ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Ask Those Who Know Chapter 6: Concerning the Caliphate The Caliphate! And what do you know of the Caliphate? It was something which Allah sent as a test to this umma . It divided the umma ; the hungry ones yearned for it. Because of it, innocent blood was shed; for it, Muslims became kafirs ; it deceived and distanced them from the straight path; it made them enter the hell fire.

We have to make a study which, despite its brevity, should cover the inner plots and twists of the Caliphate which were gradually exposed just before and after the death of the Prophet of Allah (S.A.W.). The first thing that comes to mind is that leadership among the Arabs was an essential issue in every age. You will see them giving preference to the leader of the tribe or the head of a clan over themselves.

They do not decide anything without him; they do not take [a course of action] without his counsel and do not speak before he does. The head of the clan is usually the oldest of them, the most learned in all matters, and the most noble in terms of personality and lineage. It would appear that this leader, in dealing with his clan, exhibits wisdom, sagacity, bravery, knowledge of current affairs, generosity, kindness towards guests and all the other praiseworthy attributes.

Often, the leadership is inherited, not subject to election. We also find that the tribes and clans, despite their independence, all submit to the leadership of a single tribe which may be larger in number and property; and it has heroes in battles that protect the rest of the tribes that are under its sovereignty.

An example of that is the [tribe of] Quraysh, which assumed the leadership over the rest of the Arab tribes that submitted to it, based on the rule of chieftaincy and leadership, which entailed responsibility of [looking after] the house of Allah, the sanctuary. When Islam came, the Prophet of Allah (S.A.W.), to some extent, accepted this system of operation.

He used to appoint, over the tribes that sent emissaries to him and had accepted Islam, leaders and nobles to be his deputies to lead them in prayer, collect their zakat and be the means of communication between he and them. Then, by Allah's command, Muhammad (S.A.W.) founded an Islamic State whose laws and regulations were subject to the revelations of Allah.