With-Love-to-Muhammad

100 With Love to Muhammad sa the Khātam-un-Nabiyyīn
increase in number”. The people asked, “O Allāh’s Apostle sa !
What do you order us (to do)?” He said, “Obey the one who
will be given the pledge of allegiance first. Fulfill their rights
(i.e., the rights of the Khulafā’), for Allāh will ask them about
(any shortcoming) in ruling those Allāh has put under their
guardianship.” 86
About this hadīth, it must be noted that it uses the words
ونa (there will soon be Khulafā’). This phrase clearly shows خاء
that this hadīth is about the period of time immediately after the
Holy Prophet Muhammad sa . According to the rules of Arabic
grammar, when the letter ‏”س“‏ is added to the word ‏”‏ون“‏ it
means “it will soon be” and this means that this hadīth is about
the period of time right after the Holy Prophet Muhammad sa .
What he intended to say is that there will be Khulafā’ right after
me but there will be no prophet right after me. This
understanding is further supported by the following hadīth,
which contains a prophecy that has been fulfilled and all
Muslims can bear testimony to it:
تونaابوۃaمaاaاءaااللهa۔۔۔aثمaتونaخۃa a ٰ
اجaابوۃaاaاءaااللهa۔۔۔aثمaتونaاaااaتونa
اaاءaااللهa۔۔aثمaتونaخۃa aاجaابوۃ ٰ 87
There shall remain in you prophethood as long as
Allāh wills.... Then there will be Khilāfah upon the
footsteps of prophethood as long as Allāh wills...
Then there will be kingdom and it shall remain as
86
Sahīh Bukhārī, Volume 4, Book 56, Number 661
87
وۃ۔aتابaاراق۔ بابaالاذارaوa اتحذر
ٰ