The Twelve Successors of the Holy Prophet - Islamic Mobility · Sunan Abu Dawud (Arabic) 2:421,...

TheTwelveSuccessorsoftheHolyProphetSayyidMurtadaalAskari-XKP

Published:2014Tag(s):islam

1ChapterIntroduction

IntheNameofAllah,theCompassionate,theMerciful.PraisebetoAllahtheLordof theworlds.BenedictionsbeuponMuhammad(S)andhisPurified

Progeny.PeacebeupontherighteousCompanions.SomeofthecontroversialissueshavedividedtheMuslims.Theseissueshavebeenmisusedbythe

enemiesofIslamtodividetheMuslimsandtoweakenthem.Therefore,inordertounitetheMuslimsandtodefendtheboundariesofIslamitisnecessarytoclearthemisunderstandingsregardingthesedifferences.Insortingouttheseissueswehavebeenorderedtoconfineourselveswithinsomelimits.AstheAlmightyAllahsays:"AndobeyAllahandHisApostleandsonotquarrelforthenyouwillbeweakinheartsandyour

powerwilldepart…"(Suraal-Anfal,8:46)Itisamustforustoday,andforalltimestorefertoQur'anandHadithincaseofanydifferenceof

opinion.AstheAlmightyAllahsays:"… then if you quarrel about anything, refer it toAllah and theApostle…" (Sura an-Nisa’,

4:59)In this serieswe shall refer to theQur'an andHadith to guide us on the correct path in various

controversialtopics.WeseekthehelpoftheAlmightyinthis.

2ChapterNarrationsoftheHolyProphet(S)StipulatingtheNumberofImams

The Messenger of Allah (S) informed that the number of Imams after him are twelve, as the

compilersofSihahandMasanidhavenarratedit.InSahihofMuslim:TheProphet (S) said: "The (Islamic) religionwill continueuntil theHour (dayof resurrection),

havingtwelveCaliphsforyou,allofthemwillbefromQuraysh."

يبأ نب دعس نب رماع نع رامسم نب رجاهملا نع لیعمسإ نبا وهو متاح انثدح الاق ةعبیش يبأ نب ركب وبأو دیعس نب ةبیتق انثدحيلإ بتكف لاق ملسو هیلع هللا ىلص هللا لوسر نم هتعمس ئشب ينربخأ نأ عفان يمالغ عم ةرمس نب رباج ىلإ تبتك لاق صاقومكیلع نوكی وأ ةعاسلا موقت ىتح امئاق نیدلا لازی ال لوقی يملسألا مجر ةیشع ةعمج موی ملسو هیلع هللا ىلص هللا لوسر تعمسلوقی هتعمسو ىرك لأ وأ ىرسك تیب ضیبألا تیبلا نوحتتفی نیملسملا نم ةبیصع لوقی هتعمسو شیرق نم مهلك ةفیلخ رشع انثإطرفلا انأ لوقی هتعمسو هتیب لهأو هسفنب أدبیلف اریخ مكدحأ هللا ىطعا اذإ لوقی هتعمسو مهورذحاف نیباذك ةعاسلا يدی نیب نإلسرأ هنأ دعس نب رماع نع رامسم نب رجاهم نع بنذ يبأ نبا انثدح كیدف يبأ نبا انثدح عفار نب دمحم انثدح ضوحلا ىلعركذف لوقی ملسو هیلع هللا ىلص هللا لوسر تعمس لاقف ملسو هیلع هللا ىلص هللا لوسر نم تعمس ام انثدح يودعلا ةرمس نبا ىلإمتاح ثیدح وحن .

SahihMuslim(Arabicversion)Kitabal-Imaara,1980EditionPub. inSaudiArabia,v.3,p.1453,Tradition#10Sahih Muslim, (English version) Chapter DCCLIV (titled: The People are subservient to the

QurayshandtheCaliphateistheRightoftheQuraysh),v.3,p.1010,Tradition#4483Hadith#3398(numberingofal-'Alamiyyah)TheProphet(S)said:"Theaffairsofpeoplewillcontinuetobeconducted(well)aslongasthey

aregovernedbythetwelvemen,allofthemfromQuraysh."

لازی ال لوقی ملسو هیلع هللا ىلص يبنلا تعمس لاق ةرمس نب رباج نع ریمع نب هللا دبع نع نایفس انثدح رمع يبأ نبا انثدحهللا لوسر لاق اذام يبأ تلأسف يلع تیفخ ةملكب ملسو هیلع هللا ىلص يبنلا ملكت مث الجر رشع انثا منیلو ام ایضام سانلا رمأىلص يبنلا نع ةرمس نب رباج نع كامس نع ةناوع وبأ انثدح دیعس نب ةبیتق انثدحو ، شیرق نم مهلك لاقف ملسو هیلع هللا ىلصایضام سانلا رمأ لازی ال ركذی ملو ثیدحلا اذهب ملسو هیلع هللا


QurayshandtheCaliphateistheRightoftheQuraysh),v.3,p.1010,Tradition#4478Hadith#3394(numberingofal-'Alamiyyah)NarratedJabiribnSamura:TheProphet(S)said:"Thismatter(life)willnotend,untilitispassed

bytwelveCaliphs."Hethenwhisperedasentence.IaskedmyfatherwhattheProphetsaid.Hesaid,the

Prophetadded:"AllofthemwillbefromQuraysh."

نب ةعافر انثدحو لوقی ملسو هیلع هللا ىلص يبنلا تعمس لاق ةرمس نب رباج نع تیصح نع ریرج انثدح دیعس نب ةبیتق انثدحيبنلا ىلع يبأ عم تلخد لاق ةرمس نب رباج نع نیصح نع ناحطلا هللا دبع نبا ىنمی دلاخ انثدح هل ظفللاو يطساولا مثیهلاتلقف لاق يلع ىفخ مالكب ملكت مث لاق ةفیلخ رشع انثا مهیف يضمی ىتح يضقنی ال رمألا اذه نإ لوقی هتعمسف ملسو هیلع هللا ىلصشیرق نم مهلك لاق ، لاق ام يبأل .


