Click to Read Khilafat in Islam: The successorship of Prophethood in Islam

Source: patheos.com | By Qasim Rashid

Ramadan, Khalifa and an Ahmadi Muslims Perspective

Khalifa of Islam: His Holiness Hazrath Mirza Masroor Ahmad (aba)

Last year I discussed how Ramadan serves as yet another example of Prophet Muhammad’s truthfulness, by discussing his prophecy about Imam Mahdi and Messiah and its perfect fulfillment in Ramadan. This year I share Prophet Muhammad’s prophecy regarding true Islamic leadership, i.e. Khilafat.

ISIS terrorists claim their leader Abu Bakr al-Bhagdadi is a caliph. I hoped Muslim leaders worldwide would condemn this so-called caliph by referring to Prophet Muhammad’s prophecy and the Quran’s teaching on how Khilafat would be re-established. Instead, Point 22 in the public letter to Bhagdadi merely states, “It is forbidden in Islam to declare a caliphate without consensus from all Muslims.”

The full explanation includes Hazrat Umar’s (rz) tradition, which certainly demonstrates the importance of consultation with other Muslims before one accepts a Khalifa. The tradition speaks nothing of the office of the Khalifa or how one becomes a Khalifa.

Meanwhile the Qur’an is explicitly clear on how Khilafat is established:

“Allah has promised to those among you who believe and do good works that He will surely make them Successors in the earth, as He made Successors from among those who were before them; and that He will surely establish for them their religion which He has chosen for them; and that He will surely give them in exchange security and peace after their fear: They will worship Me, and they will not associate anything with Me. Then whoso is ungrateful after that, they will be the rebellious.” Qur’an 24:56

A detailed commentary on this verse is available here. Unmistakably this verse demonstrates that only God Himself establishes Successors (Khalifas) to Prophets, does so among those who do good works, and blesses those who accept the Khalifa peace and security instead of fear.

Immediately we see how ISIS contradicts this verse. First, al-Bhagdadi is self-appointed — God did not make him a Khalifa. Likewise, ISIS terrorists have done nothing but harm humanity, while Islam requires service to all humanity. Finally, ISIS terrorists live in constant war, where as true Khalifat gives peace and security in exchange for fear.

Meanwhile, the letter from Muslim leaders to al-Bhagdadi ignored this verse altogether. The letter also ignores Prophet Muhammad’s authentic hadith where he explained how Khilafat will be re-established:

… Abū Tha’labah al-Khushnī [came] who said ‘Oh Bashīr bin Sa’d, have you memorized the hadith of the Prophet (ﷺ) concerning leadership of the Muslims?’ Hudhayfah responded that ‘I have memorized the entire Jummah sermon [in which this was mentioned].’

Hudhayfah said: ‘Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) said, ‘[My] nabūwwah (prophethood) shall remain among you as Allah wills it to remain, and then Allah shall cause it to end when He wills to end it. Then will remain Prophetic Caliphate (khilāfah ‘alā minhājin nabūwwah) and it will end. Then shall come despotic monarchy (mulkan ‘ādhan) and it will end. Then will appear coercive monarchy (mulkan jabrīyyah) and it will end. Then will appear Prophetic Caliphate (khilāfah ‘alā minhājin nabūwwah) again. Then the Prophet (ﷺ) remained silent.” (Musnad Ahmad ibn Hanbal,  Awwal Musnad al-Kūfiyyīn, Vol. 4, #273).

Prophet Muhammad perfectly described what the Muslim ummah has suffered through during the previous 1400 years. Rightly Guided Khilafat was established on the precepts of Muhammad’s Prophethood. It then came to an end and despotic monarchial rule took place. And as we look at the Muslim world today, from Iraq to Syria, from Saudi Arabia to Egypt, we see nothing but coercive monarchial rule dominates.

Prophet Muhammad then completed the prophecy that once more, just as Khilafat would establish after his own Prophethood, Khilafat would re-establish on the precepts of a future prophethood. All Muslims agree that Muhammad was a Prophet, Khilafat was established after him, despotic rule then followed and coercive rule then followed and exists to this day.

So where is this khilafat, this Islamic leadership, on the precepts of prophethood that Prophet Muhammad promised?

Indeed, combing God’s Quranic promise and Prophet Muhammad’s prophetic promise, it is impossible to ignore the following facts: First, Khilafat will be re-established among the ummah. Second, God Himself will establish that Khilafat. Third, this promised Khilafat would be re-established just as it was first established –on the precepts of prophethood.

Well, why then did the letter world Muslim leaders wrote to… read more at patheos.com