Adapted from the original article by Shaykh Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Amonpuri حفظه الله
“This matter (of leadership) will not end until twelve caliphs have passed among them.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 7222, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 1821)
Ḥāfiẓ Ibn Kathīr رحمه الله explains:
✦ These twelve righteous caliphs will uphold justice, but not necessarily in succession.
✦ The four Rightly Guided Caliphs, ʿUmar ibn ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz, and some Abbasid caliphs may be included.
✦ Likely among them is Imām Mahdī, who will fill the Earth with justice as it was filled with oppression.
✦ The Shiʿī interpretation of twelve infallible Imams is baseless and contrary to Islamic tradition.
(Tafsīr Ibn Kathīr: 3/65–66, 6/78)
“The first to embrace Islam among the Muhājirīn and the Anṣār and those who follow them with excellence—Allah is pleased with them and they are pleased with Him…”
(Tafsīr Ibn Kathīr: 4/203)
Ibn Kathīr states:
✦ Those who curse or insult the Companions, especially the greatest among them such as Abū Bakr رضي الله عنه, are misguided and deluded.
✦ Ahl al-Sunnah show love for whom Allah loves and enmity for those whom Allah detests.
✦ This is a mark of being among the successful servants of Allah.
“Those who harm believing men and women for things they did not do have committed slander and manifest sin.”
(Tafsīr Ibn Kathīr: 6/480–481)
He explains:
✦ This includes disbelievers and Rāfiḍah (Shiʿīs) who slander the Ṣaḥābah.
✦ They turn truths upside down, defaming the praiseworthy and praising the condemned.
✦ The Ṣaḥābah had sincere intentions, excellent actions, and were visibly righteous.
✦ Both the Tawrah and Injīl praised them as the firm supporters of the Prophet ﷺ.
(Tafsīr Ibn Kathīr: 7/362–363)
✦ Reports of bloody rocks, eclipses, and red skies after Ḥusayn رضي الله عنه’s martyrdom are fabrications.
✦ Similar events didn’t occur for the martyrdom of ʿUmar, ʿUthmān, or even the Prophet ﷺ himself.
(Tafsīr Ibn Kathīr: 7/255)
✦ Laylat al-Qadr continues every year until the Day of Judgement.
✦ The claim that it has ceased is incorrect and based on misunderstanding a specific hadith.
(Tafsīr Ibn Kathīr: 8/446)
✦ Masḥ over socks is established through mutawātir (mass-transmitted) narrations.
✦ Shīʿī rejection of this practice lacks evidence and contradicts established Sunnah.
(Tafsīr Ibn Kathīr: 3/58–59)
✦ Each foot has two ankles, contrary to the Shīʿī claim.
(Tafsīr Ibn Kathīr: 3/58–59)
✔ Rejects Shiʿī interpretations of the Imams and fabrications
✔ Defends the honor and virtues of the Ṣaḥābah
✔ Affirms Sunni practices in jurisprudence and ʿaqīdah
✔ Upholds the belief in Imām Mahdī, distinct from the Shīʿī concept
✔ Emphasizes Laylat al-Qadr, masḥ on socks, and proper wudu according to authentic Sunnah
❖ The Hadith of Jābir ibn Samurah رضي الله عنهما on Twelve Caliphs
The Prophet ﷺ said:“This matter (of leadership) will not end until twelve caliphs have passed among them.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 7222, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 1821)
Ḥāfiẓ Ibn Kathīr رحمه الله explains:
✦ These twelve righteous caliphs will uphold justice, but not necessarily in succession.
✦ The four Rightly Guided Caliphs, ʿUmar ibn ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz, and some Abbasid caliphs may be included.
✦ Likely among them is Imām Mahdī, who will fill the Earth with justice as it was filled with oppression.
✦ The Shiʿī interpretation of twelve infallible Imams is baseless and contrary to Islamic tradition.
(Tafsīr Ibn Kathīr: 3/65–66, 6/78)
❖ The Praiseworthy Status of the Ṣaḥābah
Surah al-Tawbah, Verse 100:“The first to embrace Islam among the Muhājirīn and the Anṣār and those who follow them with excellence—Allah is pleased with them and they are pleased with Him…”
(Tafsīr Ibn Kathīr: 4/203)
Ibn Kathīr states:
✦ Those who curse or insult the Companions, especially the greatest among them such as Abū Bakr رضي الله عنه, are misguided and deluded.
✦ Ahl al-Sunnah show love for whom Allah loves and enmity for those whom Allah detests.
✦ This is a mark of being among the successful servants of Allah.
❖ Condemnation of Slandering Believers
Surah al-Aḥzāb, Verse 58:“Those who harm believing men and women for things they did not do have committed slander and manifest sin.”
(Tafsīr Ibn Kathīr: 6/480–481)
He explains:
✦ This includes disbelievers and Rāfiḍah (Shiʿīs) who slander the Ṣaḥābah.
✦ They turn truths upside down, defaming the praiseworthy and praising the condemned.
❖ The Noble Character of the Ṣaḥābah
Ibn Kathīr writes:✦ The Ṣaḥābah had sincere intentions, excellent actions, and were visibly righteous.
✦ Both the Tawrah and Injīl praised them as the firm supporters of the Prophet ﷺ.
(Tafsīr Ibn Kathīr: 7/362–363)
❖ Rejection of Fabricated Shīʿī Narratives
On Karbalāʾ, Ibn Kathīr says:✦ Reports of bloody rocks, eclipses, and red skies after Ḥusayn رضي الله عنه’s martyrdom are fabrications.
✦ Similar events didn’t occur for the martyrdom of ʿUmar, ʿUthmān, or even the Prophet ﷺ himself.
(Tafsīr Ibn Kathīr: 7/255)
❖ Reality of Laylat al-Qadr
He states:✦ Laylat al-Qadr continues every year until the Day of Judgement.
✦ The claim that it has ceased is incorrect and based on misunderstanding a specific hadith.
(Tafsīr Ibn Kathīr: 8/446)
❖ Masḥ ʿAlā al-Khuffayn (Wiping Over Socks) & Sunni Wudu Practices
Ibn Kathīr confirms:✦ Masḥ over socks is established through mutawātir (mass-transmitted) narrations.
✦ Shīʿī rejection of this practice lacks evidence and contradicts established Sunnah.
(Tafsīr Ibn Kathīr: 3/58–59)
❖ The Issue of Ankle Washing in Wudu
✦ Sunni consensus holds that the ankles (kaʿbayn) are the two prominent bones at the junction of the shin and foot.✦ Each foot has two ankles, contrary to the Shīʿī claim.
(Tafsīr Ibn Kathīr: 3/58–59)
❖ Summary
Ḥāfiẓ Ibn Kathīr رحمه الله, a towering scholar of Ahl al-Sunnah, clearly:✔ Rejects Shiʿī interpretations of the Imams and fabrications
✔ Defends the honor and virtues of the Ṣaḥābah
✔ Affirms Sunni practices in jurisprudence and ʿaqīdah
✔ Upholds the belief in Imām Mahdī, distinct from the Shīʿī concept
✔ Emphasizes Laylat al-Qadr, masḥ on socks, and proper wudu according to authentic Sunnah
