Virtues and Merits of the Prophet (pbuh) and his Companions

Sahih al-Bukhari - Hadith 3501

Hadith Text

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Authority of ruling will remain with Quraish, even if only two of them remained."

Scholarly Commentary

This noble hadith establishes that leadership of the Muslim Ummah rightfully belongs to the Quraish tribe. This is not due to racial superiority but because Allah chose them to bear the final prophethood and made them the custodians of His final revelation.

The condition "even if only two of them remained" emphasizes the permanence of this divine decree. It indicates that as long as qualified individuals from Quraish exist who meet the conditions of leadership—justice, knowledge, capability, and integrity—they have priority in assuming the caliphate.

This ruling applies specifically to the supreme leadership (Khilafah) of the entire Muslim nation, not to regional governorships or judicial positions where merit and capability are the primary considerations regardless of tribe.

The wisdom behind this divine selection includes maintaining unity, honoring the tribe of the final Messenger, and preserving the connection to the prophetic legacy. This ruling remained in effect throughout the era of the Rightly Guided Caliphs and subsequent Islamic dynasties.