Abd al-Malik al-Maymuni informed me, saying: Ibn Hanbal narrated to us, saying: Muhammad ibn Ja'far narrated to us, saying: Shu'bah narrated to us, from Habib ibn al-Zubayr, who said: I heard Abd Allah ibn Abi al-Hudhayl say: 'Amr ibn al-'As used to visit us periodically (yatahawwaluna). Then a man from Banu Bakr ibn Wa'il said: "If the Quraysh do not desist, they will certainly place this authority in a large group of the Arab tribes other than them." So 'Amr ibn al-'As said: "I heard the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, say: 'Quraysh are the guardians (wulat) of the people, in both good and evil, until the Day of Resurrection.'"
