What is khilafah in Islam?

The word Khilafah comes from Khalafa which means successor. In the context of Islamic political thought, Khilafah is a term referring to the model of government built by the four Caliphs after the Prophet passed away, namely Abu Bakr, Umar ibn al-Khattab, Uthman ibn Affan, and Ali bin AbiTalib.

What is the Islamic State group in Syria?

ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria), also known as ISIL (Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant), is a Sunni jihadist group with a particularly violent ideology that calls itself a caliphate and claims religious authority over all Muslims. It was inspired by al Qaida but later publicly expelled from it.

How many Islamic caliphates were there?

During the medieval period, three major caliphates succeeded each other: the Rashidun Caliphate (632–661), the Umayyad Caliphate (661–750), and the Abbasid Caliphate (750–1517).

Who were caliphs?

A caliph is a religious leader in Islam, believed to be the successor to the Prophet Muhammad. The caliph is the head of the “ummah,” or the community of the faithful. Over time, the caliphate became a religiopolitical position, in which the caliph ruled over the Muslim empire.

What is the importance of the Khilafah in Islam?

The centrality of the Khilafah in the Religion of Islam and among all of the Muslims has an importance that cannot be negated. This position has its rank in matters such as manifesting and exalting the status of the Religion and its’ people, unifying the body of the Muslims, strengthening their ranks with power and affirmation.

What is a Khalifah?

3) A khalifah takes hold of power, possessing most of the characteristics, but has not been chosen, ruling by the Revealed Law, but without a consensus (text truncated from Kash-shaf ul-Qina` `An Matn il-Iqna`, vol.5, pp.137-138). Who brings about this office?

Did the Imams declare jihad and Khilafah compulsory?

trans note: notice that the Imams did not declare jihad or khilafah compulsory for all Muslims as some groups do today. Surely, they have the most knowledge and indeed they do. They are using the direct evidence taken from the legal dictionaries. Consider the following. Imam Muwaffaq ud-Din Ibn Qudamah.

Can there be revealed law without Khilafah?

trans. note: so the important point is that the Muslims need to first establish the Revealed Law in their lives and other areas and not the Khilafah. There can be Revealed Law without Khilafah but no Khilafah without Revealed Law.