1. What is the Khilafah?
The Khilafah is the name given to the Islamic system of government. When we say that Muslims must establish Khilafah, we mean that Muslims must establish an Islamic state, with an Islamic system of government ruled by the Islamic Shariah.
The name Khilafah comes from the Arabic word "Khaleefah", which means the successor. The name "Khaleefah" is the title given to those Islamic leaders who came as successors to prophet Muhammad (pbuh). Another name for the Khaleefah is Ameer-ul-Mo'mineen, which means "leader of the faithful".
Muslims must perform the bay'ah on the Khaleefa, which means to select him as a leader and to trust him to rule by the word of Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta'Ala). This means that the Khaleefah must implement Islamic laws, the Shariah, in all the lands under the Khilafah. The Khilafah must include all nations in the world where the population is predominantly Muslim, and all Islamic Shariah laws must take effect in these lands with respect to all issues in the society.
2. What about Muslim countries that exist today?
Islam came as a uniting religion, meant to unite all of mankind under one rule, the rule of Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta'Ala). Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta'Ala) has warned us in many ayat in the Qur'an that we must not be seperated or divided into groups and we must all be one community and one Ummah. Therefore, the current state of affairs of the Muslim Ummah is not acceptable from an Islamic point of view. All Islamic nations must be united as one nation, one people, brothers and sisters in Islam, with one leader.
Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) also warned in many ahadith that we must not be split up into groups, and that all Muslims are like one inseperable body. In order to be true Muslims, we must follow the commands of Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta'Ala) and his messenger (pbuh), and we must unite ourselves into a single nation and a single Ummah under one leader.
Therefore, establishing a Khilafah uniting all Muslim nations is a religious duty on every Muslim, and it is just as important as establishing salat, fasting Ramadan and giving zakat. Not only is it a religious duty on every single Muslim, but it will also lead to economic prosperity, justice, peace and security for all Muslim communities living throughout the world.
Why is establishing the Khilafah obligatory on every Muslim?
Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta'Ala) always mentions the believers as one community, one brotherhood and one people. In the following ayah, Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta'Ala) mentions that the Muslims were made into one Ummah to be a witness over the other nations, and the Messenger - Muhammad (pbuh) - to be a witness over this Ummah.
وَكَذَلِكَ جَعَلْنَاكُمْ أُمَّةً وَسَطًا لِتَكُونُوا شُهَدَاءَ عَلَى النَّاسِ وَيَكُونَ الرَّسُولُ عَلَيْكُمْ شَهِيدًا, وَمَا
جَعَلْنَا الْقِبْلَةَ الَّتِي كُنْتَ عَلَيْهَا إِلا لِنَعْلَمَ مَنْ يَتَّبِعُ الرَّسُولَ مِمَّنْ يَنْقَلِبُ عَلَى
عَقِبَيْهِ وَإِنْ كَانَتْ لَكَبِيرَةً إِلا عَلَى الَّذِينَ هَدَى اللَّهُ, وَمَا كَانَ اللَّهُ
لِيُضِيعَ إِيمَانَكُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ بِالنَّاسِ لَرَءُوفٌ رَحِيم (البقرة 143)
"Thus have We made of you an Ummat justly balanced, that ye might be witnesses over the nations, and the Messenger a witness over yourselves; and we appointed the Qibla to which thou wast used, only to test those who followed the Messenger from those who would turn on their heels (from the Faith). Indeed it was (a change) momentous, except to those guided by Allah. And never would Allah make your faith of no effect. For Allah is to all people most surely full of Kindness, Most Merciful".[surah 2 (Al-Baqara), ayah 143]
Also in the following ayah, Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta'Ala) informs us that Muslims are the best nation, or Ummah:
كُنْتُمْ خَيْرَ أُمَّةٍ أُخْرِجَتْ لِلنَّاسِ تَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَتَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ وَتُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَلَوْ آمَنَ
أَهْلُ الْكِتَابِ لَكَانَ خَيْرًا لَهُمْ مِنْهُمُ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَأَكْثَرُهُمُ الْفَاسِقُونَ (آل عمران 11)
"You are the best umma brought forth to mankind - enjoining the correct and forbidding the incorrect and believing in Allah"[surah 3 (Al-Imran), ayah 110]
And again in the following ayat, Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta'Ala) mentions that the believers are a single brotherhood.
إِنَّمَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ إِخْوَةٌ فَأَصْلِحُوا بَيْنَ أَخَوَيْكُمْ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ (الحجرات 10)
" The Believers are but a single Brotherhood: so make peace and reconciliation between your two (contending) brothers; and fear Allah, that ye may receive Mercy". [surah 49 (Al-Hujurat), ayah 10]
إِنَّ هَذِهِ أُمَّتُكُمْ أُمَّةً وَاحِدَةً وَأَنَا رَبُّكُمْ فَاعْبُدُونِ , وَتَقَطَّعُوا أَمْرَهُمْ بَيْنَهُمْ كُلٌّ إِلَيْنَا رَاجِعُونَ (الأنبياء 92 - 93)
"Verily, this Brotherhood of yours is a single Brotherhood, and I am your Lord and Cherisher: therefore serve Me (and no other). But (later generations) cut off their affairs (of unity), one from another: (yet) will they all return to Us." [surah 21 (Al-Anbiya'), ayat 92-93]
And in the following ayah, Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta'Ala) tells the believers to be united together and not to be divided reminds them that they were enemies but that Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta'Ala) saved them from this situation and made them into brothers:
وَاعْتَصِمُوا بِحَبْلِ اللَّهِ جَمِيعًا وَلا تَفَرَّقُوا وَاذْكُرُوا نِعْمَةَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ إِذْ كُنْتُمْ أَعْدَاءً فَأَلَّف
َ بَيْنَ قُلُوبِكُمْ فَأَصْبَحْتُمْ بِنِعْمَتِهِ إِخْوَانًا وَكُنْتُمْ عَلَى شَفَا حُفْرَةٍ مِنَ النَّارِ فَأَنْقَذَكُمْ مِنْهَا كَذَلِك
يُبَيِّنُ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ آيَاتِهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَهْتَدُونَ (آل عمران 103)
"And hold fast, all together, by the Rope which Allah (stretches out for you), and be not divided among yourselves; and remember with gratitude Allah's favour on you; for ye were enemies and He joined your hearts in love, so that by His Grace, ye became brethren; and ye were on the brink of the Pit of Fire, and He saved you from it. Thus doth Allah make His Signs clear to you: that ye may be guided". [surah 3 (Al-Imran), ayah 103]
And in the following ayah, Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta'Ala) orders the Muslims and the believers to obey Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta'Ala) and His Messenger (pbuh) and not to fall into disputes because this will cause their power to be dissipated. We have seen this clearly illustrated in our situation today, were Muslims are the weakest and poorest of all nations. This has happened because we did not follow Allah's (Subhaanahu Wa Ta'Ala) commands in this ayah and we were separated into many nations and fought amongst ourselves.
وَأَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ وَلا تَنَازَعُوا فَتَفْشَلُوا وَتَذْهَبَ رِيحُكُمْ وَاصْبِرُوا إِنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَ الصَّابِرِينَ , وَلا تَكُونُوا كَالَّذِينَ خَرَجُوا مِنْ دِيَارِهِمْ بَطَرًا وَرِئَاءَ النَّاسِ وَيَصُدُّونَ عَنْ سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَاللَّهُ بِمَا يَعْمَلُونَ مُحِيطٌ (الأنفال 46 – 47)
"And obey Allah and His Messenger; and fall into no disputes, lest ye lose heart and your power depart; and be patient and persevering: for Allah is with those who patiently persevere. And be not like those who started from their homes insolently and to be seen of men, and to hinder (men) from the path of Allah: for Allah compasseth round about all that they do". [surah 8 (Al-Anfal), ayat 46-47]
And of course, when we are separated into countries and groups and fighting amongst ourselves, we take each other to be enemies and others outside the community of beleivers as freinds. This is what Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta'Ala) warns us against doing in the following ayah:
أَمْ حَسِبْتُمْ أَنْ تُتْرَكُوا وَلَمَّا يَعْلَمِ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ جَاهَدُوا مِنْكُمْ وَلَمْ يَتَّخِذُوا مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ وَلا رَسُولِهِ وَلا الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَلِيجَةً وَاللَّهُ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ (التوبة 16)
"Or think ye that ye shall be abandoned, as though Allah did not know those among you who strive with might and main, and take none for friends and protectors except Allah, His Messenger, and the (community of) Believers? But Allah is well-acquainted with (all) that ye do". [surah 9 (Al-Tawbah), ayah 16]
Later in the same surah, Allah describes the believers as "protector-friends" of each other:
وَالْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتُ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلِيَاءُ بَعْضٍ يَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ وَيُقِيمُونَ الصَّلاةَ وَيُؤْتُونَ الزَّكَاةَ وَيُطِيعُونَ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ أُولَئِكَ سَيَرْحَمُهُمُ اللَّهُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ " (التوبة 71)
"The believers, men and women, are protector-friends of each other, enjoining the correct and forbidding the incorrect." [surah 9 (Al-Tawbah), ayah 71]
The previous ayat clearly show from the Qur'an that the Muslims must be one Ummah, one brotherhood, one community of believers. They should never fall into disputes amongst each other. This is why it is obligatory on the Muslims to establish a Khilafah, or a united Islamic state, ruled by the Islamic Shariah.
