<P> Hadhrat Huzaifa narrated that the Messenger of Allah said: Prophethood will remain among you as long as Allah wills . Then Caliphate (Khilafah) on the lines of Prophethood shall commence, and remain as long as Allah wills . Then corrupt / erosive monarchy would take place, and it will remain as long as Allah wills . After that, despotic kingship would emerge, and it will remain as long as Allah wills . Then, the Caliphate (Khilafah) shall come once again based on the precept of Prophethood . </P> <P> In the above, the first era of Caliphate is commonly accepted by Muslims to be that of the Rashidun Caliphate . </P> <P> Nafi'a reported saying: </P> <P> It has been reported on the authority of Nafi, that' Abdullah b . Umar paid a visit to Abdullah b . Muti' in the days (when atrocities were perpetrated on the People Of Medina) at Harra in the time of Yazid b . Mu'awiya . Ibn Muti' said: Place a pillow for Abu' Abd al - Rahman (family name of' Abdullah b .' Umar). But the latter said: I have not come to sit with you . I have come to you to tell you a tradition I heard from the Messenger of Allah . I heard him say: One who withdraws his band from obedience (to the Amir) will find no argument (in his defence) when he stands before Allah on the Day of Judgment, and one who dies without having bound himself by an oath of allegiance (to an Amir) will die the death of one belonging to the days of Jahiliyyah .--Sahih Muslim, Book 020, Hadith 4562 . </P>

For the most part the period of arab empire was