Caliphate, then kingship
Appeared
In brief
The Prophet ﷺ foretold that the caliphate after him would last thirty years and then turn into kingship. He also said the religion would stay strong under twelve rulers, all from Quraysh.
The Companion Safinah counted the thirty years: Abu Bakr two, Umar ten, Uthman twelve, Ali six, with the last months completed by al-Hasan. After that Mu'awiyah ruled, and kingship began. So the thirty years ran from 11 to 41 AH, and this has passed.
Scholars differ on who the twelve rulers are. Ibn Kathir and others list them from among the caliphs and some Umayyad rulers, while others say some are still to come. The Shi'ah identify them with their twelve Imams; Sunni scholars note that the hadith speaks of rulers under whom the religion was strong.
'Hold to my Sunnah and the Sunnah of the rightly guided caliphs after me; bite onto it with your molar teeth.'
Where it sits in the sequence
Events the narrations foretold that scholars connect with the first centuries of Islam. No single narration puts them in order.
Strongest narrations
Read all in the archive →Tags are automatic and unreviewed.
حَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، حَدَّثَنَا غُنْدَرٌ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الْمَلِكِ، سَمِعْتُ جَابِرَ بْنَ سَمُرَةَ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ " يَكُونُ اثْنَا عَشَرَ أَمِيرًا ـ فَقَالَ كَلِمَةً لَمْ أَسْمَعْهَا فَقَالَ أَبِي إِنَّهُ قَالَ ـ كُلُّهُمْ مِنْ قُرَيْشٍ ".
Narrated Jabir bin Samura:I heard the Prophet (ﷺ) saying, "There will be twelve Muslim rulers (who will rule all the Islamic world)." He then said a sentence which I did not hear. My father said, "All of them (those rulers) will be from Quraish
حَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، حَدَّثَنَا غُنْدَرٌ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الْمَلِكِ، سَمِعْتُ جَابِرَ بْنَ سَمُرَةَ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ " يَكُونُ اثْنَا عَشَرَ أَمِيرًا ـ فَقَالَ كَلِمَةً لَمْ أَسْمَعْهَا فَقَالَ أَبِي إِنَّهُ قَالَ ـ كُلُّهُمْ مِنْ قُرَيْشٍ ".
Narrated Jabir bin Samura:I heard the Prophet (ﷺ) saying, "There will be twelve Muslim rulers (who will rule all the Islamic world)." He then said a sentence which I did not hear. My father said, "All of them (those rulers) will be from Quraish
حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا جَرِيرٌ، عَنْ حُصَيْنٍ، عَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ سَمُرَةَ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ ح وَحَدَّثَنَا رِفَاعَةُ بْنُ الْهَيْثَمِ الْوَاسِطِيُّ، - وَاللَّفْظُ لَهُ - حَدَّثَنَا خَالِدٌ، - يَعْنِي ابْنَ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ الطَّحَّانَ - عَنْ حُصَيْنٍ، عَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ سَمُرَةَ، قَالَ دَخَلْتُ مَعَ أَبِي عَلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَسَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ " إِنَّ هَذَا الأَمْرَ لاَ يَنْقَضِي حَتَّى يَمْضِيَ فِيهِمُ اثْنَا عَشَرَ خَلِيفَةً " . قَالَ ثُمَّ تَكَلَّمَ بِكَلاَمٍ خَفِيَ عَلَىَّ - قَالَ - فَقُلْتُ لأَبِي مَا قَالَ قَالَ " كُلُّهُمْ مِنْ قُرَيْشٍ " .
It has been narrated on the authority of Jabir b. Samura who said:I joined the company of the Prophet (ﷺ) with my father and I heard him say: This Caliphate will not end until there have been twelve Caliphs among them. The narrator said: Then he (the Holy Prophet) said something that I could not follow. I said to my father: What did he say? He said: He has said: All of them will be from the Quraish
حَدَّثَنَا هَدَّابُ بْنُ خَالِدٍ الأَزْدِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادُ بْنُ سَلَمَةَ، عَنْ سِمَاكِ بْنِ حَرْبٍ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ جَابِرَ بْنَ سَمُرَةَ، يَقُولُ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ " لاَ يَزَالُ الإِسْلاَمُ عَزِيزًا إِلَى اثْنَىْ عَشَرَ خَلِيفَةً " . ثُمَّ قَالَ كَلِمَةً لَمْ أَفْهَمْهَا فَقُلْتُ لأَبِي مَا قَالَ فَقَالَ " كُلُّهُمْ مِنْ قُرَيْشٍ " .
