“All will be from Quraysh,” asserted my father.

“All will be from Quraysh,” asserted my father. Muslim records a similar narration in which he states “Then, he said something that I could not conceive,” instead of “Then, he said a word that I could not perceive.” According to a third narration recorded by Muslim, the following form is mentioned: “This religion will be kept in efficacy and power for a period of twelve successors…” Then, he said a word that I could not hear due to the noise of people. I asked my father about it.

“All will be from Quraysh,” asserted my father. Imitated by the majority of reference books of Hadith, al-Bukhari has not referred to even one point indicating that the incident had happened during the sermon of the Farewell Hajj on Mount `Arafat. A number of books, however, have referred to this point.

The following is written down in Ahmad ibn Hanbal’s al-Musnad 5/93, 36 and 99: “Jabir ibn Samarah narrated the following: On Mount `Arafat, the Holy Prophetsermonized…” On page 87, “The Holy Prophet said during the Farewell Hajj…” and on page 99, “al-Muqaddami narrated: During his sermon in Mina, I heard the Holy Prophet (S) …” Later on, we will prove that this remarkable matter had been repeatedly affirmed on Mount `Arafat, Mina and al-Khayf Masjid before it was declared in a formal, obligatory and decisive form in Ghadir Khumm.

What is the story of those Twelve Imams? What for did the Holy Prophet (S) provide their question before the greatest mass of Muslims who listened to their Prophet (S) while he was bidding farewell? Al-Bukhari answers: Those are not Imams to follow the Holy Prophet (S) in leadership obligatorily; rather they are only virtuous princes who will be in this nation at a certain period of time. The Holy Prophet (S) only conveyed his Lord’s future news to his nation.

Indeed, they will be from Quraysh, not only Hashim. They will be from the twenty tribes of Quraysh. None of Ansar, the Arab tribes or the non-Arab people will be among them. This is the whole matter. What for did the Holy Prophet (S) convey this matter to his people during the Farewell Hajj on Mount `Arafat? What was the practical affair ensued from that? Al-Bukhari answers: It is a matter of a prediction only. The Holy Prophet (S) wanted to foretell his people so that they would be cheerful.

It is only “journalistic” news empty of any practical element. Concisely, saving that sole narration, which cannot be perceived, al-Bukhari has not referred to this topic at all.