Khalifa ni mtu anayewakilisha Ummah katika utawala na mamlaka, na katika utekelezaji wa Ahkam Shari'ah (Sheria za Kiungu). Uislamu umeamuru kwamba utawala na mamlaka ni ya Ummah. Ndiyo inayomteua mtu anayeyasimamia hayo kwa niaba yake, na Allah (SWT) ameifanya kuwa wajibu kwa Ummah kutekeleza sheria zote za Shari'ah.

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.

Kwa kuwa Waislamu ndio wanaomteua Khalifa, hii inamfanya awe mwakilishi wa Ummah katika masuala ya utawala na mamlaka, pia katika utekelezaji wa hukumu za Shari'a. Kwa hiyo, hawi Khalifa isipokuwa Ummah umempa kiapo cha utii (Bay'ah). Kwa kumpa Bay'ah juu ya Khilafah, Ummah kwa vitendo umemteua kuwa mwakilishi wake. Kupitia Bay'ah hii, Khilafah inakabidhiwa kwake, na hivyo anamiliki mamlaka (Sultan) kupitia Ummah, nao wana wajibu wa kumtii.

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.