It has been narrated on the authority of Jabir b. Samura who said:I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: Islam will continue to be triumphant until there have been twelve Caliphs. Then the Prophet (ﷺ) said something which I could not understand. I asked my father: What did he say? He said: He has said that all of them (twelve Caliphs) will be from the Quraish
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ، عَنْ دَاوُدَ، عَنِ الشَّعْبِيِّ، عَنْ جَابِرِ، بْنِ سَمُرَةَ قَالَ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم " لاَ يَزَالُ هَذَا الأَمْرُ عَزِيزًا إِلَى اثْنَىْ عَشَرَ خَلِيفَةً " . قَالَ ثُمَّ تَكَلَّمَ بِشَىْءٍ لَمْ أَفْهَمْهُ فَقُلْتُ لأَبِي مَا قَالَ فَقَالَ " كُلُّهُمْ مِنْ قُرَيْشٍ " .
It has been narrated on the authority of Jabir b. Samura that the Prophet (ﷺ) said:This order will continue to be dominant until there have been twelve Caliphs. The narrator says: Then he said something which I could not understand, and I said to my father: What did he say? My father told me that he said that all of them (Caliphs) would be from the Quraish
حَدَّثَنَا نَصْرُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ الْجَهْضَمِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا يَزِيدُ بْنُ زُرَيْعٍ، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ عَوْنٍ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ عُثْمَانَ النَّوْفَلِيُّ، - وَاللَّفْظُ لَهُ - حَدَّثَنَا أَزْهَرُ، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ عَوْنٍ، عَنِ الشَّعْبِيِّ، عَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ سَمُرَةَ، قَالَ انْطَلَقْتُ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَمَعِي أَبِي فَسَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ " لاَ يَزَالُ هَذَا الدِّينُ عَزِيزًا مَنِيعًا إِلَى اثْنَىْ عَشَرَ خَلِيفَةً " . فَقَالَ كَلِمَةً صَمَّنِيهَا النَّاسُ فَقُلْتُ لأَبِي مَا قَالَ قَالَ " كُلُّهُمْ مِنْ قُرَيْشٍ " .
It has been reported on the authority of Jabir b. Samura who said:I went with my father to the Messenger of Allah (may peeace be upon him) and I heard him say: This religion would continue to remain powerful and dominant until there have been twelve Caliphs. Then he added something which I couldn't catch on account of the noise of the people. I asked my father: What did he say? My father said: He has said that all of them will be from the Quraish
Weak and ungraded reports on this sign
37
Shown for study, not as established. Includes Kitab al-Fitan of Nu'aym ibn Hammad, which is ungraded and weak overall.
Not graded under this archive's policy. The verdicts recorded are listed.
حدثنا أبو العباس محمد بن يعقوب، ثنا حميد بن عياش الرملي، ثنا المؤمل بن إسماعيل، ثنا حماد بن سلمة، عن سعيد بن جمهان، عن سفينة مولى أم سلمة رضي الله عنها، قال: كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم إذا صلى الصبح، ثم أقبل على أصحابه فقال: «أيكم رأى الليلة رؤيا؟» قال: فصلى ذات يوم، فقال: «أيكم رأى رؤيا؟» فقال رجل: أنا رأيت يا رسول الله، كأن ميزانا دلي به من السماء، فوضعت في كفة، ووضع أبو بكر من كفة أخرى، فرجحت بأبي بكر، فرفعت وترك أبو بكر مكانه، فجيء بعمر بن الخطاب فوضع في الكفة الأخرى، فرجح به أبو بكر، فرفع أبو بكر، وجيء بعثمان فوضع في الكفة الأخرى، فرجح عمر بعثمان، ثم رفع عمر وعثمان ورفع الميزان، قال: فتغير وجه رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ثم قال: «خلافة النبوة ثلاثون عاما، ثم تكون ملكا» قال سعيد بن جمهان: فقال لي سفينة: «أمسك سنتي أبي بكر، وعشر عمر، واثنتي عشرة عثمان، وست علي رضي الله عنهم أجمعين» وقد أسندت هذه الروايات بإسناد صحيح مرفوعا إلى النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم "
No translation yet. Arabic only.
AI draft, not reviewed by an editor. Read the Arabic for the meaning.
Not graded under this archive's policy. The verdicts recorded are listed.
