The word · History
الخِلَافَة
Khilafah
Succession to the Prophet in governing the community, not in prophethood, which ended with him.
Also written · Caliphate · Khilafa · Khilafat · Kalifate · Khaleefah · Khalifah · Caliph · Calipha · Khilafah Islamiyyah · Imamah · Amir al-Muminin · Khilaafah
The meaning
What Khilafah means in Islam
The word means to come after someone and stand where they stood. The office ran through the Rashidun, the Umayyads, the Abbasids and finally the Ottoman claim, and was formally abolished in 1924. Worth knowing: when the Qur'an calls Adam a khalifah, and Dawud a khalifah on the earth, it means a steward answerable for what he is given, not the political office that later took the name.
Evidence · Editorial · Our own summary, drawn from the sources named
Read beside it
Rooms that name it
Words that sit beside it
- Khulafa RashidunThe four caliphs after the Prophet: Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman and Ali.الخُلَفَاءُ الرَّاشِدُون
- Banu UmayyahThe first dynasty of caliphs, ruling from Damascus for about ninety years after the Rashidun.بَنُو أُمَيَّة
- UmmahThe whole body of Muslims, across every land and century, treated as one community.الأُمَّة
- Bay'ahA pledge of allegiance, given to a ruler, or in Sufi orders to a spiritual guide.بَيْعة
More from History
- Abu BakrThe Prophet's closest friend, his companion in the cave, and the first caliph.أَبُو بَكْرٍ الصِّدِّيق
- Battle of Mu'tahThe first clash with Byzantine forces, in year eight, where three appointed commanders fell in turn.مُؤْتَة
- Hijr Isma'ilThe low semicircular wall beside the Ka'bah, enclosing ground that is part of the original house.حِجْرُ إِسْمَاعِيل
- Imam ash-Shafi'iThe imam who wrote the first book on how law is derived, bridging Madinah and Iraq.مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ إِدْرِيسَ الشَّافِعِيّ
- KhaybarThe fortified oasis north of Madinah taken in year seven, shortly after Hudaybiyah.خَيْبَر
- Safa and MarwahTwo small hills in Makkah, now enclosed in a corridor, walked between during hajj and umrah.الصَّفَا وَالمَرْوَة