哈里发是代表乌玛行使统治权与权威、并执行伊斯兰教法（真主的律例）的人。伊斯兰已规定统治权与权威属于乌玛。是乌玛任命一人代其管理，真主（SWT）也使乌玛有义务执行一切沙里亚的律例。

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.

由于穆斯林任命哈里发,这使他在统治和权威方面,以及在执行伊斯兰教法(Shar'a)的规定方面,成为乌玛的代表。因此,除非乌玛向他效忠宣誓(Bay'ah),否则他不能成为哈里发。乌玛通过向他宣誓效忠于哈里发职位,实际上就任命他为其代表。通过这一效忠宣誓,哈里发职位便授予他,他因此通过乌玛拥有权威(Sultan),乌玛有义务服从他。

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.

统治穆斯林的人,除非得到乌玛中有影响力的人物(Ahlul Hall Wal Aqd,即解开与缔结者)出于自愿和真实意愿的效忠宣誓,即Bay'ah,否则不能成为哈里发。他应当具备缔结哈里发职位所需的一切条件,此后便着手执行伊斯兰教法的律例。至于他的称号,可以是哈里发、伊玛目或信士的长官。这些称号见于可靠的圣训,也为圣门弟子的公议(Ijmaa')所认可。正统哈里发(前四位哈里发)都曾使用这些称号。阿布·赛义德·胡德里传述:安拉的使者ﷺ说: