Verse No. 20
Appointing a caliph on the Earth from among those who believe and do righteous deeds is Allah’s promise and His practice.
قَالَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى:
﴿وَعَدَ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مِنْكُمْ وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ لَيَسْتَخْلِفَنَّهُمْ فِي الْأَرْضِ كَمَا اسْتَخْلَفَ الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِهِمْ﴾[1]
Translation:
Allah Almighty has said:
Allah has promised those among you who believed and did righteous deeds that He will surely appoint them as caliphs on the Earth, just as He appointed those before them as caliphs.
Considerations
1 . أَخْبَرَنَا هَاشِمُ بْنُ عُبَيْدٍ الْخُجَنْدِيُّ، قَالَ: كُنْتُ جَالِسًا عِنْدَ الْمَنْصُورِ، فَأَقْبَلَ عَلَيَّ وَقَالَ: يَا هَاشِمُ! أَلَا تَرَى إِلَى هَؤُلَاءِ الضَّالِّينَ الَّذِينَ يَزْعُمُونَ أَنَّ اللَّهَ لَمْ يُبَيِّنِ الْخِلَافَةَ فِي الْقُرْآنِ؟! أَتَرَاهُمْ يَجْهَلُونَ أَمْ يَتَجَاهَلُونَ؟! قُلْتُ: لَا أَدْرِي جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ، لَعَلَّهُمْ يَجْهَلُونَ، قَالَ: وَيْلَهُمْ، كَيْفَ يَجْهَلُونَ؟! وَقَدْ يَقْرَؤُونَ فِي الْقُرْآنِ قَوْلَهُ تَعَالَى: ﴿وَعَدَ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مِنْكُمْ وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ لَيَسْتَخْلِفَنَّهُمْ فِي الْأَرْضِ كَمَا اسْتَخْلَفَ الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِهِمْ﴾، أَيُرِيدُونَ قَوْلًا أَبْيَنَ مِنْ هَذَا؟! أَمْ يَحْسَبُونَ أَنَّهُ قَدْ أَخْلَفَ وَعْدَهُ فَلَمْ يَسْتَخْلِفْ فِيهِمْ كَمَا اسْتَخْلَفَ فِي الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِهِمْ؟! قُلْتُ: وَمَنِ اسْتَخْلَفَ فِي الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِهِمْ؟ قَالَ: دَاوُودَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ، أَلَا يَجِدُونَهُ مَكْتُوبًا عِنْدَهُمْ فِي الْقُرْآنِ إِذْ يَقُولُ: ﴿يَا دَاوُودُ إِنَّا جَعَلْنَاكَ خَلِيفَةً فِي الْأَرْضِ﴾[2]؟! فَاسْتَخْلَفَهُ وَأَمْثَالَهُ مِنَ النَّبِيِّينَ وَالصِّدِّيقِينَ، قُلْتُ: جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ، إِنَّهُمْ أَضَلُّ مِنْ ذَلِكَ، إِنَّهُمْ يَحْسَبُونَ أَنَّ اللَّهَ قَدِ اسْتَخْلَفَ فِيهِمْ كُلَّ مَنْ بَايَعُوهُ بَعْدَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ بِالْخِلَافَةِ! قَالَ: وَيْلَهُمْ، وَهَلْ بَايَعُوا بَعْدَ الْحَسَنِ إِلَّا كُلَّ جَبَّارٍ عَنِيدٍ؟! إِنَّمَا وَعَدَ اللَّهُ أَنْ يَسْتَخْلِفَ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مِنْهُمْ وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ، وَمَا كَانَ اللَّهُ لِيَعِدَهُمْ خَيْرًا ثُمَّ يُعْطِيَهُمْ شَرًّا، بَلْ يُنْجِزُ وَعْدَهُ وَيَسْتَخْلِفُ فِي كُلِّ قَرْنٍ رَجُلًا مِثْلَ دَاوُودَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ، وَهُوَ أَكْثَرُهُمْ إِيمَانًا وَعَمَلًا لِلصَّالِحَاتِ، فَهَلْ يَعْرِفُونَهُ لِيَخْتَارُوهُ؟! كَلَّا، بَلِ اللَّهُ يَعْرِفُهُ وَيَخْتَارُهُ، ﴿وَلَكِنَّ أَكْثَرَهُمْ يَجْهَلُونَ﴾[3].
Translation:
Hashim ibn Ubaid al-Khujandi informed us, he said: I was sitting in Mansoor’s presence. Then he turned toward me and said: “O Hashim! Do you not see these misguided people who think that Allah has not explained caliphate in the Quran?! In your opinion, do they not know, or are they pretending to be ignorant?!” I said: “I do not know, may I be sacrificed for you. Perhaps they do not know.” He said: “Woe to them. How do they not know?! While they read the statement of Allah in the Quran, where He has said: ‘Allah has promised those among you who believed and did righteous deeds that He will surely appoint them as caliphs on the Earth, just as He appointed those before them as caliphs.’ Do they want a statement clearer than this?! Or do they think that He has broken His promise, so He has not appointed anyone among them as a caliph just as He appointed among those before them?!” I said: “Whom did He appoint as a caliph among those before them?” He said: “Dawud 
. Do they not find him written in the Quran, where He says: ‘O Dawud! We appointed you as a caliph on the Earth’?! So He appointed him and others like him, from among the Prophets and the righteous, as caliphs.” I said: “May I be sacrificed for you, they are even more misguided than this! They think that Allah has appointed anyone among them as a caliph to whom they pledged allegiance as a caliph after the Messenger of Allah 
!” He said: “Woe to them. Did they pledge allegiance to anyone other than rebellious tyrants after Hasan[4]?! Indeed, Allah promised to appoint those among them as caliphs who believed and did righteous deeds. And Allah is not one to promise them good and then gives them evil; rather, He fulfills His promise. and He appoints a man like Dawud as a caliph in every generation, and he is one whose faith and righteous deeds are greater than all of them. So do they know him to choose him?! Never! Rather, Allah knows and chooses him, ‘but most of them do not know.’”
2 . أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ عَبْدِ الْبَارِئِ الْقَنْدَهَارِيُّ، قَالَ: سَأَلْتُ الْمَنْصُورَ عَنْ قَوْلِ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى: ﴿وَرَبُّكَ يَخْلُقُ مَا يَشَاءُ وَيَخْتَارُ ۗ مَا كَانَ لَهُمُ الْخِيَرَةُ ۚ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ وَتَعَالَى عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ﴾[5]، فَقَالَ: يَخْلُقُ مَا يَشَاءُ وَيَخْتَارُ مَنْ يَشَاءُ، مَا كَانَ لَهُمُ الْخِيَرَةُ لِيَخْتَارُوا نَبِيًّا أَوْ مَلِكًا، فَمَنِ اخْتَارَ نَبِيًّا أَوْ مَلِكًا مِنْ دُونِ الَّذِي اخْتَارَهُ اللَّهُ فَقَدْ أَشْرَكَ، وَسُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ وَتَعَالَى عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ، قُلْتُ: مَا سَمِعْنَا فِي الْمَلِكِ شَيْئًا! قَالَ: وَيْحَكُمْ، أَلَمْ تَسْمَعُوا قَوْلَ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى: ﴿جَعَلَ فِيكُمْ أَنْبِيَاءَ وَجَعَلَكُمْ مُلُوكًا﴾[6]؟! قُلْتُ: بَلَى، وَلَكِنَّهُ كَانَ فِي بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ، قَالَ: إِنَّهُ كَانَ مِنْ سُنَنِ الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ، وَمَا ذَكَرَهُ اللَّهُ إِلَّا ﴿لِيُبَيِّنَ لَكُمْ وَيَهْدِيَكُمْ سُنَنَ الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ﴾[7]، أَلَمْ تَسْمَعُوا قَوْلَ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «إِنَّكُمْ تَرْكَبُونَ سُنَنَ الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ»[8]؟! قُلْتُ: وَمَا الْمَلِكُ؟ قَالَ: الْخَلِيفَةُ، قُلْتُ: وَهَلِ اخْتَارَ اللَّهُ خَلِيفَةً بَعْدَ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ؟ قَالَ: نَعَمْ، كَمَا اخْتَارَ بَعْدَ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ مِنْ قَبْلِهِ، أَلَمْ يَقُلْ: ﴿لَيَسْتَخْلِفَنَّهُمْ فِي الْأَرْضِ كَمَا اسْتَخْلَفَ الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِهِمْ﴾؟ قُلْتُ: وَبِمَا دَلَّ عَلَيْهِ؟ قَالَ: بِوَصِيَّةٍ مِنَ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ، قُلْتُ: كَانَتْ ظَاهِرَةً أَمْ بَاطِنَةً؟ قَالَ: كَانَتْ ظَاهِرَةً، وَلَكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ الْقَوْمِ لَمْ يَفْقَهُوهَا، قُلْتُ: كَيْفَ لَمْ يَفْقَهُوهَا وَكَانَ فِيهِمُ الْمُهَاجِرُونَ وَالْأَنْصَارُ؟! قَالَ: وَمَا تُنْكِرُ مِنْ ذَلِكَ؟! أَلَمْ يَكُونُوا الَّذِينَ قَالَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى فِيهِمْ: ﴿فَمَالِ هَؤُلَاءِ الْقَوْمِ لَا يَكَادُونَ يَفْقَهُونَ حَدِيثًا﴾[9]؟! قُلْتُ: أَرَوَوْهَا أَمْ كَتَمُوهَا؟ قَالَ: بَلْ رَوَوْهَا، قُلْتُ: فَمَا بَالُ الَّذِينَ جَاؤُوا مِنْ بَعْدِهِمْ لَمْ يَفْقَهُوهَا؟! وَقَدْ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «رُبَّ حَامِلِ فِقْهٍ وَلَا فِقْهَ لَهُ، وَرُبَّ حَامِلِ فِقْهٍ إِلَى مَنْ هُوَ أَفْقَهُ مِنْهُ»[10]! قَالَ: كَانُوا يَهْتَمُّونَ بِالرِّوَايَةِ، وَلَا يَهْتَمُّونَ بِالدِّرَايَةِ، وَكَانُوا يَقُولُونَ: ﴿إِنَّا وَجَدْنَا آبَاءَنَا عَلَى أُمَّةٍ وَإِنَّا عَلَى آثَارِهِمْ مُهْتَدُونَ﴾[11]، إِلَّا قَلِيلًا مِنْهُمُ اتُّهِمُوا بِالْبِدْعَةِ، قُلْتُ: وَمَنْ كَانَ الْخَلِيفَةُ؟ قَالَ: لَا تَسْأَلْ عَنْ هَذَا، فَقَدْ قَالَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى: ﴿لَا تَسْأَلُوا عَنْ أَشْيَاءَ إِنْ تُبْدَ لَكُمْ تَسُؤْكُمْ﴾[12]، ﴿قَدْ سَأَلَهَا قَوْمٌ مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ ثُمَّ أَصْبَحُوا بِهَا كَافِرِينَ﴾[13]! قُلْتُ: إِنَّمَا أَطْلُبُ الْعِلْمَ، وَلَا أَتَعَصَّبُ لِمَذْهَبٍ! قَالَ: كَانَ رَجُلًا مِنْ أَهْلِ الْبَيْتِ، أَلَمْ يَبْلُغْكَ قَوْلُ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «إِنِّي تَارِكٌ فِيكُمْ خَلِيفَتَيْنِ: كِتَابَ اللَّهِ وَأَهْلَ بَيْتِي»[14]؟! قُلْتُ: كَأَنَّكَ تُرِيدُ عَلِيًّا! قَالَ: وَمَا تُنْكِرُ مِنْ ذَلِكَ؟! إِنَّ دَاوُدَ قَتَلَ جَالُوتَ، فَـ﴿آتَاهُ اللَّهُ الْمُلْكَ وَالْحِكْمَةَ وَعَلَّمَهُ مِمَّا يَشَاءُ﴾[15]، وَإِنَّ عَلِيًّا قَتَلَ جَوَالِيتَ، مِنْهُمْ طَلْحَةُ بْنُ أَبِي طَلْحَةَ حَامِلُ لِوَاءِ الْمُشْرِكِينَ يَوْمَ بَدْرٍ، وَعَمْرُو بْنُ عَبْدِ وُدٍّ فَارِسُ قُرَيْشٍ يَوْمَ الْأَحْزَابِ، وَمَرْحَبٌ بَطَلُ الْيَهُودِ يَوْمَ خَيْبَرَ! فَمَاذَا تَرَى أَنْ يَفْعَلَ اللَّهُ بِهِ؟! قُلْتُ: لَا أُنْكِرُ مِنْ ذَلِكَ شَيْئًا، وَلَكِنَّهُمْ يَقُولُونَ أَنَّ هَذَا طَعْنٌ فِي أَبِي بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرَ! قَالَ: دَعْهُمْ، فَإِنَّهُمْ يَتَّخِذُونَهُمَا إِلَهَيْنِ مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ أَوْ نَبِيَّيْنِ مِنْ بَعْدِ مُحَمَّدٍ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ، وَإِنِّي لَا أَقُولُ فِيهِمَا إِلَّا خَيْرًا، قُلْتُ: فَلَمَّا مَضَى عَلِيٌّ فَهَلِ اخْتَارَ اللَّهُ خَلِيفَةً مِنْ بَعْدِهِ؟ قَالَ: نَعَمْ، إِنَّ الْأَرْضَ لَا تَخْلُو مِنْ خَلِيفَةٍ اخْتَارَهُ اللَّهُ، قُلْتُ: وَبِمَا دَلَّ عَلَيْهِ؟ قَالَ: بِوَصِيَّةٍ مِنْ عَلِيٍّ، وَقَدْ أَوْصَى إِلَى الْحَسَنِ، قُلْتُ: وَهَكَذَا أَبَدًا؟ قَالَ: نَعَمْ، وَذَلِكَ قَوْلُ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى: ﴿ذُرِّيَّةً بَعْضُهَا مِنْ بَعْضٍ ۗ وَاللَّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ﴾[16]، قُلْتُ: فَمَنِ الْخَلِيفَةُ الْيَوْمَ؟ قَالَ: رَجُلٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْبَيْتِ، فَبِهِمْ فَتَحَ اللَّهُ وَبِهِمْ يَخْتِمُ، قُلْتُ: تُرِيدُ الْمَهْدِيَّ؟ قَالَ: نَعَمْ، قُلْتُ: إِنَّهُمْ يَقُولُونَ أَنَّهُ لَمْ يُولَدْ بَعْدُ! قَالَ: وَمَا عِلْمُهُمْ بِذَلِكَ؟! ﴿أَمْ عِنْدَهُمُ الْغَيْبُ فَهُمْ يَكْتُبُونَ﴾[17]؟! قُلْتُ: فَتَقُولُ أَنَّهُ وُلِدَ؟ قَالَ: نَعَمْ، قُلْتُ: فَمَا الْفَرْقُ بَيْنَكَ وَبَيْنَهُمْ إِذَنْ؟! قَالَ: وَيْحَكَ، لَيْسَ الْمُثْبِتُ كَالنَّافِي، وَلَا الْعَالِمُ كَالْجَاهِلِ، قُلْتُ: فَمَا لَهُ لَا يَظْهَرُ؟! قَالَ: لَئِنْ ظَهَرَ قَبْلَ أَنْ يُنَادَى بِاسْمِهِ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَالسَّمَاءِ فَلَيْسَ بِمَهْدِيٍّ! فَتَدَبَّرْتُ قَوْلَهُ سَاعَةً، ثُمَّ قُلْتُ: وَاللَّهِ لَمْ تَقُلْ شَيْئًا إِلَّا بِالْقُرْآنِ وَالسُّنَّةِ، لَكِنَّهُ عِنْدَهُمْ رَفْضٌ! فَقَالَ: لَا أُبَالِي مَا هُوَ عِنْدَهُمْ بَعْدَ أَنْ قُلْتُهُ بِالْقُرْآنِ وَالسُّنَّةِ! فَإِنْ شَاؤُوا سَمَّوهُ رَفْضًا، وَإِنْ شَاؤُوا سَمَّوهُ كُفْرًا! فَإِنَّهُ الْإِيمَانُ!
Translation:
Abu Bakr ibn Abd al-Bari al-Qandahari informed us, he said: I asked Mansoor about the statement of Allah Almighty, where He has said: “And your Lord creates and chooses whatever He wills. They have no choice. Glorified and Exalted is Allah above what they associate (with Him).” So he said: “(Allah) creates whatever He wills and chooses whomever He wills. They have no choice in choosing a prophet or a ruler. So whoever chooses a prophet or a ruler whom Allah has not chosen has associated a partner (with Allah), and Allah is Glorified and Exalted above what they associate (with Him).” I said: “We have not heard anything about the ruler!” He said: “Woe to you. Have you not heard the statement of Allah, where He has said: ‘He appointed Prophets among you and appointed (some of) you as rulers’?!” I said: “Yes, but that was in the Children of Israel.” He said: “It was one of the ways of those who were before you, and Allah has not mentioned it except to ‘clarify for you and guide you to the ways of those who were before you.’ Have you not heard the statement of the Prophet , where he has said: ‘Indeed, similar to the ways of those before you will pass upon you’?!” I said: “Who is the ruler?” He said: “The caliph.” I said: “Did Allah choose a caliph after the Prophet ?” He said: “Yes, just as he did after the past Prophets. Has he not said: ‘He will surely appoint them as caliphs on the Earth, just as He appointed those before them as caliphs’?!” I said: “With what did He indicate him?” He said: “With a will from the Prophet .” I said: “Was (that will) manifest or hidden?!” He said: “It was manifest, but most of the people did not understand it.” I said: “How did they not understand it, while the Muhajirin and the Ansar were among them?!” He said: “Which part of it is surprising to you?! Were they not the same people about whom Allah said: ‘What is the matter with these people who hardly understand any word?!’” I said: “Did they narrate that (will) or conceal it?” He said: “Rather, they narrated it.” I said: “Then why did those who came after them not understand it?! While the Prophet has said: ‘Many are those who carry knowledge but possess no knowledge themselves, and many are those who convey knowledge to one more learned than themselves.’” He said: “They paid attention to narration and did not pay attention to cognition (meaning analysis and comprehension). And they said: ‘We have found our forefathers upon a religion, and we have been guided by following them,’ except for a few of them who were accused of innovation.” I said: “Who was that caliph?” He said: “Do not ask about this; because Allah has said: ‘Do not ask about things that, if disclosed to you, may displease you.’ ‘Some people before you asked about it, then disbelieved in it!’” I said: “I only seek knowledge and do not hold bias toward any sect!” He said: “He was a man from the Ahl al-Bayt. Have you not heard the statement of the Prophet who said: ‘I leave among you two caliphs: the Book of Allah and my Ahl al-Bayt’?!” I said: “It seems you mean Ali!” He said: “What do you deny about it?! Indeed, Dawud killed Goliath, so ‘Allah gave him dominion and wisdom and taught him what He willed,’ while Ali killed several Goliaths, such as Talha ibn Abi Talha, the flag-bearer of polytheists on the day of Badr; Amr ibn Abd Wudd, the only horseman of the Quraysh on the day of Ahzab; and Marhab, the hero of the Jews on the day of Khaibar! So what do you think Allah has done to him?!” I said: “I do not deny anything about it. But they say this is sarcasm toward Abu Bakr and Umar!” He said: “Leave them; because they have taken those two as gods besides Allah or as prophets after Muhammad . However, I say nothing but good about them.” I said: “So when Ali passed away, did Allah choose another caliph after him?” He said: “Yes, because Earth does not remain empty of a caliph whom Allah has chosen.” I said: “With what did He indicate him?” He said: “With a will from Ali, and he made a will to Hasan.” I said: “And so on forever?” He said: “Yes, and this is the statement of Allah, where He has said: ‘They are offspring of one another. And Allah is the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing.’” I said: “Who is the caliph today?” He said: “A man from the Ahl al-Bayt; because Allah began with them and will end with them.” I said: “Do you mean the Mahdi?” He said: “Yes.” I said: “They say that he has not been born yet!” He said: “How do they know?! ‘Do they have (knowledge of) the unseen, so they write it?!’” I said: “So are you saying that he was born?” He said: “Yes.” I said: “Then what is the difference between you and them?!” He said: “Woe to you. One who proves is not like one who denies, and one who knows is not like one who does not know.” I said: “Then why does he not appear?!” He said: “If he appears before his name is called out on the Earth and in the sky, he is not the Mahdi!” Then I reflected on his words for a moment and then said: “By Allah, you did not say anything except with the Quran and the Sunnah, but that is rafd in their view!” So he said: “I do not care what it is in their view after I said it with the Quran and the Sunnah! So they may call it rafd if they want, and they may call it disbelief if they want; because it is faith!”
