Description

This thesis entitled "Concept of Khilafat in Islam and its

Historical Development '' is to acquaint the students of Islamic

political thought with the true nature of the khilafah, its concept

and development on the basis of the Quran, sunnah and historical

narrations. In this study an attempt is made to have a discussion

on the whole period of the khilafah, discussing the changes and

alterations that took place, from the time of the Prophet (SAW) till

the end of the khilafah in 1343AH/1924AD by Mustafa Kamal.

The khilafah, which means a system of governance in

accordance with the political principles and juridical doctrines of

Islam, began just after the demise of the Prophet (SAW) and the

first head of the institution was Hazrat Abu Bakar who as the

successor to the Prophet (SAW) was generally called as

khalifarasullullah. His functions as khalifarasullullah, included

among other things keeping the Islamic society and state founded

by the Prophet (SAW) on the right track popularly termed as the

minhaj al-nubuwah. The khalifah had to follow in all his designs

and works the Quran and the sunnah. He was not divinely

appointed as was the case with the Prophet (SAW); rather he was

selected or elected by the Muslim Community. He officiated the

Prophet (SAW) in the enforcement of the shariah, without any

right to making any change in it. The law-making authority,

however, rested with the Islamic ummah as a whole of which the

khalifah was the foremost part. Historically speaking, the Islamic

state was passed on to the companions {sahabah) of the Prophet

(SAW) who kept the norms, traditions and bases established during

the Prophetic period.