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
Caliphate
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
Islamic Rule – The Khulafaa are the rulers of the Muslim Ummah
Hadith 1 كَانَتْ بَنُو إِسْرَائِيلَ تَسُوسُهُمُ الأَنْبِيَاءُ كُلَّمَا هَلَكَ نَبِىٌّ خَلَفَهُ نَبِىٌّ وَإِنَّهُ لاَ نَبِىَّ بَعْدِى وَسَتَكُونُ خُلَفَاءُ يَكْثُرُونَ قَالُوا فَمَا تَأْمُرُنَا قَالَ فُوا بِبَيْعَةِ الأَوَّلِ فَالأَوَّلِ وَأَعْطُوهُمْ حَقَّهُمْ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ سَائِلُهُمْ عَمَّنِ اسْتَرْعَاهُمْ"The tribes of Israa'il were ruled by the Prophets, every time a Prophet deceased he was followed by another Prophet, and there … Continue reading Islamic Rule – The Khulafaa are the rulers of the Muslim Ummah
Caliphate Contentions (6) – Establishing the caliphate isn’t an obligation for me personally
Discussion of the Personal Obligation Denial argument – or summed up as “it’s not an obligation for me because (I’m not capable/ it’s something that the scholars and people of influence have to do as an obligation of sufficiency/Allah will establish it/ it’s not actually an obligation to begin with)" As for the last argument … Continue reading Caliphate Contentions (6) – Establishing the caliphate isn’t an obligation for me personally
Caliphate Contentions (5): Historically, there was rarely a single unified caliphate, and therefore it is an unrealistic, utopian idea
Discussion of the Historical Precedence Argument - summed up as "the practical reality was that there were several competing caliphs or sultans, and therefore it is not an obligation or realistic to have a single Imam". Without debating the premise of the argument (which could itself be considered historically problematic) - it is important to … Continue reading Caliphate Contentions (5): Historically, there was rarely a single unified caliphate, and therefore it is an unrealistic, utopian idea
The End of History and the Caliphate
The reality is that the hegemony of Western governments and values is being disputed more openly as time passes. As re-emerging powers such as Russia, China and India all assert themselves regionally and internationally, demands to adopt the political values and philosophy of Western European and American governments are less relevant to those involved. This is particularly the case as aforementioned values and philosophy lie largely discredited even in the heart of the West itself
The Caliphate Deniers
(The following is a section reproduced with minor edits from an article originally published in the academic journal Political Theology 11.6 (2010) 826-845) "Muslim secularists" - or the subset within them of "Caliphate deniers", being those who profess a Muslim belief but consider that Islam has nothing to say about the State, that any conception … Continue reading The Caliphate Deniers
Caliphate Contentions (4): It is permitted to have multiple Caliphs or rulers and multiple Islamic states
Historical precedence is not an evidence for permissibility. That it is not a source of Islamic ruling should be clear – if taken to its conclusion that would mean that we can point to the actions of some of the leaders historically to align themselves with groups hostile to the Muslims such as the crusaders or Mongols, or enforced hereditary rule, or other indiscretions of specific rulers which went unchecked, whether personal or otherwise – and suggest that they were also permitted since they took place. Such an argument is irresponsible, incorrect and contrary to Islamic thought.
A Brief Response to Dr. Ovamir Anjum’s “Who Wants the Caliphate?”
Dr. Ovamir Anjum's recent piece for the Yaqeen Institute entitled "Who wants the Caliphate?" is certainly worth a read. It is a fairly substantial long-read for an internet article, so to summarise just a few of the points I found interesting; please note there is much more in the article than what I mention below, … Continue reading A Brief Response to Dr. Ovamir Anjum’s “Who Wants the Caliphate?”
Caliphate Contentions (3): There is nothing in the Prophetic example (sunna) to suggest that establishing a Caliphate is an obligation upon the Muslims.
[TL:DR 1. There are several Prophetic narrations which indicate the obligation of both establishing an Imam, and of obeying an Imam 2. Any narration which talks about the necessity to obey the Imam of the Muslims is also a proof of the necessity to establish such an Imam if it isabsent 3. These narrations link … Continue reading Caliphate Contentions (3): There is nothing in the Prophetic example (sunna) to suggest that establishing a Caliphate is an obligation upon the Muslims.