From Sahih Bukhari: A woman came to the Prophet (sas) and he ordered her to come back later. Whe said: What if I come don't find you? (indicating his death). He (sas) said: "If you don't find me, then go to Abu Bakr." Why wasn't it Hazrat Ali (ra) ? Also Ali(ra) himself says: Sahih BUKHARI: Volume 5, Book 57, Number 20: Narrated Muhammad bin Al-Hanafiya: I asked my father ('Ali bin Abi Talib(ra)), "Who are the best people after Allah's Apostle ?" He said, "Abu Bakr(ra)." I asked, "Who then?" He said, "Then 'Umar(ra). " I was afraid he would say "Uthman(ra), so I said, "Then you?" He said, "I am only an ordinary person. "