"WHAT IS KHILAFAH?"

Society Religion & Philosophy
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What is Khilafah?

Khilafah is the political system of Islam. Under the Khilafah, the entire breadth of the Islamic system (be it social, economic, educational, foreign policy, etc.) is implemented. The Khilafah is also responsible for spreading the message of Islam to the world. The Islamic State, which the Prophet (pbuh) sought to create and worked for in Mecca for a period of thirteen years until he (pbuh) established it in Medina, served as the first model of the Khilafah.

Ruling by Islamic laws, is the most frequently discussed issue in Qur’an after the belief and creed. As a result, the Khilafah has been discussed by many Muslim scholars, some of them defining the Khilafah as below:

Ibn Khaldun: A representation, of the one who has the right to adopt the divine rules, aimed at protecting the Deen and ruling the world (Dunia) with it.

Al-Mawardi: Succession of the Prophethood aimed at protecting the Deen and ruling the world (Dunia).

Taqiudeen al-Nabhani: A total leadership for all the Muslims aimed at implementing the Shariah (Divine Laws) of Islam and carrying the Message of Islam to the world.

Ibn Hisham, the famous narrator of the Sirah of the Prophet (pbuh) says regarding the establishment of the Islamic State in Medina: “When the Prophet (pbuh) was assured and satisfied in Medina and when his brothers from Muhajireen (migrators) were gathered with him in Medina along with his brothers from the Ansar (helpers), Islam was firmly established so the prayer was established, the Zakah and Sawm (fasting) were obligated, the hudud (punishment) were established, halal and haram was obligated and Islam was in power among them.”

It must be understood that “Khilafah” is not merely a label that legitimizes any type of authority, but a Khilafah exists only when the Islamic Shariah, i.e., Islamic Law, is the sole source of legislation in a state and its security is controlled by Muslims. Allah (swt) says, “So judge between them by that which Allah hath revealed, and follow not their desires away from the truth.” [Al-Maidah:48]

Consequently the Islamic Doctrine (Aqeedah) is the foundation of the Khilafah state and the basis for its constitution. Accordingly, nothing is permitted to exist in the entity of the state, or in its legal canons and constitution, that does not emanate from the Islamic Doctrine.

