what's a caliph?

Question

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Answer 1

"The word 'Caliph' is the English form of the Arabic word 'Khalifa,' which is short for Khalifatu Rasulil-lah. The latter expression means Successor to the Messenger of God, the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be on him). The title 'Khalifatu Rasulil-lah'. was first used for Abu Bakr, who was elected head of the Muslim community after the death of the Prophet."

Answer 2

Caliph is the title for the Islamic leader of the Ummah, or community of Islam. It is a transliterated version of the Arabic word خليفة KhalÄ«fah (help·info) which means "successor" or "representative". Some of the early leaders of the Muslim community following Muhammad's (570–632) death called themselves "Khalifat Allah", meaning representative of God, but the alternative title of "Khalifat rasul Allah", meaning the successor to the prophet of God, eventually became the standard title. Some academics prefer to transliterate the term as KhalÄ«f.

Caliphs were often also referred to as Amīr al-Mu'minīn (أمير المؤمنين) "Commander of the Faithful", or, more colloquially, leader of the Muslims. This title has been shortened and romanized to "emir". It is also found as a personal name in some countries (Amir or Aamir).

(Caliph, Khalīfah, also became the term used to designate the head of a Sufi order.)

After the first four caliphs (Abu Bakr, Umar ibn al-Khattab, Uthman ibn Affan, and Ali ibn Abi Talib), the title was claimed by the Umayyads, the Abbasids, and the Ottomans, as well as by other, competing lineages in Spain, Northern Africa, and Egypt. Most historical Muslim rulers simply titled themselves sultans or amirs, and gave token obedience to a caliph who often had very little real authority. The title has been defunct since the Republic of Turkey abolished the Ottoman caliphate in 1924.

Answer 3

A Caliph is a title given to a successor of Prophet Muhammad as temporal and spiritual head of Islam.
Caliph is an Arabic word that litterally means successor or the one in charge.

Answer 4

successor.


Caliph is the title for the Islamic leader of the Ummah, or community of Islam. It is a transliterated version of the Arabic word خليفة KhalÄ«fah (help·info) which means "successor" or "representative". Some of the early leaders of the Muslim community following Muhammad's (570–632) death called themselves "Khalifat Allah", meaning representative of God, but the alternative title of "Khalifat rasul Allah", meaning the successor to the prophet of God, eventually became the standard title. Some academics prefer to transliterate the term as KhalÄ«f.

Caliphs were often also referred to as Amīr al-Mu'minīn (أمير المؤمنين) "Commander of the Faithful", or, more colloquially, leader of the Muslims. This title has been shortened and romanized to "emir". It is also found as a personal name in some countries (Amir or Aamir).

(Caliph, Khalīfah, also became the term used to designate the head of a Sufi order.)

After the first four caliphs (Abu Bakr, Umar ibn al-Khattab, Uthman ibn Affan, and Ali ibn Abi Talib), the title was claimed by the Umayyads, the Abbasids, and the Ottomans, as well as by other, competing lineages in Spain, Northern Africa, and Egypt. Most historical Muslim rulers simply titled themselves sultans or amirs, and gave token obedience to a caliph who often had very little real authority. The title has been defunct since the Republic of Turkey abolished the Ottoman caliphate in 1924.

Answer 5

also spelled Calif, Arabic Khalifah (“successor”), ruler of the Muslim community. When Muhammad died (June 8, 632), Abu Bakr succeeded to his political and administrative functions as khalifah rasul Allah, or “successor of the Messenger of God,” but it was probably under 'Umar ibn al-Khattab, the second caliph, that the term caliph came into use as a title of the civil and religious head of the Muslim state. In the same sense, the term was employed in the Qur'an in reference both to Adam and to David as the vice-regents of God.

Answer 6

The Caliph is considered he eminient one in the Arab world. The ruler by advisory position. The title predates Isalm

Answer 7

Caliph — ... is the term or title for the Islamic leader of the Ummah, or community of Islam

Answer 8

go to http://www.google.com/
type into the search box: definition: caliph

and you will get definitions from several sources

Answer 9

it is one of those things that sticks to the bottom of your shoe that the dog leaves in the backyard.