In Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim it is related, through Abū Rāfiʿ from ʿAbd Allāh ibn Masʿūd, that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “There was never a prophet without devoted disciples who followed his guidance and emulated his way. After them, however, come later generations who say what they do not do and do what you would censure.”(1)

Al-Ḥāfiẓ al-Bayhaqī narrates—on the authority of ʿAbd Allāh ibn al-Ḥārith ibn Muḥammad ibn Ḥāṭib al-Jumaḥī, from Suhayl ibn Abī Ṣāliḥ, from his father, from Abū Hurayrah—that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “After the prophets will come caliphs who govern by the Book of Allah and act justly in their worship of Allah. After the caliphs will arise kings who seek vengeance, kill men, and seize wealth. Some will oppose them with the hand, others with the tongue; beyond that, no trace of faith remains.”(2)

Abū Dāwūd al-Ṭayālisī(3) reported—Jarīr ibn Ḥāzim told us, from Layth, from ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn Sābiṭ, from Abū Thaʿlabah al-Khushani, from Abū ʿUbaydah ibn al-Jarrāḥ and Muʿādh ibn Jabal—that the Prophet ﷺ said:

“Allah began this affair with prophethood and mercy; next it will be a caliphate and mercy; then an obstinate, grasping monarchy; then pride, tyranny, and corruption within the community—people will deem fornication, wine, and silk lawful. Yet they will continue to be granted victory and provision until they meet Allah.”(4)

All of this will indeed come to pass.

In the ḥadīth recorded by Imām Aḥmad, Abū Dāwūd, al-Tirmidhī—who declared it sound—and al-Nasāʾī, on the authority of Saʿīd ibn Jumhān from Safīnah, the freedman of the Messenger of Allah, the Prophet ﷺ said: “The caliphate after me will last thirty years; then it will become kingship.” Another wording states: “then Allah will grant His dominion to whom He wills.”(5)

And that is precisely what happened: Abū Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) held the caliphate for two years, four months, and ten nights,(6) ʿUmar for ten years, six months, and four days; ʿUthmān for twelve years less twelve days; and ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib for five years less two months.(7)