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In the Name of Allah (SWT), The Compassionate, The Merciful.
Dear brothers and sisters, Asslamu Alikum. It is a collective responsibility upon Muslims to understand and establish “Khilaafah”.
Following is my humble attempt to define the ** Khilaafah . Please let me know If I have made any errors or mistakes in the following article.
Since “Khilaafah” is an Arabic word. To grasp a better understanding of this word first lets go to “THE HANS WEHR DICTIONARY OF MODERN WRITTEN ARABIC”
The word “Khilaafah” means:
1. Vicarship
2. Deputyship
3. Office of a Khalifa
Now obviously the word “Khalifa” has to be looked as well to understand the word “Khilaafah”. According to “THE HANS WEHR DICTIONARY OF MODERN WRITTEN ARABIC”
The word “Khalifa” means:
1. Vicar
2. Deputy
Derives from the word “Khalafa” which mean:
1. To be the successor
2. Come after
NOW
According to “The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000”
The word “Vicegerency” means:
1. The authority of a vicegerent
For better understanding we shell look for the word “Vicegerent” which means:
1. A person appointed by a ruler to act as an administrative deputy.
Now when we substitute the word “Vicegerency” for “Khilaafah” we find out that:
The “Khilaafah” as an institution should be “The authority of a vicegerent”. Substituting the meaning of the word “Authority” as described above we would get that “Khilaafah as an institution has the power to enforce laws as determined by the Vicegerent.”
Now who is this “Vicegerent”?
According to the dictionary Vicegerent is “A person appointed by a ruler to act as an administrative deputy”
Therefore two questions arises:
First question is who is The Ruler, very simple since Sovereignty belongs to ALLAH (SWT) therefore only ALLAH (SWT) has the absolute right to Rule. So, obviously “The Ruler” is ALLAH (SWT).
The second question is tricky who is this PERSON appointed by The Ruler to act as HU’s administrative deputy on this planet?
This complexity may be cleared with reference to the context.
Man is placed on this planet as Khalifa of ALLAH (SWT) to enforce and administer Divine law. Read following Verses of Surah Al-Baqarah in Arabic (SWT) says:
Note that occasion, When your Rabb said to the angels: I am going to place a Khalifa (the actual word used in Quran is Khalifa meaning vicegerent meaning a person appointed by The Ruler the real Sovereign ALLAH (SWT) to act as an administrative deputy) on earth. They said: “Will You place there one who will make mischief and shed blood while we sing Your praises and glorify Your name?” Allah said: I know what you know not [30] He taught Adam the names of all things; then he presented the things to the angels and said: “Tell Me the names of these if what you say is true?” (Allah did this to show Adam’s special qualities of learning and memory). [31] “Glory to You,” they replied, “we have no knowledge except what You have taught us: in fact You are the One who is perfect in knowledge and wisdom.” [32] Allah said: “O Adam! Tell them the names.” When Adam told them the names, Allah said: “Did I not tell you that I know the secrets of the heavens and earth and I know what you revel and what you conceal ?” [33]
First we notice here is that man is the Khalifa “on earth.” What should be examined secondly is the reason of being a “Khalifah.” Which properties have given the man the quality of “being a Khalifa?” as the answer to this question is “He taught Adam (AS) the names of all things.” The Man (Insan) has been brought to being along with a capacity and an aptitude to unfold and carry out as much of ALLAH (SWT) countless names as ALLAH (SWT) wished. The endowment of such a capacity and aptitude to man is what “teaching him all the names” refer to.
Before the institution of prophethood was concluded, the prophets of Allah (SWT) were HU’s vicegerents (meaning a persons appointed by The Ruler the real Sovereign ALLAH (SWT) to act as administrative deputies ) in their individual capacities, because they used to receive direct revelation from Almighty ALLAH (SWT), all prophets were HU’s representatives and deputies (Khalifa) on earth; they had responsibility for implementing HU’s Orders and executing HU’s Will. This implies that Khilaafah, before the conclusion of prophethood, was strictly individual and personal, as it used to be the prerogative of a single person, i.e., the prophet, to implement and execute the orders of the Real Sovereign. Thus, Allah (SWT) has addressed Prophet Daud (AS) in these words: "O Daud! Verily, We have made you a Khalifa (vicegerent) in the earth…." (Saad 38:26). Those who know the Arabic language will appreciate that the address here is in second person singular: Allah (SWT) is addressing only Prophet Daud (AS). Thus, Prophet Daud (AS) was a Khalifa (vicegerent) of Allah (SWT) in his personal capacity.
Allah (SWT) ended the institution of prophethood after Prophet Muhammad (SAW), Therefore Prophet Muhammad (SAW) was the last person who was a Khlifah of Almighty Allah (SWT) in his personal and individual capacity. The institution of Khilafah can no longer continue as an individual and personal affair after the termination of prophethood, as no one can claim that he is receiving direct revelation from ALLAH (SWT). Thus, after the demise of the Holy Prophet (SAW), the institution of Khilaafah must become the COLLECTIVE AFFAIR OF THE ENTIRE MUSLIM UMMAH rather than the individual affair of the prophet. Read Surah An-Nur, Verse 55 in Arabic:
"Allah has promised those amongst you who believe, and do righteous good deeds, that HU will certainly grant them **SUCCESSION to the PRESENT RULERS on the Earth, as HU granted it to those before them; that HU will establish in authority their religion – the one which HU has chosen for them; and that HU will change their state, after the fear in which they lived, to one of security and peace: They worship ME alone and not associate ought with Me. IF any do reject Faith after this, they are Rebellious and Wicked."
Note that the address here is in the third personal plural, which indicates that “Khilaafah” is now for the COLLECTIVITY OF MUSLIMS RATHER THAN FOR ANY SINGLE INDIVIDUAL.
We find out that instead of a SINGULAR PERSON it is the UMMAH as a collective body, which is responsible to act as HU’s administrative deputy on this planet. Therefore to establish the institution of “Khilaafah” becomes a collective responsibility of this Ummah.
Now, let’s go back and substitute the word “Vicegerency” for the word “Khilaafah” we find out that:
The “Khilaafah” as an institution should be “The authority of a vicegerent”. Substituting the meaning of the word “Authority” as described above we would get that “Khilaafah as an institution has the power to enforce laws as determined by the Vicegerent.”
Now who is this “Vicegerent”?
The ENTIRE UMMAH as a collective body is the “Vicegerent”.
Khilaafah is the “Vicegerency” which CANNOT claim to be a sovereign entity because Sovereignty belongs only to ALLAH (SWT). It’s only status is of a deputy, representative or a vicegerent of the real Sovereign ALLAH (SWT). Since, Sovereignty belongs to ALLAH (SWT) therefore only ALLAH (SWT) has the right to rule and subsequently only ALLAH (SWT) can prescribe laws (Shariah). While Vicegerent is not a sovereign entity therefore it does not have any right to make laws. It’s only choice is to follow the divine law. It is obligated to obey the real Sovereign ALLAH (SWT) by enforcing the DEEN AL-ISLAM prescribed by the real Sovereign ALLAH (SWT) as the ONLY way of life on this planet.
In simple words Khilaafah is an institution, which is responsible to establish the Divine DEEN of AL-ISLAM” as the only WORLD ORDER on this planet. The responsibility to establish such an institution rests on the shoulder of this UMMAH.
Establishing the Khilaafah is FARD AL-KIFAYA (collective obligation) upon this UMMAH.

