Why Have a Khalifa for Islamic Ummah?
A Muslim Caliph of Baghdad
Khalifa is the supreme position in Islamic world. He is the top leader of Muslim Ummah in a muslim nation and he is elected as the most suitable person for this very important position. He is like CEO of a company whose performance leads to development or falling down of the muslim ummah.
Looking back in history, there were four Khaleefas genuinely elected in the muslim world. These were Abu Bakar, Umar, Usman and Ali (PBUT). After martyrdom of Ali (PBUH), the muslim community has been in the hands of Khalifas, Kings and Sultans, not those who were elected from people because of their wisdom, knowledge, management strengths, having pious nature or any other qualities but these have been political power and stronger army. Abbasi, Ummawi, Mughals and other empires and caliphs all were in power because others made submission to their political power and those people from whom these Khalifas had any sense of discomfort in terms of political loss, these caliphs killed those people. Examples include the descendants of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) who were in the times of those khalifas and their popularity among people was a big source of contempt and jealousy for those Khalifas.
Then we had Khalifa of Turkey. We liked the Turkish empire as it was very big and really was an empire (not caliphate) to be proud of. But, they were Sultans, had big palaces, some of them used to drink alcohol and were not such a muslim to be considered for a leader or caliph. The result was that their downfall started in the 18th centur. The Ottoman caliphate ended after world war 1 because they participated in world war 1 and the world war 1 ended with fall of Germany and its allies.
We have all these examples and therefore, we are compelled to ask ourselves this question that why do we need another Khalifa? A Khalifa should be elected when he has desired qualities which are the pre-requisites to take this job. Do we just need a Khalifa who is elected despite all his bad qualities but because of his father was the earlier Khalifa or his father nominated him as a successor. Go back in history and imagine from your eyes what Yazeed did to the family of prophet Mohammad (PBUH). He martyred nearly all men who were descendants of Mohammad (PBUH) and imprisoned their women. Did it suit him to do the massacre of Mohammad’s family in the grounds of Karbala in Iraq when they were not bothering him in any way and their only point was not to say obediency of Yazeed because he was not a muslim Khalifa having qualities to be obeyed.
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In the current situation, when we think about Khalifa, we may not be taking into account the world politics and current affairs. If we have Khalifa, what country will he start from? What will be his agendas, plans and what value will he bring to muslim ummah? What will be his education level and what are the minimum requirements to meet to become a Khalifa? How the muslim countries in the world accept one Khalifa concept? what will be the impact on muslim communities because of Khalifa establishment? What will happen to other religion followers and how will other sects be treated? What sect will Khalifa promote? Will he block all other religions and sects? How will he improve the relations of muslims with non-muslim countries and among each other. These days, no country in this world can remain isolated or it will have disadvantages of trade, education and support, just to mention a few.
Ottoman Empire under Suleiman I in 1580
We want to know the real value of this concept of Khalifa? We also want to be sure that it would not turn into a dynasty where children of current Khalifa will be the next Khalifa. We want to have the minimum requirements to be a Khalifa to meet those requirements.
I believe that today’s Kings, Sultans, Presidents and Prime Ministers will not go towards Khalifa route at all. The muslim governments will not like it to lose their powers and unlike centuries before, countries cannot just attack other countries to increase their size. The only way at the moment is to have communities of countries. Some examples are GCC and European community where you can easily roam around in these countries without visa restrictions. The laws are also similarly developed and exercised and all the countries follow similar rules of the community. There may be for example, Arab community, Asian community and there may be some pact like Schengen community. There may be muslim community but for not making an isolated block but a loose community where muslim people have advantages to move, work and having similar laws.
At the same time, we are missing one important point, we are not thinking that if Christian countries unite and form similar kind of thinking, what would happen to muslim community who are living among them. What impact will they have in such situation on their lives? We have seen the results of post 911 mistreatment of muslims the world over. That was only one event which impacted the world a lot. What would happen if Christianity seeks to have Christian in every position and remove muslims from these and make Christian only block.
We have to think in multi-dimensions, consider all facets of the situation, keep political situation in consideration and cannot just make a fantasy that a Khalifa will have a magic stick that would make everything right. If we want a position named as Khalifa then we need to justify what he will do and what are the additional benefits he can provide to muslim ummah.
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good one
Thanks a lot.