3 . أَخْبَرَنَا ذَاكِرُ بْنُ مَعْرُوفٍ وَعَلِيُّ بْنُ دَاوُودَ وَعَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ حَبِيبٍ وَغَيْرُهُمْ، قَالُوا: كُنَّا جَمَاعَةً عِنْدَ الْمَنْصُورِ وَهُوَ يَنْكُتُ الْأَرْضَ وَيَقُولُ بِهَمْسٍ: مَا قَدَرُوا اللَّهَ حَقَّ قَدْرِهِ! مَا قَدَرُوا اللَّهَ حَقَّ قَدْرِهِ! مَا قَدَرُوا اللَّهَ حَقَّ قَدْرِهِ! ثُمَّ رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ إِلَيْنَا وَقَالَ: اكْتُبُوا! فَأَخَذْنَا نَكْتُبُ، فَقَالَ: مَا قَدَرُوا اللَّهَ حَقَّ قَدْرِهِ إِذْ قَالُوا: «مَا جَعَلَ اللَّهُ مِنْ خَلِيفَةٍ فِي هَذِهِ الْأُمَّةِ»، وَقَدْ عَلِمُوا أَنَّهُ جَعَلَ فِي الْأُمَمِ مِنْ قَبْلِهَا، وَمَا كَانَ لِيُبَدِّلَ سُنَّتَهُ إِلَّا إِذَا أَخْبَرَ عَنْ تَبْدِيلٍ، وَقَدْ أَخْبَرَ عَنْ خَتْمِ النُّبُوَّةِ، وَلَمْ يُخْبِرْ عَنْ خَتْمِ الْخِلَافَةِ، بَلْ قَالَ فِي الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ مِنْ هَذِهِ الْأُمَّةِ: ﴿لَيَسْتَخْلِفَنَّهُمْ فِي الْأَرْضِ كَمَا اسْتَخْلَفَ الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِهِمْ﴾، فَقَدْ بَقِيَتْ سُنَّتُهُ فِي اسْتِخْلَافِ رِجَالٍ مِنَ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ بَعْدَ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ ثَابِتَةً إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ، وَإِذَا ذَكَّرْتُ بِهَا هَؤُلَاءِ الَّذِينَ نَسُوهَا يُطَالِبُونَنِي بِالْبَيِّنَةِ، وَمَا الْبَيِّنَةُ إِلَّا عَلَيْهِمْ؛ لِأَنَّهُمْ يَدَّعُونَ تَبْدِيلَ سُنَّةٍ يُقِرُّونَ بِثُبُوتِهَا فِي الْأُمَمِ السَّابِقَةِ، وَأَنَا أُنْكِرُهُ، وَقَدْ عَلِمُوا أَنَّ الْبَيِّنَةَ عَلَى الْمُدَّعِي وَلَيْسَتْ عَلَى الْمُنْكِرِ! ثُمَّ إِنِّي قَدْ جِئْتُهُمْ بِبَيِّنَةٍ، وَهِيَ مَا أَتْلُو عَلَيْهِمْ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ، فَيُحَاجُّونَنِي بِفِعْلِ آبَائِهِمْ! يَقُولُونَ: «أَنْتَ أَفْقَهُ أَمِ الصَّحَابَةُ وَالتَّابِعُونَ؟!»، وَهُمْ يَرْوُونَ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَنَّهُ قَالَ: «رُبَّ حَامِلِ فِقْهٍ وَلَا فِقْهَ لَهُ، وَرُبَّ حَامِلِ فِقْهٍ إِلَى مَنْ هُوَ أَفْقَهُ مِنْهُ»، وَيَقُولُونَ: «هَذِهِ بِدْعَةٌ»، وَمَا الْبِدْعَةُ إِلَّا مَا أَحْدَثَ آبَاؤُهُمْ فِي السَّقِيفَةِ، إِذْ نَسُوا حَظًّا مِمَّا ذُكِّرُوا بِهِ كَمَا نَسَى الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِهِمْ، فَقَالُوا: «مِنَّا أَمِيرٌ وَمِنْكُمْ أَمِيرٌ»، ثُمَّ بَايَعُوا أَبَا بَكْرٍ وَهُمْ يَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّ اللَّهَ لَمْ يَأْمُرْهُمْ بِمُبَايَعَتِهِ، فَقَالَ عُمَرُ لَمَّا سُقِطَ فِي أَيْدِيهِمْ: «كَانَتْ بَيْعَةُ أَبِي بَكْرٍ فَلْتَةً وَقَى اللَّهُ شَرَّهَا، فَمَنْ عَادَ إِلَى مِثْلِهَا فَلَا بَيْعَةَ لَهُ»، فَعَادَ إِلَى مِثْلِهَا كُلُّ عَائِدٍ فَبَايَعُوهُ وَقَالُوا: «هَكَذَا كَانَتْ بَيْعَةُ أَبِي بَكْرٍ»! فَاتَّبَعُوا عُمَرَ فِيمَا أَخْطَأَ وَلَمْ يَتَّبِعُوهُ فِيمَا أَصَابَ! فَإِذَا ذَكَّرْتُهُمْ بِهَذَا لِيَتُوبُوا وَيُصْلِحُوا تَأْخُذُهُمُ الْحَمِيَّةُ حَمِيَّةُ الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ، يَقُولُونَ: «يَا وَيْلَتَى! أَتُخَطِّئُ أَبَا بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرَ؟!» وَهُمْ يَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّهُمَا لَمْ يَكُونَا إِلَهَيْنِ مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ وَلَا نَبِيَّيْنِ مِنْ بَعْدِ مُحَمَّدٍ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ، وَإِنَّمَا كَانَا رَجُلَيْنِ صَالِحَيْنِ أَصَابَا فِي شَيْءٍ وَأَخْطَئَا فِي شَيْءٍ، وَمَا كَانَ لِمُؤْمِنٍ أَنْ يَتَّبِعَهُمَا فِيمَا أَخْطَئَا فِيهِ، وَقَدْ خَالَفَهُمَا الصَّحَابَةُ فِي كَثِيرٍ مِنَ الْأَمْرِ، وَأَفْتَى الْفُقَهَاءُ بِخِلَافِ مَا أَفْتَيَا بِهِ فِي مَسَائِلَ كَثِيرَةٍ، فَلَمْ يُنْكِرْ هَؤُلَاءِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَمْ يَقُولُوا: «يَا وَيْلَتَى! خَطَّأُوا أَبَا بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرَ»! حَتَّى إِذَا جَمَعْتُ لَهُمْ مَا فَرَّقُوهَا عَلَيْهِمْ وَجِئْتُهُمْ بِهَا بَيْضَاءَ نَقِيَّةً كَبُرَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ وَقَالُوا: «هَذَا دِينٌ جَدِيدٌ»! وَمَا هُوَ بِدِينٍ جَدِيدٍ، بَلْ هُوَ الدِّينُ الْأَوَّلُ، إِلَّا أَنْ يُرِيدُوا بِالْجَدِيدِ مَا يَرْوُونَهُ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَنَّ اللَّهَ يَبْعَثُ فِيهِمْ رِجَالًا يُجَدِّدُونَ لَهُمْ دِينَهُمْ، فَقَدْ جَدَّدْتُ لَهُمْ دِينَهُمْ مِنْ بَعْدِ مَا انْدَرَسَ، وَلَا أَمْلِكُ لَهُمْ مِنَ اللَّهِ شَيْئًا، وَمَا أَنَا عَلَيْهِمْ بِحَفِيظٍ!