And Allah (SWT) knows best and Allah (SWT) knows all as HU is all knowledgeable.

[This message has been edited by Musalman (edited February 05, 2001).]

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Musalman, Mioz Amjad has already responded to to your article.

His response includes some Arabic, therefore I cannot copy-paste it here.

Go to:
http://www.understanding-islam.com/rpol/pol-008.htm

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Brother go right ahead and read the entire reply by Br. Moiz. He has yet to give his version of the definition of Khilaafah. In-fact ** Br. Moiz states QUOTE >> I do agree that he has derived the stated conclusion.<< UNQUOTE **. There is also a fundamental difference between the concept and understanding of Sovereignty between Br. Moiz and rest of us when taken in context of Islam.

What I presented is the widely held view of the main Jama’ah (group) of the Ummah. Find out your self that how many others ascribe to Br. Moiz version of the concept of Khilaafah, if he has any. I have yet to see a single group or person other then Br. Moiz himself who agree with his views. On the other hand great scholar’s like Maulana Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi and Dr. Israr Ahmed and lots of others holds what I presented. Why should any body subscribe the view that does not confirm to the main Jama’ah (Group) and is only held by a single individual. Doing that would be leaving the main Jama’ah (Group) and form a sect that does not agree with the main Jama’ah (Group) of the Muslim Ummah. Remember what Prophet (PBUH) said: There will be 73 sects in my Ummah and all will go into hellfire except for ONE group. When asked which ONE group will enter Paradise, Prophet (PBUH) said the main Jama’ah (Group). We should stick with the main body of the Muslim Ummah rather then join any minority and separate ourselves from the main body of the Ummah.

One can understand the weight of the opinion of Br. Moiz by his comments on one of the Hadeeth as follow:

Saheeh: Related by Ahmad (4/273), from an Nu'maan ibn Basheer(RA).
Prophethood will remain amongst you for as long as Allaah wishes it to, then Allaah will raise it up when He wishes to raise it up. Then there will be Khilaafah upon the manner of Prophethood and it will remain amongst you for as long as Allaah wishes it to, then Allaah will raise it up when He wishes to raise it up. Then there will be harsh kingship which will remain amongst you for as long as Allaah wishes it to, then Allaah will raise it up when He wishes to raise it up. Then there will be tyrannical kingship and it will remain amongst you for as long as Allaah wishes it to, then Allaah will raise it up when He wishes to raise it up. Then there will be Khilafah upon the manner of Prophethood. Then he was silent.

Br. Moiz Comments regarding the above Hadeeth ** QUOTE >> the most that can derived from this narrative is that the Prophet (pbuh) foretold the reestablishment of “Khilaafah” (whatever it implied).<< UNQUOTE**

Brother is clueless when he said ** “whatever it implied”. ** If he do not know what does Khilaafah imply then why he cares to keep presenting his unique views about the Khilaafah?

I like for brother Moiz to kindly define what is Khilaafah according to his understanding. May be I can learn from brother Moiz and correct my mistakes.

[This message has been edited by Musalman (edited February 05, 2001).]

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Did you not check his previous responses. He has defined the word.

Why do we just keep moving in circles?

You say that his views are unique. Are you saying that what he has quoted from the Arabic dictionaries is incorrect? do you not consider these quoted people to be a part of the UMMAH?

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His views are unique. He has said him self that he does not know what does Khilaafah that Prophet (PBUH) had foretold imply as is quite evident from his reply in regards to one Hadeeth. When Prophet (PBUH) had foretold us about the coming “Khilaafah upon the manner of Prophethood”, then it is the end of the story for rest of us regardless of what brother Moiz preach.

