Sahih Muslim #6178 · The Book of the Merits of the Companions

Sahih MuslimIbn Abu Mulaika reported
Sahih Muslim · Book 44 · The Book of the Merits of the Companions
Sahih Muslim · كتاب 44 · كتاب فضائل الصحابة
I heard 'A'isha as saying and she was asked as to whom Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) would have nominated as his successor if he had to nominate one at all. She said: Abu Bakr. It was said to her: Then whom after Abu Bakr? She said: 'Umar. It was said to her. Then whom after 'Umar? She said: Abu 'Ubaida b. al-Jarrah, and then she kept quiet at this.
وَحَدَّثَنِي الْحَسَنُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ الْحُلْوَانِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا جَعْفَرُ بْنُ عَوْنٍ، عَنْ أَبِي عُمَيْسٍ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ بْنُ حُمَيْدٍ، - وَاللَّفْظُ لَهُ - أَخْبَرَنَا جَعْفَرُ بْنُ عَوْنٍ، أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو عُمَيْسٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ، أَبِي مُلَيْكَةَ سَمِعْتُ عَائِشَةَ، وَسُئِلَتْ، مَنْ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم مُسْتَخْلِفًا لَوِ اسْتَخْلَفَهُ قَالَتْ أَبُو بَكْرٍ ‏.‏ فَقِيلَ لَهَا ثُمَّ مَنْ بَعْدَ أَبِي بَكْرٍ قَالَتْ عُمَرُ ‏.‏ ثُمَّ قِيلَ لَهَا مَنْ بَعْدَ عُمَرَ قَالَتْ أَبُو عُبَيْدَةَ بْنُ الْجَرَّاحِ ‏.‏ ثُمَّ انْتَهَتْ إِلَى هَذَا ‏.‏
Reference : Sahih Muslim 6178In-book reference : Book 44, Hadith 10