The hadith stating that “the Caliphate after me will last thirty years” is a descriptive prophecy about the era of Prophetic-model Caliphate, not a prescriptive limitation on the Islamic obligation of political unity and leadership. The idea that Islam abandoned the concept of Caliphate after thirty years has no basis in classical jurisprudence, historical practice, or theological reasoning.
Caliph
Caliphate Contentions (7): The West won’t allow for a Caliphate – Fatalism as Ideology and The Myth of Geopolitical Impossibility
Arguing that the West won't allow the emergence of a Caliphate is not a fiqhī evaluation, but a surrender to the dominant international order - a worldview that elevates the invincibility of global hegemons above the command of the Creator. Such a posture is not realism, but rather despair and cowardice masquerading as maturity.
Reexamining the Caliphate: Authority and Political Theory
The essay by Reza Pankhurst explores the decline of the caliphate up until its formal abolition in 1924, highlighting its transformation from a powerful institution to a mere symbolic figurehead. The caliphate originally served as a centralized political authority in Islam but became hereditary over time. Pankhurst discusses the historical and theoretical frameworks surrounding the caliphate, including differing views on its selection, authority, and legitimacy. The analysis reveals the complex evolution of Islamic political theory regarding governance, reflecting waning popular involvement in leadership selection and advocating for a potentially reformed model grounded in the original principles of shared authority among Muslims.
Featured
Let’s Be Real – A Response
Dr Reza Pankhurst critiques the podcast with Dr. Yasir Qadhi, arguing that real change for the Muslim ummah cannot come from within the current world order, which serves Western interests. The establishment of an Islamic state (Khilafa) is deemed crucial for defending and uniting Muslims, contrasting YQ's view of it as a low-priority, idealistic goal.
Accounting the Caliph – From Rebellion to Quietism
Rebellion and Islam - when the appointment of the Islamic rulers became akin to a hereditary process, was rebellion the natural outcome? And did restricting rebellion restrict the choice of the umma?
The Imam is a Shield
Hadith 34 Only the Imam is a shield, behind whom you fight and you protect yourself with, so if he orders by taqwa and is just then he has reward for that, and if he orders by other than that then it is against himself (Muslim) Commentary A: Imam Nawawi explained the shield as being … Continue reading The Imam is a Shield
Islamic Rule – The Islamic Aqeedah is the basis for the State and its expansion
Hadith 6 It has been narrated on the authority of Junida bin Abu Umayya who said: We called upon 'Ubada bin as-Samit who was ill and said to him: May God give you health - narrate to us a tradition which God may prove beneficial (to us) and which you have heard from the Messenger … Continue reading Islamic Rule – The Islamic Aqeedah is the basis for the State and its expansion
Islamic Rule – Obligation of a single ruler
Hadith 5 إِذَا بُويِعَ لِخَلِيفَتَيْنِ فَاقْتُلُوا الآخِرَ مِنْهُمَاIf the pledge of allegiance is given to 2 rulers (Khalifatain), kill the latter of them(Muslim) Commentary a. Additional proof used by the consensus that it is not permitted for the Muslims to have more than one Khalifah at any given time, as explained by Imam Nawawi as … Continue reading Islamic Rule – Obligation of a single ruler
Islamic Rule – Obligation of the Khilafah
Hadith 3 مَنْ خَلَعَ يَدًا مِنْ طَاعَةٍ لَقِىَ اللَّهَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ وَلاَ حُجَّةَ لَهُ وَمَنْ مَاتَ وَلَيْسَ فِى عُنُقِهِ بَيْعَةٌ مَاتَ مِيتَةً جَاهِلِيَّةًWhoever removes his hand from obedience (to the ruler) will meet Allah with no proof for himself, and whoever dies without the pledge of allegiance (to the ruler) upon his neck dies a … Continue reading Islamic Rule – Obligation of the Khilafah
Islamic Rule – Prophecy of the return of the Khilafah upon the Prophetic example
Hadith 2 تَكُونُ النُّبُوَّةُ فِيكُمْ مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ أَنْ تَكُونَ ثُمَّ يَرْفَعُهَا إِذَا شَاءَ أَنْ يَرْفَعَهَا ثُمَّ تَكُونُ خِلَافَةٌ عَلَى مِنْهَاجِ النُّبُوَّةِ فَتَكُونُ مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ أَنْ تَكُونَ ثُمَّ يَرْفَعُهَا إِذَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ أَنْ يَرْفَعَهَا ثُمَّ تَكُونُ مُلْكًا عَاضا فَيَكُونُ مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ أَنْ يَكُونَ ثُمَّ يَرْفَعُهَا إِذَا شَاءَ أَنْ يَرْفَعَهَا ثُمَّتَكُونُ مُلْكًا جَبْرِيَّةً فَتَكُونُ … Continue reading Islamic Rule – Prophecy of the return of the Khilafah upon the Prophetic example