حدثنا أبو العباس محمد بن يعقوب، ثنا إبراهيم بن مرزوق البصري، بمصر ثنا عبد الصمد بن عبد الوارث بن سعيد، حدثني أبي، ثنا سعيد بن جمهان، عن سفينة أبي عبد الرحمن، مولى النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم، أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: «خلافة النبوة ثلاثون سنة» قال سعيد: «أمسك أبو بكر سنتين، وعمر بن الخطاب عشر سنين، وعثمان بن عفان اثنتي عشرة سنة، وعلي ست سنين»
No translation yet. Arabic only.
AI draft, not reviewed by an editor. Read the Arabic for the meaning.
Not graded under this archive's policy. The verdicts recorded are listed.
حدثني محمد بن صالح بن هانئ، ثنا يحيى بن محمد بن يحيى، ح حدثنا أبو بكر بن إسحاق، أنبأ يوسف بن يعقوب، قالا: ثنا أبو الربيع الزهراني، ثنا جرير، عن المغيرة، عن الشعبي، عن جابر بن سمرة، رضي الله عنه، قال: كنت عند رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فسمعته، يقول: «لا يزال أمر هذه الأمة ظاهرا حتى يقوم اثنا عشر خليفة» وقال كلمة خفيت علي، وكان أبي أدنى إليه مجلسا مني فقلت: ما قال؟ قال: «كلهم من قريش» وقد روى جابر بن سمرة، عن أبيه حديثا آخر
No translation yet. Arabic only.
AI draft, not reviewed by an editor. Read the Arabic for the meaning.
Not graded under this archive's policy. The verdicts recorded are listed.
حدثنا علي بن عيسى، أنبأ أحمد بن نجدة القرشي، ثنا سعيد بن منصور، ثنا يونس بن أبي يعفور، عن عون بن أبي جحيفة، عن أبيه، قال: كنت مع عمي عند النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم، فقال: «لا يزال أمر أمتي صالحا حتى يمضي اثنا عشر خليفة» ثم قال كلمة وخفض بها صوته فقلت لعمي وكان أمامي ما قال يا عم؟ قال: قال يا بني: «كلهم من قريش»
No translation yet. Arabic only.
AI draft, not reviewed by an editor. Read the Arabic for the meaning.
Bible · Old Testament
Please note: these Bible passages are here for comparison and history only. In Islam, proof comes from the Quran and sahih hadith. Reports taken from earlier scriptures (Isra'iliyyat) are not treated as proof.
Daniel 7:1-28
The Four Beasts, the Arrogant Little Horn (Anti-Christ), and the Son of Man
Daniel sees four great empires emerging from the turbulent sea. From the ten horns of the terrifying fourth beast arises a 'little horn' with human eyes and a mouth speaking pompous blasphemies. This ruler wages war against the holy ones, attempts to alter times and divine laws, and dominates until the Ancient of Days convenes the court, slays the beast, and confers eternal dominion to the Son of Man.
מִשְׂתַּכַּ֨ל הֲוֵ֜ית בְּקַרְנַיָּ֗א וַאֲל֨וּ קֶרֶן֩ אָחֳרִ֨י זְעֵירָ֜ה סִלְקַ֣ת בֵּינֵיהֹ֗ון... וַאֲל֨וּ עַיְנִ֜ין כְּעַיְנֵ֤י אֲנָשָׁא֙ בְּקַרְנָא־דָ֔א וּפֻ֖ם מְמַלִּ֥ל רַבְרְבָֽן׃
While I was considering the horns, behold, another horn, a little one, came up among them... and behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking great things.
חָזֵ֨ה הֲוֵ֜ית בְּחֶזְוֵ֣י לֵֽילְיָ֗א וַאֲרוּ֙ עִם־עֲנָנֵ֣י שְׁמַיָּ֔א כְּבַ֥ר אֱנָ֖שׁ אָתֵ֣ה הֲוָ֑ה... וְלֵ֨הּ יְהִ֤יב שָׁלְטָן֙ וִיקָ֣ר וּמַלְכ֔וּ וְכֹ֣ל עַֽמְמַיָּ֠א אֻמַיָּ֧א וְלִשָּׁנַיָּ֛א לֵ֥הּ יִפְלְח֑וּן
I saw in the night visions, and behold, there came with the clouds of the sky one like a son of man... There was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations, and languages should serve him.