QurayshandtheCaliphateistheRightoftheQuraysh),v.3,p.1009,Tradition#4477Hadith#3393(numberingofal-'Alamiyyah)TheProphet(S)said:"IslamwillcontinuetobetriumphantuntiltherehavebeentwelveCaliphs,

allofthemfromQuraysh."

ىلص هللا لوسر تعمس الوقی ةرمس نب رباج تعمس لاق برح نب كامس نع ةملس نب دامح انثدح يدزألا دلاخ نب باده انثدحشیرق نم مهلك لاقف ، لاق ام يبأل تلقف اهمهفا مل ةملك لاق مث ةفیلخ رشع ىنثا ىلإ ازیزع مالسإلا لازی ال لوقی ملسو هیلع هللا .


QurayshandtheCaliphateistheRightoftheQuraysh),v.3,p.1010,Tradition#4479Hadith#3395(numberingofal-'Alamiyyah)TheProphet(S)said:"IslamwillcontinuetobetriumphantuntiltherehavebeentwelveCaliphs,

allofthemfromQuraysh."

لازی ال ملسو هیلع هللا ىلص يبنلا لاق ، لاق ةرمس نب رباج نع يبعشلا نع دواد نع ةیواعم وبأ ةبیش يبأ نب ركب وبأ انثدحشیرق نم مهلك لاقف لاق ام يبأل همهفا مل ئشب ملكت مث لاق ةفیلخ رشع ىنثا ىلإ أزیزع .


QurayshandtheCaliphateistheRightoftheQuraysh),v.3,p.1010,Tradition#4480Hadith#3396(numberingofal-'Alamiyyah)The Prophet (S) said: "Islam will continue to be triumphant and protected until there have

beentwelveCaliphs,allofthemfromQuraysh."

نوع نبا انثدح هل ظفللاو يلفونلا نامثع نب دمحأ انثدحو نوع نبا انثدح عیرز نب دیزی انثدح يمضهجلا يلع نب رصن انثدحازیزع نیدلا اذه لازی ال لوقی هتعمسف يبأ يعمو ملسو هیلع هللا ىلص هللا لوسر ىلإ تقلطنا لاق ةرمس نب رباج نع يبعشلا نعشیرق نم مهلك لاق ، لاق ام يبأل تلقف سانلا اهینمص ةملك لاقف ةفیلخ رشع ىنثا ىلإ اعینم .


QurayshandtheCaliphateistheRightoftheQuraysh),v.3,p.1010,Tradition#4481Hadith#3397(numberingofal-'Alamiyyah)InSunanofal-Tirmidhi:The Prophet (S) said: "There will be after me twelve Amir (Prince/Ruler), all of them from

Quraysh."

هللا لوسر لاق ، لاق ةرمس نب رباج نع برح نب كامس نع يسفانطلا دیبع نب رمع انثدح ءالملا نب دمحم بیرك وبأ انثدحوبأ لاق ، شیرق نم مهلك لاقف ينیلی يذلا تلأسف همهفأ مل ئشب ملكت مث لاق ، اریمأ رشع انثا يدعب نم نوكی ملسو هیلع هللا ىلصةرمس نب رباج نع ىسوم يبأ نب ركب يبأ نع هیبأ نع دیبع نب رمع انثدح بیرك وبأ انثدح حیحص نسح ثیدح اذه ىسیعثیدح اذه ىسیع وبأ لاق ةرمس نب رباج نع هجو ریغ نم يور دقو ثیدحلا اذه لثم ملسو هیلع هللا ىلص يبنلا نع يبنلا نع

نب هللا دیبعو دوعسم نبا نع بابلا ىفو ةرمس نب رباج نع ىسوم يبأ نب ركب يبأ ثیدح نم برغتسی بیرغ حیحص نسحورمع .

Sunanal-Tirmidhi(Arabic)ChapterofFitan,2:45(India)and4:501Tradition#2225(Egypt)Hadith#2149(numberingofal-'Alamiyyah)InSunanofAbuDawud:"Thisreligionremainsstandinguntiltherearetwelvevicegerentsoveryou,allofthemagreeable

tothenation,allofthemfromQuraysh."

لوسر تعمس لاق ةرمس نب رباج نع هیبأ نع دلاخ يبأ نبا ينعی نیعمسإ نع ةیواعم نب ناورم انثدح نامثع نب ورمع انثدحنم امالك تعمسف ةمألا هیلع عمتجت مهلك ةفیلخ رشع انثا مكیلع نوكی ىتح امئاق نیدلا اذه لازی ال لوقی ملسو هیلع هللا ىلص هللاشیرق نم مهلك لاق لوقی ام يبأل تلق همهفأ مل ملسو هیلع هللا ىلص يبنلا .

SunanAbuDawud(Arabic)2:421,Kitabal-Mahdi.SunanAbuDawud(Arabic)3:106,Kitabal-Mahdi.Hadith#3731(numberingofal-'Alamiyyah)"TheProphet(S)said:"IslamwillcontinuetobetriumphantuntiltherehavebeentwelveCaliphs,"

SopeoplesaidTakbirandmadenoise,thenhesaidalightwordIdidn'thear.I(JabirbinSamura)saidtomyfather:Whatdidhesay?Hesaid"AllofthemarefromQuraysh."

لوقی ملسو هیلع هللا ىلص هللا لوسر تعمس لاق ةرمس نب رباج نع رماع نع دواد انثدح بیهو انثدح لیعمسا نب ىسوم انثدحنم مهلك لاق ، لاق ام تبأ ای يبأل تلق ةفیفخ ةملك لاق مث اوجضو سانلا ربكف لاق ةفیلخ رشع ىنثا ىلإ ازیزع نیدلا اذه لازی الداز ثیدحلا اذهب ةرمس نب رباج نع ينادمهلا دیعس نب دوسألا انثدح ةمثیخ نب دایز انثدح ریهز انثدح لیفن نبا انثدح ، شیرقجرهلا نوكی مث لاق اذام نوكی مث اولاقف شیرق هتتأ هلزنم ىلإ عجر املف .

SunanAbuDawud(Arabic)2:421,Kitabal-Mahdi.SunanAbuDawud(Arabic)3:106,Kitabal-Mahdi.Hadith#3732(numberingofal-'Alamiyyah)InSahihofal-Bukhari:NarratedJabiribnSamura:IheardtheProphetsaying,"Therewillbetwelvecommanders(Amir)."

