Caliph

Caliph is the Germanization of the Arabic term Khalifa (Arabic خليفة, DMG Halifa pronunciation? / I ), of a deputy or successor referred to in a general sense, but is often used in a specific function as a title for religious and political leaders. If he caliphate as a short form for the expressions Allah ( God's representative / خليفة الله / ḫalīfat Allāh ) or caliphate Rasul Allah ( Successor of messenger of God / خليفة رسول الله / ḫalīfat Rasul Allah ) is, then so is usually the claim to the management of the entire Islamic community connected. There is also the title of Caliph, but also in Sufi orders and the Ahmadiyya. In these contexts, the Caliph title refers to the fact that the person concerned is to be regarded as the successor and deputy to the specific order or community founder.

In this article, the history of the Caliph title is treated on the political history of the various caliphates informed of Articles caliphate.

Emergence of the Caliph title

The noun Khalifa is derived from the Arabic verb chalafa ( خلف ), which " follow, take the place of " means. The derived abstract chilāfa ( خلافة / ḫilāfa ) means " substitution, succession, Caliphate ".

The term Khalifa occurs already in pre-Islamic Arabia, in an Arabic inscription from the year 543, in the so viceroy is a kind of meant that performs the duties of another sovereign. In the Quran the term encountered in two places: on the one (Sura 2:30 ), he refers to Adam, who is appointed by God as a " governor " on earth, on the other (Sura 38:26 ), he is in for David his capacity as ruler and judge used:

" Oh David, behold, we made you a deputy ( Khalifa ) on earth; So judge between the people of truth. "

For the development of the concept in early Islam, a report is revealing, which is narrated by various Arab writers. Thus Abu Bakr Caliphate Rasul Allah ( " successor of the messenger of God ") was, when he became the leader of the Muslim community after the death of the Prophet Mohammed, called. When Umar ibn al - Khattab succeeded him as leader of the Muslims, a man addressed him as Khalifate Allaah, what Umar but with the note that this title is reserved to David, rejected. When the man then addressed him as Khalifate Rasul Allah, Umar refused also decreases, with the argument that this title alone Abu Bakr fees. The title thereto used by the man Caliphate caliphate Rasul Allah ( " successor of the successor of the messenger of God " ) held Umar indeed be correct, however, argued that as the title would ever longer. As an alternative to this long title, he urged the faithful to him Amir al- mu ʾ minin ( " Commander of the Faithful " ) to entitle.

The title of caliphate Allah ( " deputy of God"), who rose a much wider demand than caliphate Rasul Allah, is attested for the first time Umar's successor Uthman ibn Affan ( 644-656 ). However, this term only appears in panegyric poems. The first Muslim ruler who used the term in inscriptions and on coins, and thus in an official context, the Umayyade Abd al -Malik was ( 685-705 ). Later on the Abbasids (750-1517) and the Fatimids (909-1171) took the title of caliph claim for themselves.

Use in the Ottoman Empire

Also, some of the Ottoman sultans used the title of caliph. So, for example, boasted Süleyman II (r. 1520-1566 ) in a kanun -name as "the Chagan of the earth and Khalifa of the Messenger of God ". The West against the Ottoman sultans were the first time in 1774 in the negotiations for the peace of Küçük Kaynarca as caliph on. Sultan Abdulhamid I called himself on this occasion as the " Imam of the faithful and Caliph of the unit confessor " to thereby expressing that he, after the Crimean Tatars should attain political independence from the Ottoman Empire by this peace to continue as their spiritual head looked at. End of the 19th century, the title of caliph was even constitutional status in the Ottoman Empire. In the Ottoman Constitution of 1876 stated in Article 4: " The Sultan, in his capacity as caliph is the patron for the Muslim religion." After the fall of the Ottomans in 1923 by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the Turkish Republic, however, abolished the caliphate for declared on 3 March 1924.

The title of caliph in Sufi orders and the Ahmadiyya

With the advent of the Sufi Order of the title of caliph was given a new meaning by being picked up there by the successors of the order's founder. To date, there are in Senegal, for example, a general - Caliph of Muridiyya ( Khalife Général des mourides; KGM ) and a general caliph of Tidschaniyya ( Khalife Général des Tidianes; KGT ). The former resides in Touba, the latter in Tivaouane.

In this sense, Abdallahi ibn Muhammad, also referred to, the successor of the Sudanese Mahdi Muhammad Ahmad al - Mahdi al - Khalifa.

Mirza Ghulam Ahmad founded in 1889 in Qadian, the Ahmadiyya Movement. After his death in 1908 he was followed by the Khilafat ul- Massih ( " caliph of the Messiah " ) -called spiritual leader of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat. The caliphs of AMJ be selected by a nominating committee for life and reside located since 1984 at the premises of the Fazl Mosque " Mahmud Hall " in London. Since 22 April 2003, Mirza Ahmad Masrur as Khilafat ul- Massih V. the spiritual leader of AMJ.

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