The Twelve Caliphs and Divine Leaders after the Prophet

“A young fellow came when we were comparing and correcting our versions of the script of the Quran with Abdullah ibn Masud and asked him, ‘Hasn’t your Prophet given you news about the number of the Caliphs to come after…

Yes. He (MGB) has said that there will be twelve - as many as the Chiefs of Israel.’”

We were sitting in the mosque and Abdullah ibn Masood was sitting there with us. A Bedouin (Arab) came in and asked, ‘Is Abdullah ibn Masood with you?’ Abdullah replied, ‘Yes, I am Abdullah ibn Masood. What do you want?’…

“The Caliphs after me will be twelve - as many as the chiefs of Israel.”

There will be twelve successors after me - as many as the Israelite chiefs after Moses (MGB).’”

There will be twelve successors after me - as many as the Israelite chiefs after Moses (MGB).’”

a man came to see Abdullah ibn Masood and asked him, ‘O Aba Abdul Rahman! Has your Prophet told you how many successors there will be after him?’ He replied, “Yes. No one had asked me this question before. You asked it…

I heard the Prophet (MGB) say, ‘There will be twelve Leaders after me.’ Then the Prophet (MGB) lowered his voice. I asked my father, ‘What did he (MGB) say when he lowered his voice?’ My father said, ‘The Prophet (MGB)…

I heard the Prophet (MGB) say, ‘There will be twelve Leaders after me.’ Then the Prophet (MGB) lowered his voice such that I could not understand what he (MGB) said. I asked my father, ‘What did he (MGB) say when he…

I heard God’s Prophet (MGB) say, ‘There will be twelve Leaders after me.’ Then the Prophet (MGB) lowered his voice. I asked my father, ‘What did he (MGB) say when he lowered his voice?’ My father said, ‘The Prophet (MGB)…

I heard the Prophet (MGB) say, ‘There will be twelve Leaders after me.’ Then the Prophet (MGB) (lowered his voice and) said something which I could not hear. I asked, ‘What tribe?’ The Prophet (MGB) said, ‘They are all…

I asked my father, ‘What did he (MGB) say?’ My father said, ‘The Prophet (MGB) said, ‘They are all from the Quraysh.’’”

This dear and invulnerable religion will not end and it shall overcome all its enemies until there come twelve Caliphs.” Then the Prophet (MGB) said something which the people could not hear. I asked my father, ‘What was…

The rule of this nation will not terminate and it shall overcome its enemies until there come twelve Leaders all of whom are from the Quraysh.’”Samurah went to see him (MGB) in private and asked, “What will happen after…

The rule of this good nation will not terminate and it shall overcome its enemies until there come twelve rulers after me.’ Or he (MGB) said, ‘… until there come twelve Caliphs after me.’ Then the Prophet (MGB) said…

I heard the Prophet (MGB) say, ‘There will be twelve Leaders after me.’ Then the Prophet (MGB) lowered his voice. I asked my father, ‘What did he (MGB) say when he lowered his voice?’ My father said, ‘The Prophet (MGB)…

I asked my father…” and in some other traditions we read, “I asked my father (or I asked the people), ‘What did he (MGB) say? My father (or they) said, ‘The Prophet (MGB) said, ‘They are all from the Quraysh.’”

The rule of this esteemed nation will not terminate until there come twelve Caliphs.” Then the Prophet (MGB) said something quietly which could not be understood. I asked someone who was close to the Prophet (MGB) ‘What…

I heard the Prophet (MGB) say, ‘This religion will always be dear and invulnerable and shall overcome anyone who opposes it until there come twelve Caliphs.’ Then the Prophet (MGB) said something which could not be heard…

I was in the mosque with my father when the Prophet (MGB) was delivering a sermon. I heard the Prophet (MGB) say, ‘There will be twelve Leaders after me.’ Then the Prophet (MGB) lowered his voice such that I could not…

I was in the mosque with my father when the Prophet (MGB) was delivering a sermon. I heard the Prophet (MGB) say, ‘There will be twelve Leaders after me.’ Then the Prophet (MGB) lowered his voice such that I could not…

I heard God’s Prophet (MGB) say, ‘There will be twelve Leaders after me. They are all from the Quraysh.”When the Prophet (MGB) returned home, Jabir ibn Samurah went to see him (MGB) in private and asked, “What will…

The Prophet (MGB) said, ‘The rule of the people will not end until twelve men come to lead them.’ Then the Prophet (MGB) said something in a lowered voice. I asked my father, ‘What did he (MGB) say when he lowered his…

“This good religion will proceed on and no one can harm it until there come twelve Leaders after me. They are all from the Quraysh.’”

