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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books A Victim Lost in Saqifah 1-4 Section Twoinfluence of Deviation On Shia Belief of Imamate Discourse One Imamate and Caliphate from Sunni Viewpoint Ahle Sunnat believe that: Imamate and Caliphate means rulership. Ibne Khaldun writes about the Sunni view of Imamate and Caliphate: First Description “Imamate concerns common and general interests, which in their true sense relate to Ummah. And the Ummah can choose or appoint any person as Imam.

And that person becomes responsible to administer the general affairs and common interests of the Ummah concerned.”! [1] Second Description “Caliphate is seating a person in place of the Prophet to protect religion and worldly affairs.”! [2] According to the first description, general and common interests of Ummah constitute the real meaning of Imamate and Caliphate.

The second description embraces these two elements by way of meaning: A) Administration of religious affairs (guarding faith) B) Administration of worldly affairs (policies of world) On the basis of descriptions that Sunni sect presents, it emerges to be administration of apparent rules of Islam in a society. Isfahani Ashari in his Sharh Tajreed describes Imamate as follows: “Succession of the Prophet by a person from the Ummah to establish the rules of religion.”!

As a result: The meaning of Imamate and Caliphate among Sunni sect is only supervising the political and social affairs of Ummah. [1] Ibne Khaldun: Muqaddimah , Pg. 196 [2] Ibid. Muqaddimah , Pg. 191 Other testimonies that testify the above are: Evidence 1) The Sunni sect argues the need of Ummah to have a Caliph and Imam**[1]** as says Taftazani: “Ummah must have an Imam to keep faith alive and to keep the tradition (of the Prophet) in practice.

An Imam must attend to the oppressed and restore the rights of people.”! [2] “The Prophet has commanded to carry out the decrees of God, to protect the frontiers, prepare the armies for holy war and several other things for guarding the system and supporting Islam (particularly the essence). All this cannot be achieved except by an Imam.”! [3] Evidence 2) The Sunni sect has a list of duties and responsibilities incumbent on Imam and Caliph alike.

They are as follows according to Baqilani: “He (an Imam) must be in knowledge so as to qualify him to be a judge of Muslims.