Khalifah (Caliph/Successor)
The political and religious leader of the Muslim community after the Prophet's passing.
Khalifah (caliph) means "successor" or "representative" and refers to the leader of the Muslim community (ummah) after the passing of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). In Sunni Islam, the four rightly guided caliphs (al-Khulafa' al-Rashidun) are recognized: Abu Bakr al-Siddiq, Umar ibn al-Khattab, Uthman ibn Affan, and Ali ibn Abi Talib.
The rightly guided caliphs played a crucial role in the preservation and standardization of prayer practice. Abu Bakr preserved the Prophet's sunnah during a time of apostasy (riddah). Umar established the tarawih prayer as a congregational prayer during Ramadan. Uthman standardized the text of the Quran. Ali was known for his deep devotion in prayer — it is said that an arrow was removed from his leg during prayer without him noticing.
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "The caliphate after me will last thirty years, then it will become a kingdom" (Sunan al-Tirmidhi). The period of the four rightly guided caliphs lasted from 632 to 661 CE and is considered in the Sunni tradition as the golden era of Islamic governance.
Related terms
Salaf (The Pious Predecessors)
The first three generations of Muslims: sahabah, tabi'in, and tabi' al-tabi'in.
Tawaf (Circumambulation of the Kaaba)
The ritual of walking seven times around the Kaaba counterclockwise as part of Hajj and Umrah.
Arba'een (The 40th Day)
The 40th day after Imam Husayn's martyrdom, marked by the world's largest pilgrimage.
Mafatih al-Jinan (Keys to Paradise)
The most widely used Shia prayer book, compiled by Shaykh Abbas al-Qummi.
Fiqh (Islamic Jurisprudence)
The Islamic legal science that derives practical rules from the Quran and Sunnah.
Salat al-Mayyit (Funeral Prayer)
The prayer for the deceased, performed before the burial.