HethensaidasentencewhichIdidnothear.Myfathersaid,theProphetadded,"AllofthemwillbefromQuraysh."

ملسو هیلع هللا ىلص يبنلا تعمس لاق ةرمس نب رباج تعمس كلملا دبع نع ةبعش انثدح ردنغ انثدح ىنثملا نب دمحم ينثدحشیرق نم مهلك لاق هنإ يبأ لاقف اهعمسا مل ةملك لاقف اریمأ رشع انثا نوكی لوقی .

Sahihal-Bukhari(English)Hadith:9.329,KitabulAhkam.Sahihal-Bukhari(Arabic)4:165,KitabulAhkam.Hadith#6682(numberingofal-'Alamiyyah)Thesetraditionsarealsonarratedinothersources[1]Andinatradition:Then theProphet (S) spoke a fewwordswhich I could not understand.Then I askedmy father:

"WhatdidtheMessengerofAllah(S)say?"Hesaid:"AllofthemarefromtheQuraysh."[2]Andinanothertradition:"Theenmityoftheirenemieswillnotharmthem."[3]Andinanothertradition:"This nation will always remain straight in its affairs, and triumphant against the enemies,

till twelveCaliphswill be among them; all of them fromQuraysh.Then therewill be discord andconfusion."[4]Andinatradition:"Therewill be twelve upright Imams for this nation. Thosewho try to disgrace themwill not

succeed;allofthemshallbefromtheQuraysh.""Theaffairofthepeoplewillcontinueaslongastwelvemenruleoverthem."AndfromAnas:"ThisreligionwillremaintilltwelveImamsfromQuraysh(willpass),thenwhentheyexpirethe

earthwillswallowitsinhabitants."[5]Andinatradition:"TheaffairofthisnationwillalwaysbeapparenttillthetwelveImamswillrise,allofthemfrom

theQuraysh."[6]AhmadandAl-HakimandothershavenarratedsimilarlyfromMasrooqwhosaid:"WeweresittingoneeveningwithAbdullah(ibnMas'ud).WewererecitingtheQur'an,thenaman

askedhim:"OAbuAbdur-Rahman,didyouasktheMessengerofAllah(S)howmanyCaliphswillrulethisnation?"Abdullahsaid:"NooneaskedmeaboutthisbeforeyoufromthetimeIarrivedinIraq."Hesaid:"Weaskedhim{theProphet(S)},hesaid:"Twelve,(like)thenumberoftheChiefsofBaniIsrael."[7]Andinatradition:IbnMas'udsaid:"TheMessengerofAllah(S)said:"TherewillbeCaliphsafterme,whosenumber

islikethoseofthecompanionsofMusa."[8]IbnKathir said: "And there is a similar narration fromAbdullah bin 'Umar,Hudhayfah and Ibn

'Abbas.[9]However,IhavebeenunabletofindthistraditionofIbn'AbbasorothersasreportedbyAlHakim

AlHaskani.Thetraditionsassert that thenumberofauthoritiesaretwelveandallofthemarefromQuraysh,

and, Imam ‘Ali (peace be uponhim) clarified it in his speech that they shall be from theQurayshwhenhesaid:"SurelyImamswillbefromtheQuraysh, theyhavebeenplantedin this line throughHashim.Itwouldnotsuitothersnorwouldothersbesuitableasheadsofaffairs."[10]Andhesaid:"OAllah!Yes,buttheearthisneverdevoidofthosewhomaintainAllah'spleaeither

openlyandreputedlyor,beingafraid,andhiddeninorderthatAllah'spleasandproofsshouldnotberebutted."[11]

[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11]

3ChapterTheTwelveImamsintheOldTestament

IbnKathirsays:WeseethefollowingprophecyintheTauratwhichisinthehandsoftheJewsandtheChristians:

"IndeedAllah,theExalted,hasgivenIbrahim(a.s.)thegladtidingsofIsma'il,andhehasbestowedafavourandmultiplieditandplacedinhisprogenytwelvemighty(personalities)."Andhesays:IbnTaymiyyasaid:"Andtheseare thesame,regardingwhomtheProphet (S)hasgiven theglad

tidingsinthetraditionofJabirbinSamurahandstatedtheirnumber;indeedthisiswithregardtotheImamsandtheHourwillnotcometilltheylast.AndmanyofthosewhoacceptedIslamfromamongJewsthinktheyarethesameImamsoftheRafidisect."[1]Theafore-mentionedgladtidingispresentinthesectionofGenesis(17-18:20)ofourera.Itisalso

presentintheoriginalHebrew.Thewords(oftheLord)toIbrahim(a.s.)translatedfromtheHebrewareasfollows:"Andas forIsma'il, Ihaveblessedhim,andIhavemadehimfruitful.AndIhave trulymultiplied

him,hewillbegettwelveleadersandIwillprovideforhimalargenation."[2]Thisalsoindicatesthattheblessings,fruitsandmultiplicationisinthegenerationofIsma'il(a.s.).

"ShanimAsaar"means "twelve"; and theword "Asaar" is used for a compound numberwhen thecountedthingsaremasculine.Thesingular"Naasi"means:Leader,chief,head,etc.[3]TheAlmightyAllahorderedIbrahim(a.s.)toleavethecityofNamroodandgotowardsSyria.So

heleftthecitywithhiswifeSarah,andLut(a.s)andmigratedaccordingtotheDivineOrder.Induecourse,theyreachedthelandofPalestine.BytheGraceofAlmightyIbrahim(a.s.)wasbestowedanexcessofwealth.Hesaid:"OmyLord

whatcanImakebythiswealth,andIdonotevenhaveason?"TheAlmightyrevealedtohim,"Iwillincreaseyourprogeny till it reaches thenumberofstars."Hajrawas theslavegirlofSarah.SarahbetrothedhertoIbrahim(a.s.).Sheboreforhimason,Isma'il(a.s.).TheageofIbrahim(a.s.)was86yearswhenIsma'il(a.s.)wasborntoHajra.[4]TheHolyQur'anmentionsinthefollowingwordstheprayerofIbrahim(a.s.)."OOurLord!SurelyIhavesettledapartofmyoffspringinavalleyunproductiveoffruitnear

ThySacredHouse,OurLord!Thattheykeepupprayer;thereforemaketheheartsofsomepeopleyearn towards them and provide them with fruits; haply they may be grateful." (Sura Ibrahim,14:37)TheholyversepointstothefactthatIbrahim(a.s.)hadsettledsomeofhisprogeny,thatisIsma'il

(a.s.) in the area ofMecca and he also prayed that theAlmightyAllahmay bestow themwithHisMercyandthattheyremainthemediumofguidanceforhumanitytilltheendoftime.TheAlmightyaccepted his invocation by appointingMuhammad (S) from his progeny, and after him his twelvesuccessorsastheleadersofhumanityforthetimetocome.ImamMuhammadal-Baqir(a.s.)says:"Wearetheremnantofprogeny.Andthatwastheprayerof

Ibrahim(a.s.)regardingus."