I will post the Hadeeth again:

Saheeh: Related by Ahmad (4/273), from an Nu'maan ibn Basheer(RA).
Prophethood will remain amongst you for as long as Allaah wishes it to, then Allaah will raise it up when He wishes to raise it up. Then there will be Khilaafah upon the manner of Prophethood and it will remain amongst you for as long as Allaah wishes it to, then Allaah will raise it up when He wishes to raise it up. Then there will be harsh kingship which will remain amongst you for as long as Allaah wishes it to, then Allaah will raise it up when He wishes to raise it up. Then there will be tyrannical kingship and it will remain amongst you for as long as Allaah wishes it to, then Allaah will raise it up when He wishes to raise it up. Then there will be Khilaafah upon the manner of Prophethood. Then he was silent.

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[quote]
Originally posted by Musalman:
*His views are unique. *
[/quote]

'Unique' is not the same as wrong.

[quote]
Originally posted by Musalman:
*He has said him self that he does not know what does Khilaafah that Prophet (PBUH) had foretold *
[/quote]

Will you please quote what he has written from which you understand the above?

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[quote]
Originally posted by stunned:
** Will you please quote what he has written from which you understand the above?
**
[/quote]

Brother Stunned I have quoted those as above more then one time, but for your convenience kindly read below the Hadeeth and brother Moiz’s comments:

Saheeh: Related by Ahmad (4/273), from an Nu'maan ibn Basheer(RA).
Prophethood will remain amongst you for as long as Allaah wishes it to, then Allaah will raise it up when He wishes to raise it up. Then there will be Khilaafah upon the manner of Prophethood and it will remain amongst you for as long as Allaah wishes it to, then Allaah will raise it up when He wishes to raise it up. Then there will be harsh kingship which will remain amongst you for as long as Allaah wishes it to, then Allaah will raise it up when He wishes to raise it up. Then there will be tyrannical kingship and it will remain amongst you for as long as Allaah wishes it to, then Allaah will raise it up when He wishes to raise it up. Then there will be Khilaafah upon the manner of Prophethood. Then he was silent.

Br. Moiz Comments regarding the above Hadeeth QUOTE >> the most that can derived from this narrative is that the Prophet (pbuh) foretold the reestablishment of “Khilaafah” (whatever it implied).<< UNQUOTE

[This message has been edited by Musalman (edited February 07, 2001).]

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dear musalman,

I sent your writings to moiz amjad. this is what he says:

"My dear brother,

I have explained what 'Khilaafah'/'Khaleefah'/'Imaarah (and the likes) mean in my earlier posts. You may take a look at my previous posts on the topic to confirm that.

What the author has said is only indicative of his level of appreciation of language. I really do not think it deserves any response on my part.

Those who want to understand my opinion on the topic, they can take a look at my previous posts, and are most welcome to ask questions and present their criticisms on it; While those who only want to win debates and base their objections on witticisms in the other's writings, they may take their rewards for winning debates. I am not interested in competing with them.

I have never been interested in winning debates or winning followers of my opinions. My sole interest is to understand and propagate the true meaning and message of Islam, as I understand it from the Qur'an and the Sunnah of the Prophet (pbuh).

I submit that I can be absolutely wrong in any of my opinion, but such ridiculous remarks are hardly going to help me understand my mistakes.

I would suggest that you concentrate on the meaningful remarks of the author, if he has to offer any, and - without any reservations - inform me of any errors in my opinion, that you may appreciate on the basis of such remarks. But please do not be incited by the polemics of those, whose sole purpose is to win debates.

Regards,

Moiz Amjad"

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..

[This message has been edited by Admin (edited February 15, 2001).]

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[quote]
Originally posted by Tariq5:
..
[/quote]

Dear GFQ, Is this what is left for us to read about the companions of our beloved Prophet (PBUH). This individual should be banned permanently from this public forum.

[This message has been edited by Admin (edited February 15, 2001).]

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What can GFQ do, when Admin him/her self is giving him Warning Warning Warning?..haha! I calll it sleeping beauty Admin

http://www3.pak.org/gupshup/smilies/smile.gif

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These are public forums, and are not moderated 24/7. Every effort is made to rectify the situation as soon as an abuse is detected or reported. Please remain patient.