Hazrat Ali (RA)
Abu Wa’il reported: It was said to Ali ibn Abi Talib, may Allah be pleased with him, “Will you not appoint a successor upon us?” Ali said, “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ did not appoint a successor, so I will not appoint a successor. However, if Allah wills good for the people, He will unite them after me around the best among them, just as He united them after their Prophet around the best among them.”
عَنْ أَبِي وَائِلٍ قَالَ قِيلَ لِعَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ أَلَا تَسْتَخْلِفُ عَلَيْنَا قَالَ مَا اسْتَخْلَفَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَأَسْتَخْلِفُ وَلَكِنْ إِنْ يُرِدُ اللَّهُ بِالنَّاسِ خَيْرًا فَسَيَجْمَعَهُمْ بَعْدِي عَلَى خَيْرِهِمْ كَمَا جَمَعَهُمْ بَعْدَ نَبِيِّهِمْ عَلَى خَيْرِهِمْ