taken from : http://www.calltoislam.com/content/vatl.php?a=55
“Allaah has promised to those among you who believe and do righteous actions that He will certainly grant them Khilafah (succession) (to the present rulers) on the earth, as He granted it to those before them; and that He will grant them authority to practise their religion, that which He has chosen for them (i.e. Islaam). And that He will surely give them in exchange a safe security after their fear (provided) they (believers) worship Me and do not associate anything (in worship) with Me. But whosoever disbelieved after this, they are the Fasiqun (rebellious, disobedient to Allaah).”1
Al-Haafidh Ibn Katheer (d.774H) said: 2
“This is a promise from Allaah to His Messenger, (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam), that He will make his Ummah the Khulafa’ (successors) upon the earth. Meaning that they will be the leaders and rulers over mankind, by which nations will be corrected and to whom mankind will submit. And that He will replace their state of fear in which they lived, to one of security and dominion. Allaah has fulfilled His promise, and to Him belongs all praise and thanks. For the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) did not die until Allaah made him conquer Makkah, Khaybar, al Bahrain, the remaining lands of the Arabian Peninsula and the whole of Yemen. He took Jizyah from the magicians of Hajar and from the people of the surrounding areas of Syria. The Prophet (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) received gifts from Heraclius – the king of Rome; the ruler of Egypt and Alexandria – the Mawqawis; the king of Oman; and Negus – the king of Ethiopia, who became king after Ashamah died.
After the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) died, Allaah having chosen for him the reward which is with Him, Abu Bakr as-Siddeeq was then established as his Khaleefah (successor), Ataking charge unwaveringly. Abu Bakr took the Arabian Peninsula and put it in order. He sent forth the armies of Islaam to the lands of Persia, under the command of Khaalid ibn al-Waleed. They conquered parts of these lands, slaying a number of its inhabitants. A second army was sent to the lands of Syria, under the leadership of Abu ‘Ubaydah and those who followed him. A third army was sent to Egypt under the leadership of Amr ibn al-Aas. It was during this time that the armies sent to Syria conquered the cities of Busra, Damascus and its environs from the land of Hawraan and its surroundings. Allaah took Abu Bakr’s soul – choosing for him the reward that is with Him. Allaah blessed the people of Islaam by inspiring as-Siddeeq to choose Umar al-Faarooq as a successor.
Umar then stood up, taking charge completely. The heavens will not witness – after the Prophets – anyone like Umar, whether in the strength of his reign or the ful ent of justice. It was during his time that the conquest of Syria was completed; as was that of Egypt to its farthest reaches, as well as the province of Persia. He destroyed Kisraa (Chosroes) and humiliated him to the utmost, forcing him to retreat back to the furthest reaches of his kingdom. Similarly, Umar destroyed Qaysar (Caesar), wresting from his hands the lands of Syria and bottling him up in Constantinople. He spent the wealth (conquered from them) in the path of Allaah – as the Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) had informed and promised.
Then there was the rule of Uthmaan, under whom the possessions of Islaam extended to the furthest eastern and western reaches of the earth. The lands of the west where conquered to the farthest reaches of what lies there – Andulus, Cyprus, the lands of Qairawaan and the lands of Ceuta – which is next to the all-encompassing ocean; and to the farthest lands of China. Kisraa was killed and his kingdom was totally vanquished. The cities of al-Iraaq, Khurasaan and Ahwaaz were conquered and the Muslims slew a large number of Turks. Allaah having humiliated the Turks and their great king Kha-Khan. The wealth of the east and the west was collected and brought to the Ameerul-Mu’mineem (leader of the Believers) Uthmaan ibn Affaan. All this came about as a result of the blessings of his recitation, study and gathering the Ummah upon the preservation of the Qur’aan.
It is confirmed in the Saheeh3 that the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) said: “Indeed Allaah gathered the earth for me, so that I saw the east and west. Indeed the dominion of my Ummah will reach what gathered up for me, from it.” We fluctuate in what Allaah has promised us with and in what His Messenger have promised. Allaah and his Messenger have spoken the truth. We ask Allaah to grant us imaan (faith) in Him and His Messenger, and that we establish gratitude for what Allaah has given us, in the manner that He is pleased with.
Imaam Muslim ibn al-Hajjaaj said in his Saheeh, that Ibn Abi Umar related to us, that Sufyaan related to us from Abdul Malik ibn Umayr, from Jaabir ibn Samarah who said: I heard the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) say: “The affair of the people will continue to remain upright while twelve men are in charge of them.” The Prophet (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) then said something which I could not make out. So I asked my father: What did the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) say? He replied: “They are all from Quraish.” This narration is also reported in al-Bukhari.4
In this narration there exist clear evidence that all twelve of these men must be leaders from Quraish. They are not the twelve imaams claimed by the Shee’ah, because many of them had no leadership over the Muslims. As for these twelve, they will be from Quraish and will be just rulers. The glad tiding of their appearance has also occurred in the previous scriptures. Furthermore it is not necessary that they succeed one another. Rather their appearance in the Ummah could be successive or separate. For of them were in order, namely, Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthmaan and Alee. After these four there was a gap. Others amongst the twelve appeared as and when Allaah willed. It is possible that some of them will appear during a time only which Allaah knows. Among them will be the Mahdee whose name will be that of the Messenger (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam), and his kunyaa that of his kunyaa. He will fill the earth with justice as it is filled with tyranny and injustice.