Translation:
Zakir ibn Ma‘roof, Ali ibn Dawud, Abdullah ibn Habib, and others informed us, they said: We were a group in Mansoor’s presence while he was thoughtfully touching the ground and quietly saying: “They did not know Allah as He deserves (to be known)! They did not know Allah as He deserves! They did not know Allah as He deserves!” Then he raised his head toward us and said: “Write!” So we began writing. Then he said: “They did not know Allah as He deserves when they said: ‘Allah did not appoint a caliph in this nation.’ While they know that He did so in previous nations, and He never changes His practice unless He Himself announces a change. And He has announced the sealing of Prophethood and has not announced the sealing of caliphate. Rather, He has said about those among this nation who believed and did righteous deeds: ‘He will surely appoint them as caliphs on the Earth, just as He appointed those before them as caliphs.’ So His practice of appointing men from among the people of faith and righteous deeds as caliphs after the Prophet remains in force until the Day of Judgment. However, when I remind these people—who have forgotten it—of this, they demand proof from me, whereas the burden of proof rests only upon them; because they claim a change in a practice that they themselves acknowledge was established in previous nations, and I deny the change. And they know that the burden of proof rests upon the claimant, not upon the denier! Yet, I have brought them proof—the verses of the Quran that I recite to them. But in response to me, they use the action of their forefathers as an argument! They say: ‘Are you more learned or the Sahabah and the Tabi‘un?!’ While they themselves narrate from the Messenger of Allah : ‘Many are those who carry knowledge but possess no knowledge themselves, and many are those who convey knowledge to one more learned than themselves.’[18] And they say: ‘This is an innovation.’ While the innovation was what their forefathers established in Saqifah[19] when they forgot a portion of what they were reminded of, just as past people forgot[20]. Then they said: ‘Let there be a commander from among us and a commander from among you.’[21] So they pledged allegiance to Abu Bakr, while they knew that Allah had not commanded them to pledge allegiance to him. Then, when the damage was done, Umar said: ‘Pledging allegiance to Abu Bakr was a hurried and ill-considered action[22], which Allah protected from its evil. So whoever repeats the like of it, there is no allegiance for him.’[23] However, every repeater repeated the like of it. And they pledged allegiance to him and said: ‘Pledging allegiance to Abu Bakr was the same!’ So they followed Umar in his error and did not follow him in what he said correctly! Then, when I remind them of this so that they may repent and reform, the fanaticism of (the age of) ignorance overtakes them. They say: ‘Oh no! Are you saying that Abu Bakr and Umar went wrong?!’ While they know that those two were neither gods besides Allah nor prophets after Muhammad ; rather, they were two righteous men who did right in some matters and did wrong in some matters, and no believer should follow them in their error. Just as the Sahabah opposed them in many matters, and jurists issued fatwas contrary to theirs in many cases, yet these people did not criticize them and did not say: ‘Oh no! They considered Abu Bakr and Umar to be in error!’ Until I gathered for them what they had conveyed to them in a scattered manner and presented it to them clearly and purely. However, it weighed heavily on them, and they said: ‘This is a new religion!’ While it is not a new religion; rather, it is the very first religion—unless by “new” they mean what they narrate from the Prophet , that Allah sends among them men who renew their religion for them[24]; because I renewed their religion for them after it had become worn out. And I have no authority over anything for them against Allah, and I am not their guardian.”