וּמִלִּ֗ין לְצַ֤ד עִלָּאָה֙ יְמַלִּ֔ל וּלְקַדִּישֵׁ֥י עֶלְיֹונִ֖ין יְבַלֵּ֑א וְיִסְבַּ֗ר לְהַשְׁנָיָה֙ זִמְנִ֣ין וְדָ֔ת וְיִתְיַהֲב֣וּן בִּידֵ֔הּ עַד־עִדָּ֥ן וְעִדָּנִ֖ין וּפְלַ֥ג עִדָּֽן׃
He will speak words against the Most High, and will wear out the saints of the Most High; and he will think to change the times and the law; and they will be given into his hand until a time, times, and half a time.
Psalms 2:1-12; 110:1-7; 132:13-14
The Messianic King on Mount Zion and the Eternal Promises of Jerusalem
The Royal Psalms declare God's decree installing His Anointed King (Mashiach) upon Mount Zion, His holy hill, dashing rebel kings like clay pots. Psalm 110 foretells the Lord commanding the Messiah to rule from Zion in the midst of his enemies until they become his footstool. Psalm 132 affirms: 'For the Lord has chosen Zion; He has desired it for His habitation: This is My resting place forever; here will I dwell.'
וַאֲנִי֮ נָסַ֪כְתִּי מַ֫לְכִּ֥י עַל־צִ֝יּ֗וֹן הַר־קָדְשִֽׁי׃
Yet I have set my King on my holy hill of Zion.
נְאֻ֤ם יְהוָ֨ה׀ לַֽאדֹנִ֗י שֵׁ֥ב לִימִינִ֑י עַד־אָשִׁ֥ית אֹ֝יְבֶ֗יךָ הֲדֹ֣ם לְרַגְלֶֽיךָ׃ מַטֵּ֧ה־עֻזְּךָ֗ יִשְׁלַ֣ח יְ֭הוָה מִצִּיּ֑וֹן רְ֝דֵ֗ה בְּקֶ֣רֶב אֹיְבֶֽיךָ׃
The Lord says to my Lord, 'Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.' The Lord will send out the rod of your strength out of Zion. Rule in the middle of your enemies.
Daniel 2:31-45
Nebuchadnezzar's Dream of the Four-Metal Statue and the Stone Cut Without Hands
King Nebuchadnezzar dreams of an immense, dazzling statue with a head of gold, chest of silver, thighs of bronze, legs of iron, and feet of iron mixed with clay. A stone is cut out without human hands, strikes the feet of the statue, shattering the whole structure like chaff blown away by the summer wind. The stone then becomes a great mountain that fills the entire earth, symbolizing an everlasting divine kingdom that will crush and consume all worldly empires.
חָזֵ֣ה הֲוַ֗יְתָ עַ֠ד דִּי הִתְגְּזֶ֨רֶת אֶ֜בֶן דִּי־לָ֣א בִידַ֗יִן וּמְחָ֤ת לְצַלְמָא֙ עַל־רַגְלֹ֔והִי דִּ֥י פַרְזְלָ֖א וְחַסְפָּ֑א וְהַדֶּ֖קֶת הִמֹּֽון׃ בֵּאדַ֣יִן דָּ֣קוּ כַחֲדָ֡ה פַּרְזְלָא֩ חַסְפָּ֨א נְחָשָׁ֜א כַּסְפָּ֣א וְדַהֲבָ֗א... וְאַבְנָ֞א דִּֽי־מְחָ֥ת לְצַלְמָ֛א הֲוָ֥ת לְט֥וּר רַ֖ב וּמְלָ֥את כָּל־אַרְעָֽא׃
You watched until a stone was cut out without hands, which struck the image on its feet of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces. Then the iron, clay, bronze, silver, and gold were broken in pieces together... and the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth.
וּבְיֹומֵיהֹ֠ון דִּ֣י מַלְכַיָּ֣א אִנּ֗וּן יְקִים֩ אֱלָ֨הּ שְׁמַיָּ֤א מַלְכוּ֙ דִּ֤י לְעָלְמִין֙ לָ֣א תִתְחַבַּ֔ל וּמַלְכוּתָ֕ה לְעַ֥ם אָחֳרִ֖ין לָ֣א תִשְׁתְּבִ֑ק תַּדִּ֤ק וְתָסֵיף֙ כָּל־אִלֵּ֣ין מַלְכְוָתָ֔א וְהִ֖יא תְּק֥וּם לְעָלְמַיָּֽא׃
In the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which will never be destroyed, nor will its sovereignty be left to another people; but it will break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it will stand forever.
