the likeness of the Messenger of Allah—peace and blessings be upon him?”
I answered, “By Allah, yes. I testify that it is he.”
They then asked, “Do you recognize the one who is holding onto his heel?”
I replied, “Yes.”
They said, “We bear witness that this is your Companion, and that this is the caliph who will succeed him.”
Al-Bukhari recorded this report in his History, adding: “The man who showed him the portraits said, ‘Every prophet was followed by another prophet—except this prophet.’” Abu Nuʿaym also related it in Dalāʾil al-Nubuwwah.
Musa ibn ʿUqbah further narrated that Hisham ibn al-ʿĀṣ and Nuʿaym ibn