[12][13][14][15]

4ChapterExplanationoftheNarrations

After having discussed the traditions regarding twelve successors, we can derive the following

points:ThenumberofImamsforthisUmmahshallbetwelve,inacontinuousline.SecondlyafterthetwelfthoftheseImams,theworldshallreachitsend.Accordingtothefirsttradition:"The Islamic religionwill continue until theHour has been established, or you have been ruled

overthetwelveCaliphshavepassedamongyou."ThistraditionhasfixedtheperiodofIslam'ssupremacytillthedayofQiyamatandalsofixedthe

numberofImamsforthisUmmahastwelve.Accordingtothefifthtradition:"The Islamic religionwill continueuntil there are twelve (Imams) from theQuraysh.Andwhen

theyalldietheEarthwillswallowitsinhabitants."This traditionproves thatIslamwillcontinue till theendof thisworldor till thereignof twelve

ImamsandafterthemthisEarthshallbedestroyed.TheeighthtraditionlimitsthenumberofImamstotwelve:"AftermethereshallbeCaliphsequalinnumbertothecompanionsofMusa(a.s.)."ThistraditionshowsthattherewillbenomorethantwelveCaliphsaftertheHolyProphet(S).And

theMessengerofAllah(S)hasclarifiedthatthenumberofCaliphswillbelimitedtotwelveandaftertheseTwelve,theQiyamatwillsurelyoccurandtheEarthshallbedestroyed.Othertraditionsclarifytheabovestatements.Onthebasisofthis,wehavetoadmitthatinordertosupervisetheaffairsofhumanity,oneofthe

Imams must have a long life which is an unusual phenomena. Thus the twelfth Caliph and thesuccessoroftheHolyProphet(S),thatis,ImamMahdi(a.s.)wasbestowedwithalonglife.

5ChapterBewilderingInterpretations

The scholars of the school of Caliphate are at pains to explain the traditions that mention the

TwelveSuccessors.Wepresentherewith,inbrief,theircontradictoryexplanations.Ibnal-'Arabisaysinhis"SharhSunanal-Tirmidhi":WehavecountedtheAmirsaftertheHolyProphet(S)astwelve.Wefoundthemasfollows:AbuBakr, 'Umar, 'Uthman,‘Ali,Hasan,Mu'awiyah,Yazid,Mu'awiyah

ibnYazid,Marwan,'Abdal-MalikibnMarwan,Yazidbin'Abdal-Malik,MarwanbinMuhammadbinMarwan,As-Saffah…Afterthisthereweretwenty-sevencaliphsfromtheBaniAbbas.NowifweconsidertwelveofthemwecanreachonlytillSulayman.Ifwetaketheliteralmeaning

wehaveonly fiveof themand to theseweadd the fourRighteousCaliphs,and 'Umarbin 'Abdal-'Aziz…IcannotunderstandthemeaningofthisHadith.[1]Qadi'Iyad,saysinreplytotheclaimthatthereshallbeonlytwelveCaliphs;"ThenumberofCaliphsaremorethanthat.Tolimittheirnumbertotwelveisincorrect.TheHoly

Prophet (S) did not say that therewill be only twelve and there is no scope formore.Hence it ispossiblethattherecanbemore.[2]Al-Suyutisays:ThereareonlytwelveCaliphsuntilQiyamat.Andtheywillcontinuetoactontruth,eveniftheyare

notcontinuous.[3]ItismentionedinFathal-Barithat:Fourofthem(theRighteousCaliphs)havepassed.TherestalsomustpassbeforeQiyamat.[4]Ibnal-Jawzisays:"Itcanbeconcludedthatthephrase"thentherewillbediscord"impliesthedisturbingeventslike

thecomingofDajjalandwhateverwillcomeafterit."[5]Al-Suyutihasexplainedasfollows:Weseethatfromthetwelve,fouraretheRighteousCaliphs,thenHasan,thenMu'awiyah,thenIbn

Zubayr,andfinally'Umarbin'Abdal-'Aziz.Theyareeight.Fourofthemremain.MaybeMahdi,theAbbasidcouldbe includedashe isanAbbasid like 'Umarbin 'Abdal-'AzizwasanUmayyad.AndTahir'Abbasiwillalsobeincludedbecausehewasajustruler.Thustwomoreareyettocome.OneofthemisMahdi,becauseheisfromtheAhlulBayt(a.s.).[6]Itisalsosaid:ItcouldalsomeanthatthetwelveImamswillremainduringtheperiodofIslam'ssupremacy.The

timewhen Islamwill be a dominant religion. These Caliphs will, during their tenure, glorify thereligion.AlltheMuslimswillcollectroundtheminunison.[7]Al-Bayhaqisays:"This number (twelve) is found till the period ofWalid ibn 'Abd al-Malik.After this, therewas

chaos and disturbance. Then came the Abbasid dynasty. This report has increased the number ofImams.Ifweneglectsomeoftheircharacteristicswhichcameafterthedisturbance,thentheirnumber

willbemuchhigher.[8]Andtheysaid:TheCaliphsaroundwhomthepeoplehadcollectedwerethefirstthreeCaliphs,then‘Ali,untilthe

