12-8 The following has been narrated by Abul-Qasim At’tab ibn Muhammad al-Varaminy al-Hafiz who narrated that Yahya ibn Muhammad ibn Sa’ed quoted Ahmad ibn Abdul Rahman ibn al-Fazl and Muhammad ibn Ubaydullah ibn Savar, on the authority of Abdul Qaf’far ibn al-Hikam, on the authority of Mansoor ibn Abil Aswad, on the authority of Motrif, on the authority of Al-Sha’abi. The same has been narrated by At’tab ibn Muhammad, on the authority of Ishaq ibn Muhammad al-Anmati, on the authority of Yusuf ibn Musa, on the authority of Jarir, on the authority of Ash’as ibn Savar, on the authority of Al-Sha’abi. The same has been narrated by At’tab ibn Muhammad and al-Hussein ibn Muhammad al-Harani on the authority of Ayoob ibn Muhammad al-Vazan, on the authority of Sa’id ibn Moslemat, on the authority of Ash’as ibn Savar, on the authority of Al-Sha’abi. All of the above narrated on the authority of Al-Sha’abi’s uncle - Qays ibn Abd. Abul Qasim At’tab narrated that Motrif said, “We were sitting in the mosque and Abdullah ibn Masood was sitting there with us. A Bedouin (Arab) came in and asked, ‘Is Abdullah ibn Masood with you?’ Abdullah replied, ‘Yes, I am Abdullah ibn Masood. What do you want?’ The man asked, ‘O Abdullah! Has your Prophet (MGB) advised you as to how many Caliphs there will be after him?’ Abdullah ibn Masood said, ‘Yes. You have asked me a question which no one has ever asked me since I came to Iraq. The Prophet (MGB) has said that there will be twelve Divine Leaders after him - just as many as the chiefs of Israel.’” In another version we read, ‘Yes, as many as the chiefs of Israel.’”