THE EVOLUATION OF THE CALIPHATE IN THE LIGHT OF THE QURAN AND HADITH : A SPECIALIZED STUDY

Abstract

The Caliphate system began with the existence of the state of Medina, the scholarly form of which was established after the passing of the Holy Prophet (PBUH), when Muslims elected a Caliph on merit and formally laid the foundation of the Caliphate system. The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) used the word caliphate in several sayings. And according to a narration in Bukhari Sharif, its entire system has been described as follows: In Bani Israel, political leadership was in the hands of the prophets (peace be upon them). When one prophet passed away from the world, another prophet would take his place. And I am the last Prophet, there is no prophet after me, but there will be caliphs after me. In this noble saying, the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) described the caliphate in the sense of political leadership and governance and also made it clear that after me this political leadership and governance will be in the hands of the caliphs. This caliphate system started a golden age for Muslims. The first period of the caliphate is called the era of the Rightly Guided Caliphate, which begins with the first caliph, Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq (RA), and ends with the last caliph, Hazrat Ali Karam Allah Wajhu al-Karim, which covers a period of approximately thirty years.