4 . أَخْبَرَنَا ذَاكِرُ بْنُ مَعْرُوفٍ، قَالَ: سَمِعَ الْمَنْصُورُ قَارِئًا يَقْرَأُ قَوْلَ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى: ﴿يَا دَاوُودُ إِنَّا جَعَلْنَاكَ خَلِيفَةً فِي الْأَرْضِ فَاحْكُمْ بَيْنَ النَّاسِ بِالْحَقِّ وَلَا تَتَّبِعِ الْهَوَى﴾، فَرَفَعَ صَوْتَهُ فَقَالَ: اسْمَعُوا! اسْمَعُوا! إِنَّمَا خَلِيفَةُ اللَّهِ فِي الْأَرْضِ مَنْ يَحْكُمُ بَيْنَ النَّاسِ بِالْحَقِّ وَلَا يَتَّبِعُ الْهَوَى، فَلَا يَغُرَّنَّكُمُ الَّذِينَ يَتَكَلَّفُونَ الْخِلَافَةَ وَهُمْ ظَالِمُونَ! ثُمَّ هَمَسَ فَقَالَ: إِنَّ هَذِهِ الْأُمَّةَ لَا تَعْدِمُ خَلِيفَةً مِثْلَ دَاوُودَ، فَقَدْ قَالَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى: ﴿كَمَا اسْتَخْلَفَ الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِهِمْ﴾، وَقَدِ اسْتَخْلَفَ مِنْ قَبْلِهِمْ دَاوُودَ!
Translation:
Zakir ibn Ma‘roof al-Khorasani informed us, he said: Mansoor heard a reciter reciting this statement of Allah Almighty: “O Dawud! We appointed you as a caliph on the Earth, so Judge justly among people and do not follow your desires.” He then raised his voice and said: “Listen! Listen! The caliph of Allah on Earth is only one who judges justly among people and does not follow his own desires. So do not let those who claim caliphate while they are unjust deceive you!” Then he lowered his voice and said: “Indeed, this nation is never without a caliph like Dawud; because Allah has said: ‘Just as He appointed those before them as caliphs,’ and He appointed Dawud as a caliph before them.”
5 . أَخْبَرَنَا ذَاكِرُ بْنُ مَعْرُوفٍ الْخُرَاسَانِيُّ، قَالَ: قُلْتُ لِلْمَنْصُورِ: جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ، إِنَّهُمْ يَقُولُونَ: مَا بَالُ صَاحِبِكُمْ يَدْعُو إِلَى رَجُلٍ لَيْسَ فِي كِتَابِ اللَّهِ اسْمُهُ؟! فَغَضِبَ فَقَالَ: كَذَبَ النَّوْكَى! أَلَمْ يَعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ قَالَ لَهُمْ فِي كِتَابِهِ: ﴿أَقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ﴾[25] وَلَمْ يَقُلْ لَهُمْ: اثْنَيْنِ وَلَا أَرْبَعًا وَلَا ثَلَاثًا حَتَّى بَيَّنَ لَهُمْ رَسُولُهُ، وَقَالَ لَهُمْ فِي كِتَابِهِ: ﴿وَآتُوا الزَّكَاةَ﴾[26] وَلَمْ يَقُلْ لَهُمْ: فِي مِائَتَيْنِ خَمْسَةُ دَرَاهِمَ حَتَّى بَيَّنَ لَهُمْ رَسُولُهُ، وَقَالَ لَهُمْ فِي كِتَابِهِ: ﴿وَلِلَّهِ عَلَى النَّاسِ حِجُّ الْبَيْتِ﴾[27] وَلَمْ يَقُلْ لَهُمْ: بِالْبَيْتِ سَبْعًا وَبِالصَّفَا وَالْمَرْوَةِ سَبْعًا حَتَّى بَيَّنَ لَهُمْ رَسُولُهُ؟! فَكَذَلِكَ قَالَ لَهُمْ فِي كِتَابِهِ: ﴿وَعَدَ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مِنْكُمْ وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ لَيَسْتَخْلِفَنَّهُمْ فِي الْأَرْضِ كَمَا اسْتَخْلَفَ الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِهِمْ وَلَيُمَكِّنَنَّ لَهُمْ دِينَهُمُ الَّذِي ارْتَضَى لَهُمْ وَلَيُبَدِّلَنَّهُمْ مِنْ بَعْدِ خَوْفِهِمْ أَمْنًا﴾[28] وَلَمْ يَقُلْ لَهُمْ: بِإِمَامٍ عَادِلٍ مِنْ وُلْدِ فَاطِمَةَ يُقَالُ لَهُ الْمَهْدِيُّ حَتَّى بَيَّنَ لَهُمْ رَسُولُهُ! ثُمَّ قَالَ: مَنِ اسْتَغْنَى بِكِتَابِ اللَّهِ عَنْ سُنَّةِ رَسُولِهِ فَقَدْ فَرَّقَ بَيْنَ اللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ، وَمَنْ فَرَّقَ بَيْنَ اللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ فَهُوَ كَافِرٌ حَقًّا، وَذَلِكَ قَوْلُ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى: ﴿إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَكْفُرُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَرُسُلِهِ وَيُرِيدُونَ أَنْ يُفَرِّقُوا بَيْنَ اللَّهِ وَرُسُلِهِ وَيَقُولُونَ نُؤْمِنُ بِبَعْضٍ وَنَكْفُرُ بِبَعْضٍ وَيُرِيدُونَ أَنْ يَتَّخِذُوا بَيْنَ ذَلِكَ سَبِيلًا أُولَئِكَ هُمُ الْكَافِرُونَ حَقًّا ۚ وَأَعْتَدْنَا لِلْكَافِرِينَ عَذَابًا مُهِينًا﴾[29]! قُلْتُ: وَمَا يُرِيدُونَ بِقَوْلِهِمْ: ﴿نُؤْمِنُ بِبَعْضٍ وَنَكْفُرُ بِبَعْضٍ﴾؟! قَالَ: يُؤْمِنُونَ بِمَا جَاءَهُمْ عَنِ اللَّهِ وَيَكْفُرُونَ بِمَا جَاءَهُمْ عَنْ رُسُلِهِ!