There are also proofs from the Hadith that Muslims must establish Khilafah:
As for the Sunnah, Nafi'a reported saying: “'Umar said to me that he heard the Prophet (Salallahu Alaihi Wasalaam) saying: Whoso takes off his hand from allegiance to Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta'Ala) will meet Him (Subhaanahu Wa Ta'Ala) on the Day of Resurrection without having any proof for him, and whoso dies whilst there was no bay'ah (allegiance or a pledge) on his neck (to a Khaleefah), he dies a death of jahilliyah.”
This is because the state of the people during the jahiliyah and before Islam was that they were divided with no single leader. They were constantly fighting amongst themselves wasting their efforts and resources. After Islam came, it united them into a single Ummah and a single community of believers with one leader. So whoever chooses not to participate in this new united community has reverted to the state of the pre-Islamic jahiliyah.
Also, the following hadith serves as a warning as to how dangerous it is to be divided into groups with more than one leader. It also proves that the Muslims must always have only one leader:
As narrated by 'Arfajah that he heard the Messenger of Allah (Salallahu Alaihi Wasalaam) say, “If someone comes to you when you are united over one man and wants to break your strength and divide your unity, kill him.”
After reading the previous ayat and ahadith, some people may say: There is no longer an Islamic nation, and there is no Khaleefah today to give bay'ah or allegiance to, so what can we do?
The answer to this is clear. The previous ayat and ahadith give us an image of what the state of the Muslims should be. Therefore, if an Islamic state existed we must protect it at all cost. However if no Islamic state exists, such as our situation today, this does not excuse us from not following these ayat and ahadith.
We must work to re-establish Khilafah and appoint our best person to be a Khaleefah, giving him our allegiance and pledge to follow him as long as he does not go against the Qur'an or the Sunnah.
What does the Islamic Khilafah government look like?
Many Islamic scholars have gone into the details of how the Islamic Khilafah should work, and how the government should be structured. This is an issue best left for another discussion, because it cannot be summarized here except to say:
The Khilafah must include all Muslim nations in the world.
There must be only one Khaleefah or Ameer, with all Muslims giving him their bay'ah or allegiance.
There must be a shoora council that gives advice and help to the Khaleefah.
Shariah law must be implemented in the Islamic state regarding all issues.
There must be only one military, with a single leadership appointed by the Khaleefah.
There must be only one currency for the Islamic state.
There must be no discrimination against any group, ethnicity or nationality. All Muslims must be treated equally.
The Arabic language should be used as a uniting language to allow various ethnic groups to communicate. It should be taught as a second language, in addition to the local languages of every ethnic group.
5. So what can Muslims do today to start building the Khilafah?
The first step is for Muslims to feel that all Muslims are one people and one nation. There is no difference between them because of race or color, and the best of them are the most pious. Once the majority of Muslims in the world have realized this fact, that we are all brothers in Islam, and once they have established the Khilafah in their own hearts, it will become a reality on our lands.
Muslims around the world must realize that the "Muslim" countries that exist today are a temporary stage that the Islamic Ummah is passing through. It is simply the post-colonial stage, and it is not a permanent situation. A person cannot be a Muslim if they are content with the current situation. This is a temporary phase we are passing through, and the goal is to unite the Ummah into a single nation, with one leader, ruled by the Islamic Shariah.
Once all Muslims have accepted this fact, they must also live their lives by the Islamic Shariah law. How can we claim to be Muslims if we do not follow what Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta'Ala) and His Messenger (pbuh) have commanded us to do? We must also know that the Islamic Shariah law is the most perfect and just system, and establishing it is for our own benefit because it will result in a healthy society free of crime and injustice.
Finally, in addition to acting like a single Ummah and living by the Islamic Shariah, Muslims must also increase their knowledge about Islam. They must start to build their knowledge by studying the Qur'an and its tafseer from trustworthy scholars. They must study the seerah and the sunnah of prophet Muhammad (pbuh), and read more about Islamic Aqeedah and Fiqh. What is more important than learning the religion of Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta'Ala)??
With these first steps, it will become easy to establish the Khilafah. Once the Ummah is ready with these basic principles, and with Allah's (Subhaanahu Wa Ta'Ala) guidance and help, the Khilafah will be established to unite all Muslims into one Ummah again inshallah.
May Allah (swt) guide us all to the right path, and may Allah (swt) unite all Muslims across the entire world into one nation, and make them a single brotherhood and a single Ummah living under Islamic Shariah ... Ameen.
