From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Khalifa (خليفة ẖalīfä) is Arabic for "stewardship" of nature and family, and is a key obligation of a Muslim.

The word is most commonly used for the Islamic leader of the Ummah, which is translated into English as Caliph (see there for this definition).

However there are also several other specific uses of the same title for Muslim offices at lower levels of power and authoririty.

Contents 1 Stewardship 1.1 Defining the Muslim Khalifa 2 Titular uses 2.1 Religious leaders 2.2 Secular offices 3 Other use 4 Sources and references 5 See also

While Sunni and Shia Islam differ sharply on the conduct of a caliph and the right relations between a leader and a community, they do not differ on the underlying theory of stewardship. Both abhor waste of natural resources in particular to show off or demonstrate power. Many consider this conservation urge a necessity of any desert culture, where oasis oases are precious and natural capital must be preserved, in particular clean water sources.

Three specific ways in which khalifa is manifested in Muslim practice are the creation of haram to protect water, hima to protect other species (including those useful to man), and by resisting infidel control over Muslim lands, through jihad.

The modern theory of khalifa as ecological stewardship has developed as part of Islamic science — notably in the work of Seyyed Hossein Nasr.

A summary of a lecture series given by the Islamic Scholar, Gharm Allah Al-Ghamdy, defining the Muslim Khalifa. [1]

The Khalifa Institute calls for a world-wide jihad and outlines their plan to bring the global society under the dominion of Islam. [2]

Khilafat in Quran: "Allah had promised to those among you who believe and do good works that He will surely make them Khalifas in the earth, as He made Khalifas from among those who were before them" (Surah Al-Nur, Verse 56)

Khilafat is seen in the Ahmadiyya Movement in Islam [3] in present day. [www.alislam.org ]

• In 19th century Sudan, Mohammed Ahmed "the Mahdi" was succeeded by Abdallahi ibn Muhammad "the Kalifa".
• In the sect of the Ahmadi, khalifa is the title of the successors of its founding Mahdi, except in the break-away Lahore branch, which is lead by its own Emirs.

In Morocco, the Sherifian Monarch awarded the title Khalifa or Chaliphe, here meaning 'Viceroy', to royal princes (styled Moulay), including future Sultans, who represented the crown in a part of the sultanate:

• especially in the former royal capitals Marrakesh, Fes and Meknes
• also in other mayor cities, e.g. in Shawiya, Casablanca, Tafilalt, Tadla, Tiznit Tindouf, in the valley of the Draa River and in Tetouan.
• but also, in the XXth century, as irrevocably fully mandated Representative of the Sultan in the Spanish Zone, known after him in Spanish as el Jalifato (note the definite article; although the Spanish word can also be applied to other deputies of various Moroccan officials), besides the Alto comisario (de facto governing 'High Commissioner') of the colonial 'protector' Spain, which called his office el Jalifa (not Califa, the word for any 'imperial' Caliph, ruling a califato):
  • 19 April 1913 - 9 November 1923 Mulay al-Mahdi bin Isma'il bin Muhammad (d. 1923)
  • 9 November 1923 - 9 November 1925 Vacant
  • 9 November 1925 - 16 March 1941 Mulay Hassan bin al-Mahdi (1st time) (b. 1912)
  • 16 March 1941 - October 1945 Vacant
  • October 1945 - 7 April 1956 Mulay Hassan bin al-Mahdi (2nd time)

Khalifa can have a definition, be a first name, or family or tribe name. Like many titles, Khalifa also occurs in many names. It is the family name of the Al Khalifa dynasty, rulers of the peninsular Arab nation of Bahrain, who are descended from the Bani Utub tribe.

• RoyalArk here Morocco - see also other present countries

• Khilafah ( Caliphate)