Mishkat al-Masabih #3519
The Offices of Commander and Qadi
The Arabic includes the chain of narration (sanad) and the collector's commentary; the English translation shows the Prophet's words only.
وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: «كَانَتْ بَنُو إِسْرَائِيلَ تَسُوسُهُمُ الْأَنْبِيَاءُ كُلَّمَا هَلَكَ نَبِيُّ خَلَفَهُ نبيٌّ وإِنَّه لَا نبيَّ بعدِي وسيكون حلفاء فَيَكْثُرُونَ» قَالُوا: فَمَا تَأْمُرُنَا؟ قَالَ: «فُوا بَيْعَةَ الْأَوَّلِ فَالْأَوَّلِ أَعْطُوهُمْ حَقَّهُمْ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ سَائِلُهُمْ عَمَّا استرعاهم»
Abu Huraira reported the Prophet as saying, “The B. Isra’il were governed by the prophets, as often as one died another taking his place. There will be no prophet after me, but there will be numerous caliphs.” He was asked what command he had to give and replied, “Fulfil the oath of allegiance to each and give them their due for God will question them about what He asked them to guard.”
(Bukhari and Muslim.)
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About Mishkat al-Masabih
This hadith is #3519 from Mishkat al-Masabih, in the Book of The Offices of Commander and Qadi.