The Islamic Caliphate

The word Khilafah خلیفہ (Caliphate), came from the Arabic root word, 'Khalifah,' which means “Successor” i.e. someone who succeeds another person It also means: vicegerent, deputy , trustee.

Khalifatullah Allah Almighty made Adam (علیہ السلام) His vicegerent on earth۔ We read in the Holy Qur'an: وَاِذْ قَالَ رَبُّكَ لِلْمَلٰۗىِٕكَةِ اِنِّىْ جَاعِلٌ فِى الْاَرْضِ خَلِيْفَةً ۭ Behold! when your Lord said to the angels, "I will create a vicegerent on the earth." (2:30)

Traditionally been considered a shortening of either the term Khaliatu-Allah (“Successor of Allah”) or Khalifat-ur-Rasul (“Successor of Messenger of Allah Ta’ala”)

Definition of Khalifah/Khilafat 'Khalifah' or vicegerent is one who exercises the authority delegated to him by his principal, and does so in the capacity of his deputy and agent.

Hence, whatever authority he possesses is not inherently his own, but is derived from, and circumscribed by, the limits set by his principal. A vicegerent is not entitled to do what he pleases, but is obliged to carry out the will of his master.

To govern a state by “Sharia’ah” is to rule through the Caliphate keeping in view the directions of Quran as under: وَاَنِ احْكُمْ بَيْنَهُمْ بِمَآ اَنْزَلَ اللّٰهُ وَلَا تَتَّبِعْ اَهْوَاۗءَهُمْ وَاحْذَرْهُمْ اَنْ يَّفْتِنُوْكَ عَنْۢ بَعْضِ مَآ اَنْزَلَ اللّٰهُ اِلَيْكَ ۭ فَاِنْ تَوَلَّوْا فَاعْلَمْ اَنَّمَا يُرِيْدُ اللّٰهُ اَنْ يُّصِيْبَهُمْ بِبَعْضِ ذُنُوْبِهِمْ ۭ وَاِنَّ كَثِيْرًا مِّنَ النَّاسِ لَفٰسِقُوْنَ(سورۃ المائدۃ۔49) پس اے نبی ﷺ ، تم اللہ کے نازل کردہ قانون کے مطابق اِن لوگوں کے معاملات کا فیصلہ کرو ان کی خواہشات کی پیروی نہ کرو۔ ہوشیار رہو کہ یہ لوگ تم کو فتنہ میں ڈال کر اُس ہدایت سے ذرہ برابر منحرف نہ کرنے پائیں جو خدا نے تمہاری طرف نازل کی ہے ۔ پھر اگر یہ اس سے منہ موڑیں تو جان لو کہ اللہ نے ان کے بعض گناہوں کی پاداش میں ان کو مبتلائے مصیبت کرنے کا ارادہ ہی کرلیا ہے ،اور یہ حقیقت ہے کہ اِن لوگوں میں سے اکثر فاسق ہیں۔(49)

Therefore, judge bet-ween them (O Muhammad Therefore, judge bet-ween them (O Muhammad!) by what Allah has revealed and do not follow their desires, and beware lest they tempt you away from anything of what Allah has revealed to you. And if they turn away, then know well that Allah has indeed decided to afflict them for some of their sins. For surely many of them are transgressors.

History of Khilafah The first four caliphs are known to Islamic history as the “rightly guided caliphs”. They were all closely related to Muhammad(ﷺ), and were known for their personal qualities of leadership, and of Muslim piety.

During their reigns, despite the challenges and instability that they had to deal with, the Caliphate grew from being a purely Arabian power into the largest empire up to that point in world history, covering territory from Egypt in the west to Persia in the east.

The role models to Muslims after Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) are his four immediate rightly-guided companions (خلفائے راشدین).

The Prophet (ﷺ) mentioned that it was imperative for any caliph after him to emulate him in the way he implemented the Islamic Law as well as ruling Muslims.

All Muslims are unanimous in their recognition that those four rightly-guided caliphs are the best human-beings after prophets and messengers.

They set a good example in leadership, adherence to the tenets of Islam, humbleness۔

The first four rightly-guided companions of Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) emulated him in the following aspects as well as others with regard to leadership:

Expansion of Islamic territory by The Rightly Guided Caliphs: Abu Bakr (RA) Abu Bakr (رضی اللہ عنہ), the first caliph, lives no more than two years after the death of Muhammad. Even so, within this brief time Muslim armies have begun their astonishing expansion, subduing the whole of Arabia and striking as far north as Palestine. 

