LOYALTY TO THE CALIPH H 661 "Authority among the Children of Israel was exercised by prophets. When a prophet, died he was succeeded by another prophet. I will not be succeeded by a prophet, but there will be caliphs after me, a large number of them. He was asked, 'O Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, then what do you command us?' He said, 'Be loyal to them according to your allegiance in succession, and render to them that which is due to them, and ask Allah for that which is due to you. Allah will take them to account in respect of that which is committed to them.'" R 661 Bukhari and Muslim with a chain up to Abu Hurairah who related that the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, said this.
655- وعن أَبي هريرة رضي الله عنه ، قَالَ : قَالَ رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم : "كَانَتْ بَنُو إسرَائِيلَ تَسُوسُهُم الأَنبِيَاء ، كُلَّمَا هَلَكَ نَبِيٌّ خَلَفَهُ نَبيٌّ ، وَإنَّهُ لاَ نَبِيَّ بَعْدِي ، وَسَيكُونُ بَعْدِي خُلفَاءُ فَيَكثرُونَ" ، قالوا : يَا رسول الله ، فَمَا تَأْمُرُنَا ؟ قَالَ : "أَوْفُوا بِبَيْعَةِ الأَوَّل فَالأَوَّل ، ثُمَّ أعْطُوهُمْ حَقَّهُمْ ، وَاسْأَلُوا الله الَّذِي لَكُمْ ، فَإنَّ اللهَ سَائِلُهُمْ عَمَّا اسْتَرْعَاهُمْ" متفقٌ عليه .