A55.0 IMAMAT AND KHILAFAT – LEADERSHIP AND CALIPH

A55.1 There are two types of Imamats, Imamat Sugra (Minor) and Imamat Kubra (Major). Imamat Sugra is the Imamat that is performed in Salaah and will be explained in the Salaah section.

 

A56.0 Qualifiers for Imamat Kubra

A56.1 Imamat Kubra is in relation to representing the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace). Meaning with representation of the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace), to interrogate all of the Muslim’s social or religious affairs and to have the power to do so. Also to have the power to ensure all the worlds Muslims follow him in the matter of non-disobedience. To have this Imamat it is necessary that one has the following qualifiers; He is a Muslim, is free i.e. not a slave, male, sane, adult, belonging to the tribe of Quraish, one who has power. It is not necessary for one to be from the family of the Holy Prophet i.e. Hashmi or from the family of Imam ‘Ali i.e. Alawi or to be Ma’soom (immune from sin), it is also not necessary that one has to be the most virtuous from their nation. They are the representatives of the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) meaning they carry the secrets of the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) and this is the reason one must follow him. Respect of such an Imam is respect of the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) and disobedience of the Imam is disobedience of the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace).

A57.0 When is it obligatory to obey the Imam

A57.1 It is obligatory on all Muslims to obey the Imam when his orders are not against Shariah (Islamic Law), because, one cannot follow anybody’s orders if they are against Shariah.

A57.2 An Imam should be made only if he is courageous, politician and an Islamic scholar (Alim) or works with the help of scholars.

A57.3 A female or child’s Imamat is not allowed. An Imam is not dismissed if he involves himself with sin.

A58.0 KHULAFA-E-RAASHIDEEN – PIOUS CALIPHS

A58.1 After the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) his true Caliphs and related Imam is Sayyidina ‘Abu Bakr Siddique (may Allah be pleased with him). After him it is Sayidina ‘Umar Farooque (may Allah be pleased with him). Then it is Sayyidina ‘Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him). After him it is Sayyidina ‘Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) and then Imam Hasan (may Allah be pleased with him). These leader’s Khilafah is known as Raashida (Pious) because these great companions gave true representation of the Prophet.

A59.0 The length of Khilafat Raashida

The true pious Khilafah as per the traditions of the Prophet lasted thirty years. Meaning it finished after six months of true Khilafah performed by Imam Hasan (may Allah be pleased with him). Then the leader of Muslims Sayyidina ‘Umar bin ‘Abdul Aziz performed the pious Khilafah, and Imam Mahdi (may Allah be pleased with him) will perform true Khilafah in the final era. Amir Mu’awiya was the first king in Islam. [Takmeelul Iman, Wa Kamal Ibne Hamam]

A60.0 Who is the most virtuous of Caliphs

 

After the Prophets, and out of all of Allah (The Exalted)’s creations including Jinn, Humans, Angels, the most virtuous is Sayyidina ‘Abu Bakr Siddique, then Sayyidina ‘Umar Farooque, then Sayyidina ‘Uthman Ghani, then Sayyidina ‘Ali (may Allah be pleased with them). Whoever believes that Sayyidina ‘Ali is more virtuous than Sayyidina ‘Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) or Sayyidina ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) in the outwardly Caliphate is a misguided person and from a bad sect.