Brother Please send me the link of this specific Hadith.
It was narrated by Ahmed in his Musnad, from Al-Nu’man b. Bashir, who said: “We were sitting in the mosque of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), and Bashir was a man who did not speak much, so Abu Tha’labah Al-Khashnee came and said: ‘Oh, Bashir bin Sa’ad, have you memorized the words of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) regarding the rulers?’ Huthayfah replied, ‘I have memorized his words’. So Abu Tha’labah sat down and Huthayfah said, ‘The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said ‘Prophet-hood will be amongst you as long as Allah wishes, then He will lift it up when He wishes to lift it up. Then there will be a Khilafah on the way of the Prophet, and it will be as long as Allah wishes it to be, then Allah will lift it up when He wishes to lift it up. Then there will be Biting Rule, and it will last as long as Allah wishes it to, then Allah will lift it up if when He wishes to lift it up. Then there will be a Oppressive Rule, and it will last as long as Allah wishes it to be, then Allah will lift it up when He wishes to lift it up. Then there will be a Khilafah on the way of Prophet-hood.’ Then He (ﷺ) was silent.”
Reference: Masnad Imam Ahmed bin Hanbal (Hadith # 18430) , As-Saheeha al-Albani (Hadith # 5). It has been declared Hasan by Sh’uaib Arnaoot, and al-Albani classified it as Sahih. The text quoted is the one from Masnad Imam Ahmed.
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Once again I believe it is in the form of Muslim NATO (military) and MUSLIM EU (economic). Khalifah like what in the simple mind of ISIS follower will only bring destruction to Muslim nations since according to them (and also Hizbutahir at some extend) Muslim must be under one supreme leader just like in the old days and it means waging war to Muslim nations.
In my opinion, If there is a leader (Khalifa) among Muslim nations so it will be like how US President act as a leader in NATO. So to create unity among Muslims should be to improve cooperation among Muslim nations, and not to eliminate Nation states. I still remember how Obama really become a leader within western world and people from western countries will flock to hear his speech.
This hadith IMO also show that democracy is the future government for Muslim. Any way Khalifah during 4 just Khalifah is very close to democracy system although still quite simple in nature.