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Khalifa (خليفة ) 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 that article 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.
Stewardship
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 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. This development parallels similar trends in many religions, for example Henry David Thoreau the Protestant, Thomas Berry the Catholic, and Mohandas Gandhi the Hindu, all of which deplored consumerism and elevate respect for nature to a good in itself.
Defining the Muslim Khalifa
A summary of a lecture series given by the Islamic Scholar, Gharm Allah Al-Ghamdy, defining the Muslim Khalifa. *The Khalifa Institute calls for a world wide jihad and outlines their plan to bring the global society under the dominion of Islam. *
Titular uses
Religious leaders
- 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.
Secular offices
In Morocco, the Sheriafian 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. of Shawiya, and Casablanca, of Tafilalt, of Tadla, of Tiznit and Tindouf; of Dra=Draa (a desert region); 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)
- See also Khilafah
Other use
As many titles, Khalifa also occurs in many names, and is even the name of the Arabian peninsular Al Khalifa dynasty of Bahrain (mistakingly referred to Al-Bahrein) descending from the Bani Utub tribe. As mentioned previous Khalifa can have a definition, be a first name, or family or tribe name. It is a common Arabic name, e.g. Khalifa Saleh Abdulla Haroon Saleh (founder of Oxygen//Fluid Network and a Qatari National) son of Saleh Abdulla Haroon Saleh. (The more understood definition of Khalifa is 'leader', in Islam the name Khalifa could be argued to have come from 'Khalifa Al Rasheed'.)
Sources and references
- RoyalArk here Morocco - see also other present countries
Caliphate | Gubernatorial titles | Islamic law | Islamic philosophy | Religious leadership roles
"Khalifa"