twelve caliphs, all of them from Quraysh.’ In another wording: ‘…until twelve emirs.’ Abū Dāwūd al-Ṭayālisī reports: ‘All of them will enjoy the unanimous allegiance of the ummah.’ In yet another narration they asked, ‘What will happen after that?’ He replied, ‘Then there will be al-harj (widespread bloodshed).’

Abū Bakr al-Bayhaqī said: ‘The first narration establishes the number, while the second explains what is meant by that number, and it further indicates the occurrence of al-harj—that is, killing—after them. This very number, with the stated qualities, was indeed realized up to the time of al-Walīd ibn Yazīd…’