظِيمًا مَا لِي بِهِ مِنْ طَاقَةٍ وَلَا يَدَ إِلَّا بِتَقْوِيَةِ اللَّهِ ﷻ وَلَوَدِدْتُ أَنَّ أَقْوَى النَّاسِ عَلَيْهَا مَكَانِي الْيَوْمَ فَقَبِلَ الْمُهَاجِرُونَ مِنْهُ مَا قَالَ وَمَا اعْتَذَرَ بِهِ قَالَ عَلِيٌّ وَالزُّبَيْرُ مَا غَضِبْنَا إِلَّا لِأَنَّا قَدْ أُخِّرْنَا عَنِ الْمُشَاوَرَةِ وَإِنَّا نَرَى أَبَا بَكْرٍ أَحَقَّ النَّاسِ بِهَا بَعْدَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِنَّهُ لِصَاحِبُ الْغَارِ وَثَانِيَ اثْنَيْنِ وَإِنَّا لَنَعْلَمُ بِشَرَفِهِ وَكِبَرِهِ «وَلَقَدْ أَمَرَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ بِالصَّلَاةِ بِالنَّاسِ وَهُوَ حَيٌّ»