Lokacin zaman Khalifa a kan mulki ba a tsayar da shi da wani ƙayyadadden lokaci. Matuƙar Khalifa yana bin Shari'a, yana aiwatar da dokokinta, kuma yana iya gudanar da ayyukan jiha da nauyin da ke kan Khilafah, to yana ci gaba da zama a kan mulki. Wannan saboda nassosin da suka zo game da Bai'ah sun zo ne a matsayin mutlaƙ (ba tare da iyaka ba), kuma ba a takaita su da wani takamaiman lokaci ba. Anas ibn Malik ya ruwaito cewa Manzon Allah ﷺ ya ce:

The time term of the Khaleefah in office is not determined by a fixed period. As long as the Khaleefah is abiding by the Shar’a, executing its laws and able to perform the duties of the state and the responsibilities of the Khilafah, He remains in office. This is because the texts concerning the Bay’ah came as indefinite (Mutlaq) and they are not restricted to any specific period of time. Anas ibn Malik reported that the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said:

"Ku ji kuma ku bi, koda an yi muku sarauta da wani bawan Habasha, wanda gashin kansa yana kama da zabibi." A wata riwayar, ya ce ﷺ:

“Do hear and obey, even if you were ruled by an Abyssinian slave, whose hair is like the raisin.” In another narration He (pbuh) said:

“Muddin da yake Shi yana shiryar da ku ta Littafin Allah.” Bugu da kari, dukkan Khulafa'u Ar-Rashidun an ba su Bay'ah ta mutlaki (ba ta iyaka ba), wacce ita ce wadda aka ambata a cikin Hadisai. Ba su kasance a kan iyakantaccen lokaci (a kan mulki ba). Kowannensu ya karbi matsayin Khilafah har sai da Ya mutu; kuma wannan yana wakiltar ijma'in Sahabbai (r.a.), wanda ke tabbatar da cewa Khilafah ba ta da iyakacin wa'adin mulki, sai dai ba ta da takura. Saboda haka, idan aka yi wa Khalifa Bay'ah, zai ci gaba da kan mulki har sai ya mutu.

“As long as He leads you by the Book of Allah.” Besides, all the Khulafaa’ Ar-Rashidoon were given an indefinite (Mutlaq) Bay’ah which is the one mentioned in the Ahadith. They were not of a limted period (in office). Each one of them assumed the post of Khilafah until He died; and this represents a general consensus from the Sahabah (r.a.), confirming that the Khilafah is not of a limited term of office but is unrestricted. Thus if a Khaleefah is given a Bay’ah, He remains in office until He dies.

لكن إذا طرأ على الخليفة تغيُّرٌ يجعله غير صالح للمنصب، أو يقتضي عزله، فإن ولايته تنتهي ويُعزل. ومع ذلك لا يُفهم هذا على أنه تقييدٌ لمدة خلافته، وإنما يُراد به بيانُ أن شرطاً من شروط الخلافة قد أُخلَّ به. إن صيغة البيعة، المقررة في النصوص الشرعية والإجماع العام للصحابة، تجعل الخلافة ذات مدةٍ غير محدودة. وإنما يتقيد ذلك من جهة ما بويع عليه الخليفة، أي أن يحكم بكتاب الله وسنة رسوله ﷺ وأن ينفّذ أحكامهما. فإن لم يُقم الشرع ولم يُطبّقه، وجب عزله.

However, if the Khaleefah underwent a change that made him unfit for the post, or necessitated his removal, his term would be terminated and He would be removed. Though this cannot be interpreted as a limitation to his Khilafah term, but merely to indicate that a breach of the Khilafah’s conditions has occurred. The wording of the Bay’ah, confirmed in the Shari’ah texts and the general consensus of the Sahabah makes the Khilafah of an unlimited term of office. It is rather restricted in terms of the Khaleefah’s undertaking of what He was given the Bay’ah for, i.e. to rule by the Book and the Sunnah and to execute their laws. If He did not uphold the Shar’a or did not implement it, then He must be removed.