The Living Need the New

In Jumada al-Akhirah 13 AH, Abu Bakr fell ill with a fever. Knowing his end was near, he consulted leading companions about 'Umar. 'Abd al-Rahman ibn 'Awf said 'Umar was better than Abu Bakr's opinion of him, though there was a sternness in him; 'Uthman said his inner self was better than his outward manner. When Talhah worried about 'Umar's severity, Abu Bakr answered that if his Lord asked him, he would say: I appointed over them the best of Your people. He had 'Uthman write the testament naming 'Umar, and it was read to the people, who accepted it.

He asked 'A'ishah on what day the Prophet ﷺ had died — a Monday — and in how many cloths he had been shrouded — three. It was Monday; he said he hoped to die before the night was out, and asked to be shrouded in the garment he was wearing, washed, with two more. When she said it was worn, he said: "The living have more right to the new than the dead." He died on the night of Tuesday and was buried before morning (Sahih al-Bukhari 1387).

He had taken a modest allowance from the treasury while he served. The historians report that he ordered what remained with him of it to be handed to his successor, and that 'Umar wept and said Abu Bakr had made it hard for those who would come after him. He was buried beside the Prophet ﷺ in 'A'ishah's room, at sixty-three, after a caliphate of a little over two years. 'Umar later said that in naming a successor he had the example of one better than himself — Abu Bakr (Sahih al-Bukhari 7218).