Imaam Ahmed, Abu Dawood, at-Tirmidhee and an-Nisa’ee have all reported from the hadeeth of Sa’eed ibn Juhmaan, from Safeenah – the mawlaa of the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam), that the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) said: “The Successorship (Khilafah) after me will last for thirty years. Then kingship will appear.”5
Ar-Rabee’ah ibn Anas has said that Abul-Aaliyah has remarked concerning this verse (24:55): “The Prophet (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) and his Companions were in Makkah for ten years afraid, secretly calling to Allaah and His worship alone, He has no partner. They remained in such a state until they were ordered to migrate to Madeenah. They were ordered by Allaah to fight. While they were in Madeenah they were in constant fear (of attack). They would go to sleep armed and wake up armed. They remained patient upon that state as long as Allaah willed. Until one day, one among the Companions said: “O Messenger of Allaah! Will we remain in a state of fear until the end of time? Will there not come a day when we will be in a state of security, so we may lay down our weapons?” The Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) then said: “Be patient for a while. For there will come a time when any man from you would sit in a large crowd unarmed.” Allaah sent down this verse and made His Prophet victorious over the Arabian Peninsula. The Prophet’s Companions were now safe and could lay down their weapons. Allaah (the Most High) then took the soul of His Prophet (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam), and the Muslims remained in such a state during the leadership of Abu Bakr, Umar and Uthmaan. Until the Muslims fell into what they fell into from discord. So fear entered their hearts and they took armies and guards for protection. For they had changed, so Allaah changed their state.” One of the salaf has remarked that the Khilafah of both Abu Bakr and Umar is true. He then recited this verse. Al-Bara’ ibn ‘Azeeb has said: “This verse was revealed while we were in a state of extreme fear.”
This verse is similar in meaning to His statement: “And remember when you were few and were reckoned weak in the land and were afraid that men might kidnap you, but He provided a safe place for you, and strengthened you with His help and provided you good things so that you might be grateful.”6
His statement: “…as He granted that to those before them.” This verse is similar to what Allaah has said about Musa, that he said to his people: “It may be that your Lord will destroy your enemy and make you succeed (the present rulers) on earth, so that He may see how you act.”7 And Allaah has said: “And We wished to confer a favour upon those who were oppressed in the land; and to make them leaders and to make them heirs; and to establish them on earth…”8
And Allaah’s statement: “And that He will change their state after the fear in which they lived to one of security and peace.” This is similar to what the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) said to Adee ibn Haatim when Adee came as a delegation to the Messenger. The Messenger (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) said: “Do you know Hira?” Adee replied: “I have not seen it but I have heard of it.” The Messenger (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) then said: “By Him in whose Hand is my soul! Allaah will complete this matter (i.e. Islaam) until a women will be able to travel from Hira until she goes around the House (i.e. the Kaa’bah) not needing the protection of anyone. And you will certainly conquer the treasures of Kisra ibn Hurmuz.” I (Adee) replied: “Kisra ibn Hurmuz!” The Prophet (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) replied: “Yes! Kisraa ibn Hurmuz. Money will be spent until no one will accept it.” Adee ibn Haatim said: “Now here is the women leaving from Hira until she goes around the House. And I was among those who conquered the treasures of Kisra. And by Him in whose Hand is my soul! The third matter will come to pass because the Messenger of Allaah(sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) has said so.”
Ahmed reports upon Ubayy ibn Kaab who said that the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) has said: “Give good news to this Ummah of ease of life, exalted stature, establishment of their religion, victory and leadership on earth. Whoever does acts of the Hereafter for this world, he will have no portion of the Hereafter.”9
And Allaah’s statement: “They worship Me alone and do not associate anything with Me.” Ahmed reports upon Mu’aadh who said; “I was sitting behind the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) on a donkey. There was nothing between the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) and I except the end of his saddle. The Prophet (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) said to me: “O Mu’aadh ibn Jabbal!” I said: “Here I am O Messenger of Allaah, at your service.” The Prophet (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) continued to ride on for some time and then he said to me: “O Mu’aadh ibn Jabbal!” I said: “Here I am O Messenger of Allaah, at your service.” The Prophet said: “Do you know the right of Allaah upon His slaves?” I said; “All
