The Virtue of `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud (ra) Sunan Ibn Majah 137
Arabic hadith text
حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا وَكِيعٌ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنْ أَبِي إِسْحَاقَ، عَنِ الْحَارِثِ، عَنْ عَلِيٍّ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ " لَوْ كُنْتُ مُسْتَخْلِفًا أَحَدًا عَنْ غَيْرِ مَشُورَةٍ لاَسْتَخْلَفْتُ ابْنَ أُمِّ عَبْدٍ "
Translation
It was narrated that 'Ali said
"The Messenger of Allah said: 'If I were to appoint anyone as my successor without consulting anyone, I would have appointed Ibn Umm 'Abd.'"