the Khilafat as an islamic political system

Allah says in Quran:

It is He(Allah) Who has sent His Rasool (Prophet Muhammad-S.A.W) with the guidance(Quran) and the true Deen (islam), in order to make it prevail over all other  Deens (religions, system of life); and Allah is sufficient as a Witness.[ Sura Fath 48: Ayut 28]

 “O Allah! Owner Of The Kingdom - You give the kingdom on whomever You will, and You take back the kingdom from whomever You will; and You give honour to whomever You will, and You humiliate whomever You will; only in Your hand lies all goodness; indeed, You are Able to do all things.”[Quran Sura A/I`mran 3: Ayut 26]

The literal meanings of the word Khilafat are of vicegerancy and succession. Khilafat establishes the authority of Allah on earth, and the Khalifa strives to uphold that authority within Muslim community.

Allah orders in Quran

Indeed, Allah commands you to render trusts(positions) to whom they are due(Ehl-competent and honest) and when you judge between people to judge with justice. Excellent is that which Allah instructs you. Indeed, Allah is ever Hearing and Seeing.(Sura An-Nisa ayut 58)

The Islamic Caliphate was a conception of a state and political system that recognized Allah’s Sovereignty, Supreme Authority and Law, and enforced Haram (i.e., that which is divinely prohibited) as Haram and Halal (i.e., that which is divinely permitted) as Halal. The Caliphate emerged as a consequence of the divine imperative demanding obedience of Allah, His Messenger (sallalahu ‘alaihi wa sallam), and ‘those in authority amongst the Muslims’.

“Oh you who believe, obey Allah, and obey the Messenger, and (obey) those from amongst yourselves who are in (positions of) authority. . . “ (Qur’an, al-Nisa, 4:59)

The subject of Khilafat is mentioned very comprehensively in Ayat e Istikhlaf (The verse of Khilafat) in Sura Al-Nur of the Holy Qur’an

Allah has promised to those among you (i.e. the followers of Prophet Muhammad^(saw)) who believe and do good works that He will surely make them Successors in the earth, as He made Successors from among those who were before them; and that He will surely establish for them their deen (islam) which He has chosen for them; and that He will surely give them in exchange security and peace after their fear: They will worship Me, and they will not associate anything with Me. Then whoso is ungrateful after that, they will be the rebellious. (Sura.24:Ayu:56)

This verse contains most exquisite subject matters. In it Allah the Exalted has made a definite promise for the establishment of Khilafat for the community of believers and has made it conditional to belief and good works. Two grand blessings of Khilafat are cited; firm establishment of religion and the transformation of a state of fear into a state of peace. It is also mentioned that the lofty objectives and the sweet fruits of Khilafat are also two-fold; true establishment of worship of Allah and the Unity of God.

Khilafat-e-Rashida (Rightly Guided Cailph)

Allah says in Quran:

These are the people who, if We establish them in the land, will establish Salah(remain constant in regular prayer) and pay Zakah(poor due-regular charity), order what is Maroof(right) and forbid what is Munkir(wrong); the final decision of all affairs is in the hands of Allah.( Sura Al-Hujj Ayut # 41)

It is interesting and inspiring to note that the first era of Khilafat-e-Rashida has several unique points of distinction. For example, it is a period closely connected with the blessed period of the Holy Prophet^(saw). It started just after his sad demise and as such, it was the very first practical manifestation of the promise given in the Holy Qur’an.(Sura.24:Ayut.56) It is a period about which the Holy Prophet^(saw) made a precise prediction, even indicating the exact duration of it. Moreover, its name is derived from the wording of Khulafa-e-Rashideen used by the Holy Prophet^(saw), obedience to whom was strongly stressed by him, mentioning it along with his own traditions. Another distinction of this period is that all four Khalifas, who had this honour of being chosen as successors, were not only prominent companions of the Holy Prophet^(saw) but also from among those who were given the glad tidings of paradise during their lifetime. Moreover, all four were closely related to the Holy Prophet^(saw). The first two were his fathers in law while the later two were his sons in law. At least three out of four Khalifas also have the honour of being mentioned as his successors by the Holy Prophet^(saw)himself.

The Khilafat-e-Rashida was indeed a golden period of the history of Islam. The teachings of Islam were faithfully followed and put into practice. The Khalifas through their unstinting loyalty to Islamic values, their personal nobility of character and exemplary adherence to the teachings and practices of the Holy Prophet^(saw), served as role models for all. During this period the whole world was able to witness that all the blessings promised in the Holy Qur’an were thoroughly enjoyed by the Muslims. During this blessed era Islam’s glory was established not only in Arabia but also in other parts of the world.

It was an age of advancement and climax of Islam that even the colossal opponents were powerless to contend with. Such was the state of the grandeur of Islam and the awe of the Muslims that the great empires of kings and emperors would tremble at their name and would bow down to them. The truth is that during this golden era of the Rightly Guided Khilafat, Islam attained such glory and eminence that even today, when an impartial historian casts his eyes on this era, he is amazed. He fails to understand as to how the inhabitants of the desert of Arabia became the conquerors of the world. He does not realise that it was all the fruits of Khilafat-e-Rashida; that Rightly Guided Khilafat with which the destiny of the triumph of Islam was linked.

The Hadith:

There is a very prophetic and explicit saying of the Holy Prophet^(saw) narrated by Hadhrat Hudhaifa, recorded in Musnad Ahmad. It reads:

‘Prophethood shall remain amongst you for as long as Allah wills. He will then cause it to end. Then a Khilafat will be established in the precepts of Prophethood which will last for as long as Allah wills. He will then cause it to end. Oppressive kinghood will follow [which will inflict great pain and misery on its subjects]. Its rule will last for as long as Allah wills. He will then cause it to end. After this, tyrannical monarchies will follow. Their rule will last for as long as Allah wills. Allah will then cause it to end. Khilafat will then be re-established in the precepts of Prophethood. Thereafter, the Holy Prophet^(saw) became silent [and added no more comments].’

(Musnad Ahmad, Mishkatul Masabih, kitabur-riqaaq, baabul-indhar wat-tahdheer, p.1479, Hadith 5379)

This profound Hadith clearly states that after giving the glad tiding of the re-establishment of Khilafat in the latter days, the Holy Prophet^(saw) did not specify any time limit for it nor did he add any other comment. This is a clear indication of the continuity of this Khilafat without any break or gap in it. This whole discussion makes it clear that the Khilafat, promised in the Holy Qur’an, is basically a permanent blessing but it was made conditional to the right belief and good deeds. At the end of the first era of Khilafat, because of the degeneration and due to the absence of the required conditions, this blessing was, in a way, withdrawn from those people. But the history of Islam continued precisely in the same order as mentioned in the tradition of the Holy Prophet^(saw) quoted above. Oppressive governments came and went; dynastic monarchies and Muslim empires were established and faded away.

In the Hadith narrated by Hadhrat Hudhaifa (Allah be pleased with him), the Holy Prophet^(saw) referring to the Khilafat to be established following his demise named it asKhilafat-e-Rashida and also described the same as ‘ala minhaaj-in-nubuwwah(permanence). Now it is very important that in the same Hadith, while mentioning the re-establishment of Khilafat after a long interval, the Holy Prophet^(saw) spoke for the second time exactly the same wording of ‘khilafat ala minhaaj-in-nubuwwah(Khilafat in the precepts of Prophethood)

It is time for us to submit most sincerely to Allah and work for the cause of Khilafat. May Allah make us among those who are working to achieve this great cause of Khilafat. Aamin