Battle of Siffin againstMu'awiyah when pages of Qur'an were raised on spears. Then the peoplecollected aroundMu'awiyah, and then again at the time of the treatywith ImamHasan. ThenwithMu'awiyah'ssonYazid.ButthepeopledidnotcollectaroundImamHusayn(a.s.).Hewasmurderedbeforehecouldgainthistypeofsupport.WhenYaziddied,theycollectedaroundMarwanafterthekillingofAbdullahibnZubayr.Then they supported the four sons of 'Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan; Walid, Sulayman, Yazid and

Hisham.TherewasabreakbetweenSulaymanandYazidwhen'Umarbin'Abdal-'Azizoccupiedthethrone.ThetwelfthofthemwasWalidibnYazid.AfterthatHishamcollectedpeoplearoundhim.Heruledforfouryears.[9]OnthebasisofthistheCaliphateofthetwelveCaliphswasvalidduetothepeople'ssupport.The

HolyProphet(S)hadgiventhegoodtidingsoftheirCaliphate;thattheywillpropagateIslamamongthepeople.InthisconnectionIbnHajarsays,"Theabovereasoniscorrectanditismorepreferable."IbnKathirsays:WhosoeverfollowsBayhaqiandagreeswithhisassertionthatJama'ahmeansthoseCaliphswho

cameintermittentlytill thetimeofWalidibnYazidibn 'Abdal-Malikthetransgressorcomesunderthepurviewofthetraditionquotedbyuscriticisinganddenouncingsuchpeople.Itisacontroversialsect.TheCaliphsaretillWalidbinYazid.Theirtotalismorethantwelve.AndtheirargumentisthattheCaliphateconsistedofAbuBakr,'Umar,'Uthmanand‘Ali.(TheRighteousCaliphate).AfterthistheCaliphateofHasanwastruebecausehehadbeennominatedby‘Aliandthepeopleof

Iraqhadalsopledgedtheirallegiancetohim.ItcontinuedtillthetimeofhistreatywithMu'awiyah.Then cameYazid the son ofMu'awiyah. Then his sonMu'awiyah ibnYazid, thenMarwan bin al-Hakam, then 'Abd al-Malik ibnMarwan, thenhis son,Walid ibn 'Abd al-Malik, thenSulayman ibn'Abdal-Malik,then'Umaribn'Abdal-'Aziz,thenYazidibn'Abdal-Malik,thenHishamibn'Abdal-Malik.This takes the total to fifteen.Thenafter this,Walid ibnYazid ibn 'Abdal-Malikbecame theCaliph.And if we accept the Caliphate of ibn Zubayr before 'Abd al-Malik the total shall be sixteen.

Whereas their total should be twelve before 'Umar ibn 'Abd al-'Aziz. In this method Yazid ibnMu'awiyah will be included and not 'Umar ibn 'Abd al-'Aziz. However, it is established that themajority of the 'ulama accept 'Umar ibn 'Abd al-'Aziz as a truthful and a just Caliph. There wascompletepeaceandjusticeduringhisreign.EventheRafidiacceptthisfact.SupposewesaythatwewillaccepttheCaliphastheonewhohastheacceptanceofalltheUmmat,

thenwecannotaccept‘Aliandhisson.BecausethewholeUmmathadnotsupportedthem.The Syrians had accepted their superiority but not their Caliphate. In this way they cannot be

acceptedasCaliphs.He (Bayhaqi) has also written that some people includedMu'awiyah, his son and his grandson

amongtheCaliphs.ThetimeofMarwanandibnZubayrisalsonotincluded.Fornoneofthemhadtheunanimoussupport.Thereforewesayabout thissect that theybelieve in the first threeCaliphs,thenMu'awiyah, thenYazid, then 'Abd al-Malik, then Sulayman ibn 'Abd al-Malik, then 'Umar ibn'Abdal-'Aziz,thenYazidibn'Abdal-Malik,thenHishamibn'Abdal-Malik.Thiscomestoten.Thenthey considerWalid ibn Yazid ibn 'Abd al-Malik the transgressor as the Caliph. In this way theyexclude ‘Ali and his son. Now this is absolutely against the belief of the majority of Muslims ,whetherShi'asorSunnis.[10]25Ibnal-Jawzihasofferedtwoexplanationsinhisbook,"Kashfal-Mushkil":The Holy Prophet (S) has informed about whatever is going to occur after him with his

Companions.AndthattheactionsoftheCompanionswillbesimilartothoseoftheProphet's.AtthattimehehadalsoindicatedthenumberofCaliphsofBaniUmayya.AstheMessengerofAllah(S)hassaid,"LaYazaluddin"(thereligionwillnotdecline),itindicatesthechainofWilayattilltheTwelfthCaliph.TheSecondandthemoreseriousmeaningisthatafterthepassingofthetwelveCaliphstheconditionswilldeteriorate.ThefirstCaliphofBaniUmayyawasYazid ibnMu'awiyahandthe last,MarwanAl-Himar.Theirtotalisthirteen.'Uthman,Mu'awiyahandibnZubayrarenotincludedastheywereamongtheCompanionsoftheHolyProphet(S).IfweexcludeMarwanbinal-HakambecauseofthecontroversyabouthisbeingaCompanionor

thathewasinpowereventhoughAbdullahibnZubayrhadthesupportofthepeople.ThenwecangetthefigureofTwelve.WhentheCaliphatecameoutoftheBaniUmayya,agreatdisturbancearose.UntiltheBaniAbbas

establishedthemselves.Hence,theoriginalconditionshadchangedcompletely.[11]IbnHajarinFathal-Barihasrefutedthis.ThesecondexplanationofIbnal-Jawziisasfollows:Abual-HusaynbinMauaadiinhisbook,"Al-Mahdi"says,"Themoreprobablemeaningrefersto

theMahdiwhowill come towards the endof theworld. I have seen in thebookofDaniel, "WhenMahdiwill die fivemen from his elder grandson, then fivemen from his younger grandsonwillsucceedhim.Thenthelastofthemwillmakeawillinfavourofoneofthedescendantsoftheeldergrandson.After thishis sonwillbecome theKing.Thisproves the twelve Imamsmentioned in thehadithoftheProphet(S).AllofthemwillbeknownasImamMahdi."He says, "… This affair will continue with the twelve persons. Six of them will be from the

progeny ofHasan and five from the progeny ofHusayn. The lastwill be someone else.After hisdeath,confusionwillprevailupontheearth."IbnHajarsays,"Thistraditioniswithoutanychainofnarratorsandhencewecannotrelyuponit."

