Abdullah b. Masood I was with the Messenger of Allah , when he sighed heavily.
O Messenger of Allah, why are you so sad? I asked.
O Ibne Masood, my death is approaching the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) replied.
Appoint a successor, O Messenger of Allah I said.
Who? asked the Prophet (s.a.w.a.)
Abu Bakr I replied.
The Prophet fell silent and sighed heavily again.
Why you are so sad? May I sacrifice my life for you, O Messenger of Allah I said.
My death is approaching replied the Prophet.
Appoint a successor I said.
Who will it be? asked the Prophet.
Omar b. Khattab I replied.
The Prophet (s.a.w.a.) fell silent and sighed heavily for the third time.
May I sacrifice my mother and father for you. Why are you so sad, O the Messenger of Allah? I asked.
My death is approaching replied the Prophet .
Appoint a successor I said.
Who will it be asked the Prophet.
Ali b. Abi Talib I said.
Then the Prophet cried and said – Ah, (but) you people will not obey him! If you would, Allah would allow you (to enter) Paradise. But by disobeying him, Allah will remove the value from anything good that you do.
Ghaayah al-Maraam p 69 Al-Manaaqib p 64 Al-Amaali v 1 p 313 Al-Manaaqeb v 2 p 262 Tarikh Dimishq v 3 p 72 Majma' al-Zawaaed v 5 p 185 Tafseer al-Quran al-Azeem v 9 p 200