Khalifat

One who follows the path of Allah

The term "Khalifah" or "Caliph" comes from the Arabic root word "khalafa", which means "to succeed, occupy a position, or lead" in its most basic sense. Caliphs held political and religious authority as leaders of the Islamic Ummah (community) following the death of the Prophet Muhammad PBUH. The First Four Rightly Guided Caliphs are considered examples of good governance and continue to inspire political and social movements in the Muslim World and beyond. The Ottoman Caliphate and subsequent political caliphates have left a significant impact on the political and cultural history of the Islamic Ummah.