The Prophet (S) predicted a period of successorship, then a trying kingship, and a tyrannical kingship, and then a successorship based on the pattern of Prophethood (in that order).
Islam experienced these ruling systems as:
The Khalipha Rashidun
The Umayyads,
The Abbassids,
The Ottomans – The return of the successors
Hadith:
There shall be Prophethood (nubuwwa) among you for as long as Allah wishes it to be among you. Then it shall be lifted up when Allah wishes to lift it up. Then there shall be successorship (khilâfa) on the pattern (minhâj) of Prophetship for as long as Allah wishes it to be. Then it shall be lifted up when Allah wishes to lift it up. Then there shall be a trying kingship (mulkan `âddan) for as long as Allah wishes it to be. Then it shall be lifted up when Allah wishes to lift it up. Then there shall be a tyrannical kingship (mulkan jabriyyatan) for as long as Allah wishes it to be. Then it shall be lifted up when Allah wishes to lift it up. Then there shall be successorship on the pattern of Prophetship.
Narrated from Hudhayfa by Ahmad with a sound chain as stated by al-Zayn in the Musnad (14:163 #18319) and as indicated by al-Haythami (5:188-189):
” Narrated by Ahmad, al-Bazzar with a more complete wording, and al-Tabarani partly, in al-Awsat. The narrators in its chain are trustworthy. Also narrated from Abu `Ubayda by al-Tabarani in al-Kabir (1:157) with the wording
” Then there shall be kingship and tyranny after the mention of successorship.
-from livingislam.org
