However, consecutiveness and succession is not stipulated.

However, consecutiveness and succession is not stipulated.....Accordingly, in the Prophets sentence «After that there will. be anarchy» he means the resurrection and the revolts and confusion proceeding it like the exist of the "Islamic antichrist" (Dojal).

The twelve Caliphs mentioned here are: the first four Caliphs, and Hassan and Muavieh, Abdullah ibn Zobair 135 and Uman ibn Abdul Aziz (who are eighty altogether), Mahdi Abbasi (127-169 A.H) may also possible be added to them because he was among the Abbassids the same as Umar Ibn Abdul Aziz was among the Ummayads. Zaher may also be included because of his righteousness. As a result, two remain of which one is Mahdi (Mau'ood-e- Akher-az-Zaman) The Promised One who is of Ahlu'lbait.

136 It has also been said: "The Prophets intention in this Hadith is that there will be twelve Caliphs in the era of the Caliphates glory and power, and Islams greatest strength and order of affairs.

According to this, the Caliphs spoken of by the Prophet are those who ruled in eras when Islam was highly esteemed and upon whom all of the Muslims agreed." 137 Bayhaghi the famous Sunnite traditionalsit and legislator after an explanation on this opinion says that: This amount, of those possessing the above mentioned characteristics, concluded with Valid ibn Yazid ibn Abdul Malik, and afterwards there was anarchy and large revolts. After that the Abbassids came to power.

Of course if we set aside the aforementioned characteristics we will have more than twelve, and the same is true if we count the Caliphs after the revolts. 138 As a further explanation of this, they have said: "Among those who were unanimously agreed upon in the Caliphate we first of all have the first three Caliphs and afterwards there is Ali until the matter of leadership came up in the battle of "Siffeen".

On this day Muavieh gave himself the title of Caliph (and unanimous agreement concerning Ali's Caliphate was abolished). (This situation remained the same from then on). After Imam Hassan's peace treaty everyone agreed on Muaviehs' caliphate and after him his son Yazid saw no opposition. The matter of Imam Hussain and his Caliphate did not achieve agreements and he was killed as a result.

Again, after Yazids' death there was dispute untill the time of Abdul Malik Ibn Marwan's Caliphate which had unanimous agreement. Of course we know that this occured after the killing of Abdullah ibn Zobair (73 A.H).