[12]Andsomepeoplesay:MaybetheHolyProphet(S)hasmeanttosayinthisperplexingtraditionregardingthefuture,that

atoneandthesametimethepeoplewillbedividedundertwelvekings.Ifhehadintendedsomethingelsehewouldhavedescribed the activitiesof theAmirswhowere to succeedhim.Therefore it ispossiblethattheywillbepresentcontemporaneously.[13]Itisalsosaid:In500A.H. inAndalus, therewere sixpeople inpower at one and the same time.Eachof them

claimedtobetheCaliph.IncludedamongthemweretheAbbasidofBaghdadandtherulerofEgypt.TheAlawisandtheKharijisalsoclaimedtobetherulersoftheearth.[14]IbnHajarsays:"NoonehasmuchknowledgeaboutthisparticularhadithofSahihBukhari."[15]30Thenhesays:"ItisnotcorrecttosaythattheseImamswillbepresentatoneandthesametime."[16]There is no agreement in the explanation of the above tradition. These scholars have not paid

attention to those reportswhichmention thenamesof the twelvesuccessors.For itwasagainst thepoliticalexpediencyofthetime.However,theHadithscholarsoftheAhlulBayt(a.s.)haverecordednumeroussuchtraditionswithproperchainsofnarratorsgoingbacktothetrustworthyCompanionsoftheHolyProphet(S).Wementionherewithafewofthesetraditions.

[16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31]

6ChapterTheTwelveImamsAccordingtotheSchooloftheCaliphate

Al-Juwayni[1]reportsthatAbdullahibnAbbasremarkedthattheMessengerofAllah(S)said,"Iam

thechiefoftheProphetsand‘AliibnAbiTalibisthechiefofsuccessors,andaftermemysuccessorsshallbetwelve,thefirstofthembeing‘AliibnAbiTalibandthelastofthembeingAlMahdi."Al-Juwaynihasalsomentionedanother tradition from Ibn 'Abbas (r.a.) thathenarrates from the

MessengerofAllah(S):"CertainlymyCaliphs andmy legatees and theProofs ofAllah upon his creatures afterme are

twelve.Thefirstofthemismybrotherandthelastofthemismy(grand)son."Hewasasked:"OMessengerofAllah,whoisyourbrother?"Hesaid,"‘AliibnAbiTalib"Thentheyasked,"Andwhoisyourson?"TheHolyProphet(S)replied,"AlMahdi,theonewhowillfilltheearthwithjusticeandequitylike

itwouldbebrimmingwithinjusticeandtyranny.AndbytheOneWhohasraisedmeasawarneranda give of good tidings, even if a day remains for the life of this world, the Almighty Allah willprolongthisdaytoanextenttillhesendsmysonMahdi,thenhewillmakeRuhullah'IsaibnMaryam(a.s.)todescendandpraybehindhim(Mahdi).Andtheearthwillbeilluminatedbyhisradiance.Andhispowerwillreachtotheeastandthewest."Al-JuwaynialsonarratesfromhischainofnarratorsthattheMessengerofAllah(S)informed:"Iand‘AliandHasanandHusaynandnineofthedescendantsofHusaynarethepurifiedonesand

theinfallible.[2]33AmongthescholarsoftheSchooloftheCaliphateitwasthegeneraltendency,duetothepolitical

expediency,toconcealsuchtraditionsfromthepeople.Amajorityoftheirscholarshavetriedtheirbesttoexplainawaythesetraditionsinaconfusingmanner.Theyhaveendeavouredtomakevagueguessesregardingthenamesof theCaliphsmentionedinthesereports.OntheotherhandtheHolyProphet(S)hasmentionedclearly,byname,hisTwelveSuccessors.It is not possible to relate all such traditions in this brief treatise.Howeverwe shall present the

biographicalsketchesoftheImams(a.s.)whohavebeennamedbytheMessengerofAllah(S).[32][33]

7ChapterABriefAccountoftheTwelveSuccessorsoftheHolyProphet(S)

TheFirstImamAmirulMomineenAli(as)Father:AbuTalibbinAbdulMuttalibbinHashim.Mother:FatimahbintAsadbinHashimbinAbdMunaf.Kunniyat(Patronymic):AbulHasanandHusayn,AbuTurabLaqab(Title):Al-Wasi,Amiral-Mu'mininBirth:HewasbornintheKa'ba[1],inthirty'Amal-Fil(theyearoftheelephant).Martyrdom:Hewasmartyredby theKhwarijinamedAbdal-Rahman ibnMuljamatKufaduring

themonthofRamadhaninthefortiethyearofHijrahandisburiedinNajafontheoutskirtsofKufa.TheSecondImam,Al-Hasanibn‘AliibnAbiTalib(a.s.)Mother:Fatimahaz-Zahra(a.s.),thedaughteroftheHolyProphet(S).Kunniyat(Patronymic):AbuMuhammadLaqab(Title):Al-Sibtal-Kabir(theeldergrandson),Al-Mujtaba.Birth:HewasborninMadinainthemiddleofthemonthofRamadhanin3A.H.Martyrdom:Hediedonthe28thofSafarintheyear50A.H.HewasburiedinthegraveyardofBaqi

inMadina.TheThirdImam,Al-Husaynibn‘AliibnAbiTalib(a.s.)Mother:Fatimahaz-Zahra(a.s.),thedaughteroftheHolyProphet(S).Kunniyat(Patronymic):Abu'Abdillah.Laqab(Title):AlSibt,Shahidash-SuhadafiKarbala.Birth:HewasborninMadinainthemonthofShabanintheyear4A.H.Martyrdom:HewasmartyredwithhiscompanionsbythearmyofYazidinthemonthofMuharram

61A.H.HistombisinKarbala,atownofIraq.[2]TheFourthImam,‘AliibnAl-Husayn(a.s.)Mother:Ghazala,ShahzanaanKunniyat(Patronymic):Abual-HasanLaqab(Title):Zaynal-'Abidin,AlSajjadBirth:Hewasbornin38A.H.inMadina.Martyrdom:Hediedofpoisonintheyear94or95A.H.atMadinaandisburiedatBaqinearhis

uncleHasan(a.s.).[3]TheFifthImam,Muhammadibn‘Ali(a.s.)Mother:UmmAbdullah,thedaughterofImamHasan(a.s.).Kunniyat(Patronymic):AbuJa'far.Laqab(Title):AlBaqir.

