Khalifa shine mutumin da ke wakiltar Ummah wajen mulki da iko da kuma aiwatar da Ahkamu Shari'ah (Dokokin Allah). Musulunci ya tabbatar da cewa mulki da iko na Ummah ne. Ita ce take zaɓar wanda zai gudanar da hakan a madadinta, kuma Allah (SWT) ya wajabta wa Ummah aiwatar da dukkan dokokin Shari'a.

The Khaleefah is the man who represents the Ummah in the ruling and authority and in the implementation of the Ahkam Shari’ah (Divine Laws). Islam has decreed that the ruling and authority belong to the Ummah. It is she who appoints someone who runs that on her behalf, and Allah (swt) has made it obligatory upon the Ummah to execute all of the rules of Shar’a.

Tun da musulmi ne suke nada Khaleefah, wannan ya sa shi wakili ne na Ummah ta fuskar mulki da iko, haka kuma wajen aiwatar da dokokin Shari'a. Saboda haka, ba ya zama Khaleefah sai Ummah ta ba shi Bay'ah (mubaya'a). Ta hanyar ba shi Bay'ah a kan Khilafah, ta nada shi a matsayin wakilinta. Ta hanyar wannan Bay'ah ne ake danganta Khilafah gare shi, don haka yana da iko (Sultan) ta hanyar Ummah, kuma suna da wajibci su yi masa biyayya.

Since the Muslims appoint the Khaleefah, this makes him a representative of the Ummah in terms of ruling and authority and as well in the implementation of the rules of Shar’a. Therefore, He does not become a Khaleefah unless the Ummah gives him the pledge of allegiance (Bay’ah). By giving her Bay’ah to him over Khilafah she effectively appointed him as her representative. Through this Bay’ah the Khilafah is concluded to him, He therefore possesses the authority (Sultan) through the Ummah and they are obliged to obey him.

Mutumin da yake mulkin Musulmi ba ya zama Khaleefah sai an yi masa mubaya'ah, watau Bay'ah, daga mutanen da suke da tasiri (Ahlul Hall Wal Aqd) daga cikin Ummah, da zabi da yarda. Ya kamata ya cika dukkan sharuddan da ake bukata domin a kammala Khilafah a gare shi, sannan daga nan ya fara aiwatar da Ahkam Shari'ah. Dangane da sunansa, yana iya zama Khaleefah, ko Imam, ko Ameer na muminai. Wadannan sunaye an ruwaito su a cikin Ahadith ingantattu da kuma cikin Ijmaa'in Sahaba. Khulafaa' Ar-Rashidoon (Khulafa' hudu na farko) sun rike irin wadannan sunaye. Abu Said Al-Khudri ya ruwaito cewa Manzon Allah ﷺ ya ce:

The man who rules the Muslims does not become Khaleefah unless the pledge of allegiance, i.e. the Bay’ah was given to him by the influential people (Ahlul Hall Wal Aqd) from amongst the Ummah , with choice and content. He should fulfil all the conditions required for concluding the Khilafah to him, and thereafter proceed to implement the Ahkam Shari’ah With regards to his title, it could be the Khaleefah, or the Imam or the Ameer of the believers. These titles have been narrated in sound Ahadith and in the Ijmaa’ of the Sahaba. The Khulafaa’ Ar-Rashidoon (first four Khulafaa’) have held such titles. Abu Said Al-Khudri reported that the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said:

“Idan an yi wa khalifofi biyu mubaya'a, to ku kashe na karshe daga cikinsu.” [Muslim ne ya ruwaito shi] ‘Abdullahi ɗan al-‘As ya ruwaito cewa ya ji Manzon Allah ﷺ yana cewa:

“If the Bay’ah has been taken for two Khulafaa’ kill the latter of them.” [Narrated by Muslim] ‘Abdullah ibn al-‘A‘as reported that He heard the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) say:

“Duk wanda ya yi mubaya'a ga wani Imam, ya ba shi mafiffilcin hannunsa da 'ya'yan zuciyarsa, to ya bi shi matukar iya ƙarfinsa...” [Muslim ne ya ruwaito shi] Auf Ibnu Malik ya ruwaito: Na ji Manzon Allah ﷺ yana cewa: “Mafi alherin Imamanku su ne waɗanda kuke ƙaunarsu, su kuma suna ƙaunarku, waɗanda kuke yi musu addu'a, su kuma suna yi muku addu'a...” [Muslim ne ya ruwaito shi] Game da taken “Ameer ul-Mu'mineen”, wanda fara kiransa da shi shi ne 'Umar ibnul Khattab. Sannan ya ci gaba da kasancewa a kan taken da aka bai wa waɗanda suka biyo shi, a zamanin Sahabbai da waɗanda suka biyo su. Ba wajibi ba ne a riƙe waɗannan taken uku, sai dai an halatta a bai wa duk wanda ya jagoranci al'amuran Musulmi wasu taken daban. Sai dai kowane taken dole ne ya nuna ma'ana iri ɗaya, kamar “shugaban masu imani” ko “jagoran Musulmi” ko “Sarkin Musulmi” ko wani taken da bai saɓa wa wannan ma'ana ba. Amma taken da ke ɗauke da ma'ana ta musamman wadda ta saɓa wa dokokin Musulunci game da mulki, kamar taken sarki, ko shugaban jamhuriya, ko sarkin sarakuna, to an haramta wa duk wanda ya jagoranci al'amuran Musulmi ya yi amfani da su, domin sun saɓa wa ma'anar dokokin Musulunci.

“Whoever pledged allegiance to an Imam giving him the clasp of his hand and the fruit of his heart shall obey him as long as He can...” [Narrated by Muslim] Auf Ibnu Malik reported: I heard the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) say: “The best of your Imams are those whom you love and they love you and who pray for you and you pray for them...” [Narrated by Muslim] As for the title “Ameer ul-Mu’mineen”, the first to be called that was ‘Umar ibnul Khattab. Then it continued to be on the title given to those who followed him, at the time of the Sahabah and those who followed them. It is not obligatory to adhere to these three titles, rather it is allowed to give whoever takes charge of the Muslims’ affairs other titles. Any other title has, however, to indicate the same meaning such as ‘the ruler of the believers’ or ‘the head of the Muslims’ or ‘the Sultan of the Muslims’ or any other title that does not contradict with there meaning. As for titles which carry a specific meaning and which contradict the Islamic laws connected with ruling, such as the title of king or president of the republic or emperor, these are forbidden to be used by whoever takes charge of the affairs of the Muslims because they contradict the meaning of the laws of Islam.