Abu Baker was faced with many oppositions, the most stubborn of which was rebellion in Yamama and peoples' recantation of faith. اسود عنسی، مسیلمہ، طلیحہ اسدی

Expansion of Islamic territory by The Rightly Guided Caliphs: Omar (RA) Abu Bakr (رضی اللہ عنہ) is succeeded in 634 by Omar (رضی اللہ عنہ) (another father-in-law of Muhammad), who in 638 captures Jerusalem. Six years later Omar is stabbed and killed in the mosque at Medina - for personal reasons,  

it seems, by a Persian craftsman living in Kufa.  Omar (RA) was the best Conqueror and the best administrator of State. Majlis ash-Shura (the consultative body)

Six years later Omar is stabbed and killed in the mosque at Medina - for personal reasons, it seems, by a Persian craftsman living in Kufa. 

Omar (RA) was the best Conqueror and the best administrator of State. Majlis ash-Shura (the consultative body)

Expansion of Islamic territory by The Rightly Guided Caliphs: Othman (RA) Othman (رضی اللہ عنہ), chosen as the third caliph, is a son-in-law of Muhammad. By the end of his reign, in 656, Arabs have conquered as far afield as north Africa, Turkey and Afghanistan.  Hazrat Usman was called جامع القرآن compiler of Quran He united all the whole Muslim world on one Qirat that was in accent of Quresh.  

Expansion of Islamic territory by The Rightly Guided Caliphs: Ali (RA) Othman (رضی اللہ عنہ), like his predecessor, is assassinated - but this time by rebellious Muslims. They choose Ali (رضی اللہ عنہ), another son-in-law of Muhammad, as the fourth caliph.  

Characteristics of Khilafat-e-Rashida

Democracy In Western democracy the people are sovereign, in Islam sovereignty is vested in Allah and the people are His caliphs or representatives. In the former the people make their own laws; in the latter they have to follow and obey the laws (Shari‘ah) given by Allah through His Prophet. In one the Government undertakes to fulfil the will of the people;

in the other Government and the people alike have to do the will of Allah. Western democracy is a kind of absolute authority which exercises its powers in a free and uncontrolled manner, whereas Islamic democracy is subservient to the Divine Law and exercises its authority in accordance with the injunctions of Allah and within the limits prescribed by Him

Fundamental Rights Although an Islamic state may be set up anywhere on earth, Islam does not seek to restrict human rights or privileges to the geographical limits of its own state. Islam has laid down universal fundamental rights for humanity as a whole, which are to be observed and respected in all circumstances irrespective of whether a person lives on the territory of the Islamic state or outside it and whether he is at peace with the state or at war.

For example, human blood is sacred and may not be spilled without justification; it is not permissible to oppress women, children, old people, the sick or the wounded; woman’s honour and chastity must be respected in all circumstances; and the hungry must be fed, the naked clothed, and the wounded or diseased treated medically.

Executive and Legislature The responsibility for the administration of the Government in an Islamic state is entrusted to an Amir (leader) who may be likened to the President or the Prime Minister in a Western democratic state. All adult men and women who accept the fundamentals of the constitution are entitled to vote in the election for the leader.

The basic qualifications for the election of an Amir are that he should command the confidence of the largest number of people in respect of his knowledge and grasp of the spirit of Islam; he should possess the Islamic attribute of fear of Allah; he should be endowed with the quality of statesmanship. In short, he should be both able and virtuous.

A Shura (consultative council) A Shura (consultative council), elected by the people, will assist and guide the Amir. It is obligatory for the Amir to administer the country with the advice of his Shura. The Amir can retain office only so long as he enjoys the confidence of the people, and must resign when he loses this confidence. Every citizen has the right to criticise the Amir and his Government, and all responsible means for the expression of public opinion should be available.

Legislation in an Islamic State Legislation in an Islamic state should be within the limits prescribed by the Shari‘ah. The injunctions of Allah and His Prophet are to be accepted and obeyed and no legislative body can alter or modify them or make any new laws which are contrary to their spirit.

Judiciary in Islam In Islam the judiciary is not placed under the control of the executive. It derives its authority directly from the Shari‘ah and is answerable to Allah. The judges will obviously be appointed by the Government but, once appointed, will have to administer justice impartially according to the law of Allah.

Welfare State The Islamic state is an ideological state; hence it can be run only by the people who believe in its ideology. However, a people who do not believe in its ideology but are willing to live in its boundary and accept its laws, will be entitled to all the civic rights which the believers enjoy.

Ideal State The Islamic state will provide equality to all its citizens regardless of their color, race language and their regional identity. Anybody wherever he/she lives is entitled to its citizenship if he/ she believes in its ideology and abides by its laws and principles.

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