`A'isha told that she said, "O my head!'' and that God's messenger said, "If you were to die[*] while I am alive I would ask forgiveness for you and make supplication on your behalf." `A'isha then said, "Alas! I swear by God that I think you want me to die; and if that happened you would spend that night with one of your wives." The Prophet replied, "Stop worrying about your head and think of me. I purposed (or, wished) to send to Abu Bakr and his son and make him my successor lest people should talk, or people who hoped for the succession should have their hopes raised; then I thought that God wants nothing else and that the believers will prevent anything else," or, "that God will prevent anything else and that the believers want nothing else." *Literally, if that happened. Bukhari transmitted it.