The Khilafah  

Hizb ut Tahrir 

Authenticated Updated Edition 2024 CE, 1446 AH

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 The Khilafah (Caliphate)

The Khilafah (Caliphate) is the generalized, collective leadership over all the Muslims of the entire world, to implement the Shariah rulings of Islam, and to convey the Islamic Dawah to the whole world. It is also known as the Imamah. Imamah and Khilafah have the same meaning. Many Sahih Ahadith have specified these two words, with the same meaning. None of these two words differed in their meaning from the other in any Shari'ah text. This is whether the text is from the Noble Qur'an or from the Prophetic Sunnah , for they are the only divine (Shari') texts.

Appointing a Khaleefah is obligatory upon all Muslims in all regions (aqtaar) of the world. Executing such a duty, just like executing any other duty which Allah (swt) has decreed on Muslims is compulsory, in which no choice or complacency is allowed. Failure in performing this duty is one of the gravest sins, which is deserving of Allah's severe punishment.

The evidence concerning the obligation of appointing a Khaleefah over all the Muslims is understood from the Noble Quran, Prophetic Sunnah and the Ijmaa' of the Sahabah (Consensus fo the Companions). As for the Noble Quran, Allah (swt) commanded His Messenger (saw) to rule all the Muslims by all that He (swt) revealed to him (saw)... As for the Sunnah, Muslim narrated on the authority of Nafi' said: Ibn Umar told me: I heard the Messenger of Allah (saw) say: "Whoever takes off his hand from an obedience to Allah, he will meet Him on the Resurrection Day without having any proof for himself; and whoever dies while there were no Bai'ah on his neck, his death would be that of the days of Jahiliyyah (ignorance)." [Narrated by Muslim]

The Contracting of the Khilafah

The Khilafah is a contract based on mutual consent (ridaa) and choice (ikhtiyaar). It is a Bayah of obedience to whoever is entitled to obedience, from amongst the people in authority. It is therefore imperative to have both the consent of the one who is given the Bayah to take the post, as well as the consent of those who give him the Bayah. Thus, it is forbidden to force anyone to become Khaleefah, if he rejected the post of Khilafah. He must not be forced to accept it. Under such circumstances another person must then be considered to fill the post. It is also forbidden to take the Bayah from the people by force, or by using coercion. In such a case, the contract would not be valid (saheeh). Mutual consent and choice must be observed, without any coercion or compulsion, as in any other contract.  However, if the Bayah has been contracted by those whose Bayah is valid, then the Bayah would be contracted. The person for whom the Bayah was given, becomes the person in authority (wali al-amr). Obedience to him is an obligation.

The Unity of the Khilafah "Caliphate"

It is not allowed for there to be more than one Khaleefah in the world. It was narrated on the authority of Abdullah bin Amr bin Al-Aas that he heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say, “Whosoever gave a Bayah to an Imam, giving him the clasp of his hand, and the fruit of his heart shall obey him as long as he can, and if another comes to dispute with him, you must strike the neck of that man.” [Muslim] Muslim has also reported it from Abu S’aid Al Khudri that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,  “If the Oath of Allegiance (Bay’’ah) has been taken for two Khulafaa’’, kill the latter of them.” It has also been narrated by Muslim that Arfajah said: “I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say, “Whoever comes to you while your affair has been united over one man, intending to divide your power or dissolve your unity, kill him.”