Muslim scholar, Sheikh Abdul-Rahman Muhammad Yaki states:
"The concept of khilafah is a very huge concept. Each one of us as Muslims should learn to understand what khilafah means. First of all, khilafah is the concept of the vicegerent, of people coming generations after generations to take the leadership of the religion of Islam. Allah has said in the Qur'an, "Verily I am placing on the Earth a khalifah." (Al-Baqarah: 30) And when the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) passed away he left the Ummah with Abu Bakr As-Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him). And therefore, Abu Bakr is the khalifah (vicegerent) of Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). And the same goes for `Umar and `Uthman and then `Ali (may Allah be pleased with them all).
But today our nation is going through a period of suffering. I mean the disintegration of the Ummah. And therefore, the wish for every member of this Ummah is to get a khilafah. But the question here is how can that happen?
1. That will only happen by each member of this Ummah abiding by the laws of Allah and the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). However, we have to start with ourselves by purifying our souls, all of us. Because if we have sickness in our hearts, there is no way we will produce the leadership that will lead the Ummah.
So when Allah sent the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) He told him to "warn your closest kin", so He commanded to start with those near him. Allah also said, "O those who have believed protect yourselves and (then) your families from a fire…" (At-Tahrim: 6)
2. After purification, we need to take a serious move to learn the deen and find out what Islam is really all about. Commanding the good and forbidding evil is obligatory on each one of us. That can only happen if we truly understand Islam.
3. The integration of Iman (faith) and al-`Amal as-Salih (good works) because Allah has repeatedly mentioned in the Qur'an: "Those who believe and act righteously". But our problem today is that we are separating between the two and we have become the Ummah of talk and practice has become dormant. Therefore, we can only bring a change in the world's order by our actions.
To give an example, Islam spread throughout the world not by the sword, rather, through the righteous deeds of our predecessors. What I would advise each member of this community is to act according to the laws of Allah, but force, coercion and violence can never solve our problems. If Muslims throughout the world understand Islam in a perfect manner definitely the Ummah will again become one and then the khilafah will automatically come out.
Dr. Ahmad al-Qudah, Professor of Shari`ah at Az-Zarqa' University, Syria, adds:
"It is the responsibility of all Muslims, individuals and groups, to return to the Qur'an not only to recite it but to contemplate its teachings and work according to its guidance. We should follow it as our way of life, translate its teachings in our reality; activate it in our houses, among our children and wives and all those around us so that they may receive its guidance for implementation not for mere knowledge. At this moment we will notice a manifest change in both individual and collective behaviors. This positive change should be guided to the right direction in order to make of it a comprehensive change incorporating the whole nation. This is not an imagination or theoretical thinking but it is a reality that we can live and put into effect."
"The concept of khilafah is a very huge concept. Each one of us as Muslims should learn to understand what khilafah means. First of all, khilafah is the concept of the vicegerent, of people coming generations after generations to take the leadership of the religion of Islam. Allah has said in the Qur'an, "Verily I am placing on the Earth a khalifah." (Al-Baqarah: 30) And when the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) passed away he left the Ummah with Abu Bakr As-Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him). And therefore, Abu Bakr is the khalifah (vicegerent) of Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). And the same goes for `Umar and `Uthman and then `Ali (may Allah be pleased with them all).
But today our nation is going through a period of suffering. I mean the disintegration of the Ummah. And therefore, the wish for every member of this Ummah is to get a khilafah. But the question here is how can that happen?
1. That will only happen by each member of this Ummah abiding by the laws of Allah and the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). However, we have to start with ourselves by purifying our souls, all of us. Because if we have sickness in our hearts, there is no way we will produce the leadership that will lead the Ummah.
So when Allah sent the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) He told him to "warn your closest kin", so He commanded to start with those near him. Allah also said, "O those who have believed protect yourselves and (then) your families from a fire…" (At-Tahrim: 6)
2. After purification, we need to take a serious move to learn the deen and find out what Islam is really all about. Commanding the good and forbidding evil is obligatory on each one of us. That can only happen if we truly understand Islam.
3. The integration of Iman (faith) and al-`Amal as-Salih (good works) because Allah has repeatedly mentioned in the Qur'an: "Those who believe and act righteously". But our problem today is that we are separating between the two and we have become the Ummah of talk and practice has become dormant. Therefore, we can only bring a change in the world's order by our actions.
To give an example, Islam spread throughout the world not by the sword, rather, through the righteous deeds of our predecessors. What I would advise each member of this community is to act according to the laws of Allah, but force, coercion and violence can never solve our problems. If Muslims throughout the world understand Islam in a perfect manner definitely the Ummah will again become one and then the khilafah will automatically come out.
Dr. Ahmad al-Qudah, Professor of Shari`ah at Az-Zarqa' University, Syria, adds:
"It is the responsibility of all Muslims, individuals and groups, to return to the Qur'an not only to recite it but to contemplate its teachings and work according to its guidance. We should follow it as our way of life, translate its teachings in our reality; activate it in our houses, among our children and wives and all those around us so that they may receive its guidance for implementation not for mere knowledge. At this moment we will notice a manifest change in both individual and collective behaviors. This positive change should be guided to the right direction in order to make of it a comprehensive change incorporating the whole nation. This is not an imagination or theoretical thinking but it is a reality that we can live and put into effect."