Translation:
Zakir ibn Ma‘roof al-Khorasani informed us, he said: I said to Mansoor: “May I be sacrificed for you, they say: ‘What is the matter with your companion who invites to a man whose name has not been mentioned in the Book of Allah?!’” So he became angry and said: “The fools lied! Did they not know that Allah said to them in His Book: ‘Perform prayer,’ and did not say: ‘Two or four or three (rak‘ats),’ until His Prophet explained to them, and that He said to them in His Book: ‘And give Zakat,’ and did not say: ‘From two hundred (dirhams), five dirhams,’ until His Prophet explained to them, and that He said to them in His Book: ‘And for Allah, people should make pilgrimage to the House,’ and did not say: ‘Seven circuits around the House and seven circuits between Safa and Marwa,’ until His Prophet explained to them?! So, in the same way, He said to them in His Book: ‘Allah has promised those among you who believed and did righteous deeds that He will surely appoint them as caliphs on the Earth, just as He appointed those before them as caliphs. And He will surely establish for them their religion, which He chose for them, and will surely grant them security after their fear,’ and did not say: ‘With a just Imam from the children of Fatimah, who is called the Mahdi,’ until His Prophet explained to them!” Then he said: “Whoever thinks that, with the Book of Allah, he is in no need of the Sunnah of His Prophet has created a division between Allah and His Prophet. And whoever creates a division between Allah and His Prophet is indeed a disbeliever. And this is the statement of Allah Almighty, where He has said: ‘Indeed, those who disbelieve in Allah and His Prophets and want to create a division between Allah and His Prophets and say, “We believe in some and disbelieve in some,” and want to take a path in between; they are indeed disbelievers, and We have prepared a humiliating punishment for disbelievers!’” I said: “What do they mean by saying: ‘We believe in some and disbelieve in some’?!” He said: “They believe in what has come to them from Allah and disbelieve in what has come to them from His Prophets!”
. Ibn Mandah has said in his Tadhkirah that twenty-four of the Sahabah have narrated it, and he has mentioned their names. It has been stated in the explanation of al-Muwahib al-Laduniyyah: Hafiz has said that it is a well-known Hadith, and some people have considered it mutawatir, as it has been transmitted through twenty-four of the Sahabah, and it has been stated in Sharh al-Taqrib by al-Suyuti that it has been transmitted through about thirty of the Sahabah (See Nazm al-Mutanathir Min al-Hadith al-Mutawarir by al-Kattani, p. 34)., in which it has been stated: «إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَبْعَثُ لِهَذِهِ الْأُمَّةِ عَلَى رَأْسِ كُلِّ مِائَةِ سَنَةٍ مَنْ يُجَدِّدُ لَهَا دِينَهَا» (Sunan of Abi Dawud, vol. 4, p. 109; al-Mu‘jam al-Awsat by al-Tabarani, vol. 6, p. 324; al-Mustadrak Ala al-Sahihain by al-Hakim, vol. 4, p. 567; Ma‘rifah al-Sunan Wa al-Athar by al-Bayhaqi, vol. 1, p. 208); “Allah sends for this nation someone every hundred years who renews their religion for them.”