I was with the Prophet (MGB). The Prophet (MGB) said, ‘Yes. There will be twelve Leaders.’ Then the people made some noise and I could not hear what the Prophet (MGB) said. I asked my father who was close to God’s…

I wrote a letter to Jabir ibn Samurah using my servant and asked him to inform me about any news which he had heard from God’s Prophet (MGB). He wrote, ‘On the Friday night on which Al-Aslami was stoned to death, the…

in writing, “There will be twelve Leaders for this Nation. Once they end there shall be rebellion and oppression all over the Earth and they will fight with each other.”

This nation will not be destroyed until there comes twelve Caliphs all of whom act according to guidance and the true religion.”

“Has the Prophet (MGB) said, ‘There will come twelve Caliphs after me.’” Makhool replied, “Yes. And the Prophet (MGB) has said something else, too.”

“There will be twelve Caliphs after me. Then there will be chaos. Then it will be such and such.”

“There shall be twelve of them. Once they come and the good class comes into power, God shall extend their lives as He has promised this nationin the following verse, ‘Allah has promised, to those among you who believe…

I heard God’s Prophet (MGB) say, ‘There will be twelve Leaders after me.’ Then the Prophet (MGB) said something which I did not understand. I asked the people what he had said. They said, ‘The Prophet (MGB) said, ‘They…

The affairs of my Nation will proceed until there come twelve Caliphs all of whom are from the Quraysh.”

‘You are the Master! The son of the Master! You are the Divine Leader! You are the son of a Divine Leader! You are the father of the Divine Leaders! You are the Proof! You are the son of a Proof! You are the son of the…

Rejoice! Rejoice! Rejoice! The similitude of my nation is like that of rain which you cannot tell whether its beginning is better or its ending. The similitude of my nation is like that of a garden from which some are…

A man entered the mosque and said, ‘O commander of the faithful (referring to Umar)! I am one of the Jews. I am their great scholar. I wish to ask you about some problems. I will embrace Islam if you can convince me.’…

I was in the presence of Muawiyah along with Al-Hassan (MGB), Al-Hussein (MGB), Abdullah ibn Abbas, Umar ibn Abi Salma and Usamat ibn Zayd. There was an argument between me and Muawiyah. I told him, ‘I myself heard God’s…

“I went to see Fatimah (MGB) and there was a Tablet in front of her on which the names of the Trustees was inscribed. There were twelve of them with the twelfth one being the Riser (MGB). Three of them were named…

Indeed the Honorable the Exalted God appointed Muhammad to the genies and the men, and established twelve Trustees after him. Some of them have already come and some others shall come later. Each Trustee had some…

We are the twelve Divine Leaders including Al-Hassan (MGB) and Al-Hussein (MGB) followed by the children from the progeny of Al-Hussein (MGB).”

However, I have heard this from Abi Ja’far al-Baqir (MGB).’”

I asked Abdullah ibn Abil Huzayl about the issue of Divine Leadership as to who can hold that position and what its signs are. He said, ‘Indeed the Divine Leader, the Proof over the believers, the one in charge of the…

“The Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali (MGB) told Ibn Abbas , ‘Indeed there is the Night of Power every year. On this night the orders for the whole year descend. Those in charge of the affairs shall receive these…

12-49 By the same documentation, God’s Prophet (MGB) told his companions, “Believe in the Night of Power as that belongs to Ali ibn Abi Talib (MGB) and eleven of his progeny after me.”

There are twelve Divine Leaders from the members of the Household of Muhammad (MGB) who all narrate traditions after God’s Prophet (MGB). Ali ibn Abi Talib (MGB) is one of them.”

There are nine Divine Leaders after al-Hussein ibn Ali (MGB), the ninth of whom shall be the Riser (MGB).”

There are twelve Divine Leaders including Ali (MGB), Al-Hassan (MGB) and Al-Hussein (MGB). Then the Divine Leaders are from the progeny of Al-Hussein (MGB).”The compiler of his book said, “I have recorded whatever…