What scholars have said
Scholars cite it as having appeared
Safinah (RA), Companion & NarratorSahabi (d. ~70 AH)
Counts the thirty years of caliphate as those of Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman and Ali.
Jami' at-Tirmidhi 2226; Sunan Abi Dawud 4646
Present-day data
These numbers show the world today beside the narration. They do not decide whether the sign has appeared; that is shown only through named scholars, in the Scholars' views tab.
Safinah narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said: 'The caliphate in my ummah will be thirty years, then kingship after that' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 2226). Safinah counted the years himself: Abu Bakr two, Umar ten, Uthman twelve and Ali six. Ibn Kathir and Ibn Abi al-Izz note that the six months of al-Hasan complete the thirty, after which rule passed to Mu'awiyah and then from father to son.
Narrations behind this panel: Jami' at-Tirmidhi 2226 · Sunan Abi Dawud 4646 · Sahih al-Bukhari 7222
11-13 AH · 632-634 CEAbu Bakr al-Siddiqأبو بكر الصديقMadinahChosen at the Saqifah of Banu Sa'idahDied of illness, Jumada II 13 AH
About two years and three months. He held the Muslims together through the wars of the Riddah, sent the first armies to Iraq and Sham, and had the Quran gathered into one written collection.
- Linked to the narration by
- Safinah's count, Jami' at-Tirmidhi 2226
13-23 AH · 634-644 CEUmar ibn al-Khattabعمر بن الخطابMadinahNamed by Abu Bakr before his deathStabbed by Abu Lu'lu'ah at the dawn prayer, Dhu al-Hijjah 23 AH
About ten and a half years. Sham, Iraq, Egypt and most of Persia came under Muslim rule; he set up the diwan (registers), the hijri calendar and garrison cities such as Basra and Kufa.
- Linked to the narration by
- Safinah's count, Jami' at-Tirmidhi 2226
- Sources
- Wikipedia: Umar
23-35 AH · 644-656 CEUthman ibn Affanعثمان بن عفانMadinahChosen by the council (shura) of six named by UmarKilled in his house by rebels, Dhu al-Hijjah 35 AH
About twelve years. He sent copies of one standard mushaf to the main cities. The unrest of his last years ended in his killing, which opened the first civil war.
- Linked to the narration by
- Safinah's count, Jami' at-Tirmidhi 2226
- Sources
- Wikipedia: Uthman
35-40 AH · 656-661 CEAli ibn Abi Talibعلي بن أبي طالبKufaPledged allegiance in Madinah after Uthman's killingStruck by the Kharijite Ibn Muljam, Ramadan 40 AH
About four years and nine months, spent largely in the civil war: the Camel, Siffin and Nahrawan.
- Linked to the narration by
- Safinah's count, Jami' at-Tirmidhi 2226
- Sources
- Wikipedia: Ali
40-41 AH · 661 CEal-Hasan ibn Aliالحسن بن عليKufaPledged allegiance in Kufa after his fatherHanded rule to Mu'awiyah by treaty, 41 AH
About six months. He made peace rather than fight, fulfilling the Prophet's ﷺ words that Allah would reconcile two great groups of Muslims through him (Sahih al-Bukhari 2704).
- Linked to the narration by
- Ibn Kathir and Ibn Abi al-Izz: his months complete the thirty years
41-60 AH · 661-680 CEMu'awiyah ibn Abi Sufyanمعاوية بن أبي سفيانDamascusTreaty with al-HasanDied in Damascus, Rajab 60 AH, having named his son Yazid as heir
About nineteen years. Ibn Kathir calls him the first of the kings of Islam; Ahl al-Sunnah hold him a Companion and scribe of the revelation whose rule was stable. Naming his son as heir began dynastic succession.
- Linked to the narration by
- Ibn Kathir, al-Bidayah wa al-Nihayah
60-64 AH · 680-683 CEYazid ibn Mu'awiyahيزيد بن معاويةDamascusSucceeded his father by appointmentDied 64 AH
The first ruler to inherit from his father. His short reign saw the killing of al-Husayn at Karbala (61 AH), the battle of al-Harrah in Madinah (63 AH) and the siege of Makkah (64 AH).
- Linked to the narration by
- Ibn Kathir, al-Bidayah wa al-Nihayah
Read with care
- Hijri dates are as the classical historians give them; Common Era years are converted and may be off by a year. Where historians differ on a date, the commonly cited one is shown.
Draft: figures and wording await a researcher's check and the scholar board.