Khilafah (Caliphate): Difference between revisions

The '''Caliph''' (خليفة‎; khalīfah) is the head of state in a Caliphate, and the title for the leader of the [[Islamic|Islamic]] [[Ummah]] (body of Muslim believers) who serves as the successor to [[Muhammad]], the founder of [[Islam]], in all matters of political and religious decision making. The word of the caliph is, however, only legally and not theologically binding upon members of the Muslim ummah who consider him legitimate.  

According to the [[hadiths]], the people of [[Medina]] got together to collectively ascertain a leader to take Muhammad's place shortly after [[Muhammad's Death|Muhammad's death]]. Abu Bakr and Umar, however, decided that this council-based appointment would lead to infighting, and thus Abu Bakr suggested either Umar or Abu Ubaidah ibn al-Jarrah be made leader. When the Medinans refused to make a choice between these two, Umar declared his allegiance to Abu Bakr as caliph. The Medinans present, it is said, then followed suit.

It is also reported that upon Abu Bakr's designation as caliph, [[Ali]] refused to accept Abu Bakr as the caliph, presumably preferring that he himself, as son-in-law and cousin of Muhammad, be appointed caliph instead. Ultimately, Umar confronted Ali, perhaps physically, and extracted his allegiance.

According to Islamic theology, the first four successors of Prophet [[Muhammad]] were the "Rightly-Guided Caliphs" (Khulafaa-e-Rashidun). They were all [[Sahabah]]s (companions or apostles) who were extremely close to Muhammad, and are therefore considered by Muslims to be model Islamic leaders who ruled in accord with the [[Qur'an]] and [[Sunnah]].<ref>[http://www.sunniessentials.net/islam/introduction/Personalities_Caliphs.pdf The Four Rightly-Guided Caliphs of Islam] - Sunni Essentials, accessed October 2, 2010</ref> The first four Caliphs were; Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman, and [[Ali]].

During the Rashidun caliphate, the Islamic empire grew from comprising just the Arabian peninsula during Muhammad's life, to comprising modern day Iran, part of modern day Turkey and the Caucasus, as well as well as lower Egypt and the northern part of modern day Libya.

The Islamic empire saw great expansion under the dynastic rule of the Umayyad caliphate founded by Ali's opponent and successor, Mu'awiyya. Under the Umayyads, the Islamic empire grew to comprise modern day Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Morocco, and Spain, becoming the largest empire in history until the 8th century, and the 6th largest empire in all of history.

The Umayyad rulers did not enjoy universal support among the Muslim ummah, as they gained their thrones through birth rather than appointment. This led to multiple rebellions against Umayyad rule, some of which resulted in the solidification of the Shia-Sunni split. As the number of people pushing for a caliph from the family of the prophet grew, however, the Umayyad Dynasty would succumb to the Abbasids (descendants of Muhammad's uncle Abd al-Muttalib), scattering their efforts.

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