Birth:HewasbornatMadinaintheyear57A.H.Martyrdom:HediedofpoisoninginMadinain114A.H.andisalsoburiedatBaqinearhisfather.4TheSixthImam,Ja'faribnMuhammad(a.s.)Mother:UmmFarwa,thedaughterofQasimbinMuhammadbinAbuBakr.Kunniyat(Patronymic):Abu'Abdillah.Laqab(Title):Al-Sadiq.Birth:HewasbornatMadinain83A.H.Martyrdom:Hediedofpoisonin148A.H.andisburiedatBaqinearhisfather.[5]TheSeventhImam,MusabinJa'far(a.s.)Mother:HamidahKunniyat(Patronymic):Abual-HasanLaqab(Title):Al-KazimBirth:HewasbornatMadinaintheyear129A.H.Martyrdom:HewaspoisonedintheprisonofHarunal-RashidatBaghdadintheyear183A.H.He

isburiedinKazimiyyahinIraq.[6]TheEighthImam,‘AlibinMusa(a.s.)Mother:AlKhayzranKunniyat(Patronymic):Abual-HasanLaqab(Title):Al-Ridha’Birth:HewasbornatMadinain148A.H.Martyrdom:Hewaspoisonedintheyear203A.H.andisburiedintheKhurasandistrictofIran.[7]TheNinthImam,Muhammadbin‘Ali(a.s.)Mother:SakinaKunniyat(Patronymic):Abu'AbdillahLaqab(Title):AlJawadBirth:HewasbornatMadinain195A.H.Martyrdom:HediedofpoisonatBaghdadintheyear220A.H.andisburiednearhisgrandfatherat

KazimiyyahinIraq.[8]TheTenthImam,‘AlibinMuhammad(a.s.)Mother:Samanaal-MaghribiyaKunniyat(Patronymic):Abual-HasanalAskariLaqab(Title):AlHadiBirth:HewasbornatMadinaintheyear212A.H.Martyrdom:Hediedofpoisonin254A.H.atSamarrah(Sarmanra)inIraqandisburiedthere.[9]TheEleventhImam,AlHasanbin‘Ali(a.s.)Mother:UmmulWalad-Susan.Kunniyat(Patronymic):AbuMuhammad.Laqab(Title):AlAskari.Birth:HewasbornatSamarrahintheyear232A.H.Martyrdom:Hewaspoisonedin260A.H.atSamarrahandisburiedthere.[10]AllthetombsoftheelevenImams(a.s.)areaplaceofZiyarat(visitation)byMuslims.Fourofthe

http://www.al-islam.org/twelve-successors-holy-prophet-sayyid-murtada-al-askari/brief-account-twelve-successors-holy-prophet#footnote4_cuybz03

ImamsareburiedatBaqi inMadinaal-Munawwara.However, their tombsweredemolishedby theauthoritiesalongwiththetombsofthewivesoftheProphet(S)andhiscompanions.TheTwelfthImam,AlHujjatMuhammadibnal-Hasan(a.s.)Mother:UmmulWaladNarjisaliasSaiqalKunniyat(Patronymic):Abu'Abdullah,Abual-QasimLaqab(Title):Al-Qa’im,Al-Muntazar,Al-Khalaf,Al-Mahdi,Sahibal-zamaan.Birth:HewasbornatSamarrahintheyear255A.H.HeisthelastImam(a.s.)andheisaliveand

hidden.[11]1.FatimahbintAsadwascircumbulatingtheKa'bawhenshewascarrying‘‘Ali(a.s.).Thewallof

Ka'bacrackedtocreateanopeningandsheenteredittogivebirthto‘‘Ali(a.s.).Al-Mustadrak3:483.[34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43]

8ChapterAnImportantAdvice

One of the points in the traditionsmentioned above is that each of the twelvewill be from the

Quraysh.Afterthemtherewillbechaos.AnotherpointisthatthereligionwillremainestablishedtillthetwelveCaliphsofQuraysharepresent.Whentheydie,theearthwillswallowitsinhabitants.TheabovetwopointsthusprovethatafterthetwelveCaliphsoftheHolyProphet(S)theearthwill

bedestroyed.Therefore it isnecessary thatoneof these twelve successors shouldhave sucha long life that it

shouldsurpasstheageofthisearth.Thisisexactlyhowithappened.TheTwelfthsuccessoroftheHolyProphet(S)wasbestowedwith

alonglife.HeisAl-MahdiMuhammadibnHasanAlAskari(a.s.).ThetraditionsdiscussedinthistreatiseprovetheImamatoftheseTwelveNoblePersonalities.Not

anyoneelse.

[1]1.Muslimb.al-Hajjaj,Sahih,3:1453,TraditionNo.1821,KitabulImarah.Al-Bukhari,Sahih,4:165,KitabulAhkam.Al-Tirmidhi,Sunan,ChapterofFitan,2:45(India)and4:501Tradition#2225(Egypt)AbuDawud,Sunan,3:106,Kitabal-Mahdi.Al-Tayalisi,Musnad,TraditionNo.767and1278.Ahmadb.Hanbal,Musnad,5:86.Al-Muttaqial-Hindi,Kanzal-'Ummal13:26-27.AbuNu'aymal-Isbahani,Hilyatal-'awliya',4:333.JabirbinSamurahbinJunadawasthenephewofSa'dbinAbiWaqqas.HediedatKufa.Thecompilersoftraditionshavenarrated146traditionsfromhim.Forhisbiography,refertoUsdal-GhabaorTaqribal-Tahdhib.

[2]2.IbnHajaral-'Asqalani,Fathal-Bari16:338.Al-Hakimal-Nisaburi,Mustadrakal-Sahihayn3:167.

[3]3.IbnHajaral-'Asqalani,Fathal-Bari16:338.

[4]4.MuntakhabKanzal-'Ummal5:321.IbnKathir,Ta'rikh,6:249.Al-Suyuti,Tarikhal-Khulafa,Vol10.Al-Muttaqial-Hindi,Kanzal-'Ummal,13:26.IbnHajaral-Haythami,Al-Sawa'iqal-MuhriqaVol28.

[5]5.Al-Muttaqial-Hindi,Kanzal-'Ummal,13:27

[6]6.Ibid.

[7]7.Ahmadb.Hanbal,Musnad,1:398and406.Al-Hakimal-Nisaburi,Mustadrak,4:501Al-Dhahabi,Talkhis,4:501.IbnHajaral-'Asqalani,Fathal-Bari16:339.‘‘Alib.AbuBakral-Haythami,Majma'al-Zawa'id5:190.IbnHajaral-Haythami,Al-Sawa'iqal-Muhriqa,vol12.Al-Suyuti,Tarikhal-Khulafa,Vol10.(Al-Suyutioral-Tabarani),Jami'al-Saghir1:75.Al-Muttaqial-Hindi,Kanzal-'Ummal,13:27.

[8]8.IbnKathir,Ta'rikh,6:248.Al-Muttaqial-Hindi,Kanzal-'Ummal,13:27.Al-Haskani,Shawahidal-Tanzil,1:455,TraditionNo.626.

[9]9.IbnKathir,Ta'rikh,6:248.

[10]10.Imam'‘‘Alib.AbiTalib(a),NahjulBalagha,Sermonno.142.

[11]11.ShaykhSulaymanQanduzial-Hanafi,Yanabi'al-Mawaddah,p.523.

[12]1.IbnKathir,Ta'rikh,6:249and250.

[13]2.Genesis17.

[14]3.AlMu'jamal-Hadith.

[15]4.Al-Ya'qubi,Tarikh,1:24-25(PrintedatQum).

[16][1]Ibnal-'Arabi,SharhSunanTirmidhi9:68-69.

[17][2]Al-Nawawi,SharhSahihMuslim,12:201-202.IbnHajaral-'Asqalani,Fathal-Bari16:339.

[18][3]Al-Suyuti,Tarikhal-Khulafa,Vol12.

[19][4]IbnHajaral-'Asqalani,Fathal-Bari16:341.


[21][6]IbnHajaral-Haythami,Al-Sawa'iqal-MuhriqaVol19.Al-Suyuti,Tarikhal-Khulafa,Vol12.ThereisunanimityintheSchoolofCaliphatethattheawaitedImamisMahdi,asisthebeliefofthefollowersoftheSchoolofAhlulBayt(a.s.).

[22][7]Al-Nawawi,SharhSahihMuslim,12:202-203.

[23][8]IbnKathir,Ta'rikh,6:249.Al-Suyuti,Tarikhal-KhulafaVol11.IbnHajaral-Haythami,Al-

Sawa'iqal-MuhriqaVol19.IbnHajaral-'Asqalani,Fathal-Bari16:341.

[24][9]Al-Suyuti,Tarikhal-KhulafaVol11.

[25][10]IbnKathir,Ta'rikh,6:249-250.

[26][11]IbnHajaral-'Asqalani,Fathal-Bari16:340quotedfromSibtIbnal-Jawzi.

[27][12]IbnHajaral-'Asqalani,Fathal-Bari16:341.IbnHajaral-Haythami,Al-Sawa'iqal-Muhriqa.


[29][14]Al-Nawawi,SharhSahihMuslim,12:202.IbnHajaral-'Asqalani,Fathal-Bari16:339.



[32][1]Al-DhahabisaysinTadhkiratal-Huffaz,vol.4,p.298,thatSadruddinIbrahimbinMuhammadbinal-Hamawayhal-Juwaynial-Shafi'iwasagreatscholarofHadith.AlsoseehisbiographicalnoteinIbnHajaral-'Asqalani,al-Duraral-kaminah,vol.1,p.67.

[33][2]Al-Juwayni,Fara'idal-Simtayn,pg160.

[34]2.Forbiographicalsketchesof‘‘Ali,HasanandHusayn(a.s.)refertoTarikhTabariintheeventsof40,50and60A.H.AlsoseeUsdal-Ghaba.

[35]3.IbnAthir,Ta'rikh.IbnKathir,Ta'rikh.

[36]4.Al-Dhahabi,Tadhkiratal-Huffaz.IbnKhallikan,Wafayatal-A'yan.AbuNu'aymal-Isbahani,Hilyatal-'Awliya.Al-Ya'qubi,Tarikh,2:230.Al-Dhahabi,Tarikhal-IslamIbnKathir,Ta'rikh.

[37]5.ReferAbuNu'aymal-Isbahani,Hilyatal-'Awliya,IbnKhallikan,Wafayatal-A'yan.Al-Ya'qubi,Tarikh,2:381.Al-Mas'udi3:46.

[38]6.Abual-Farajal-Isbahani,Maqatilal-Talibiyyin.Al-Khatibal-Baghdadi,TarikhBaghdad.IbnKhallikan,Wafayatal-A'yan.IbnKathir,Ta'rikh.Al-Ya'qubi,Tarikh,2:414.

[39]7.Al-Tabari,Tarikh.IbnKathir,Ta'rikh.Al-Dhahabi,Tarikhal-IslamIbnKhallikan,Wafayatal-A'yan.Al-Ya'qubi,Tarikh,2:381.Al-Mas'udi3:441.

[40]8.Al-Khatibal-Baghdadi,TarikhBaghdad3:54.IbnKhallikan,Wafayatal-A'yan.Al-Mas'udi3:464.

[41]9.Al-Khatibal-Baghdadi,TarikhBaghdad12:56.IbnKhallikan,Wafayatal-A'yan.Al-Ya'qubi,Tarikh,2:484.Al-Mas'udi4:84.

[42]10.IbnKhallikan,Wafayatal-A'yan.SibtIbnal-Jawzi,Tadhkiratal-KhawasAl-ShaykhMuhammadbinTalhaShafi'i(died654A.H.),Matalibal-Su'ulfiManaqibAaliRasulAl-Ya'qubi,Tarikh,2:503.

[43]11.SibtIbnal-Jawzi,Tadhkiratal-KhawasAl-ShaykhMuhammadbinTalhaShafi'i,Matalibal-Su'ul.IbnKhallikan,Wafayatal-A'yan.

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