哈里发任职的时间并没有固定期限。只要哈里发遵循沙里亚，执行其法律，并能够履行国家的职责和哈里发的责任，他便继续在任。这是因为关于效忠（Bay'ah）的经文是以不定式（Mutlaq）的形式出现的，并不限定于任何特定的时间段。安纳斯·本·马立克传述：安拉的使者ﷺ说：

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:

“即使你们被一个头发像葡萄干的埃塞俄比亚奴隶统治，你们也要听从并服从。”在另一段传述中，先知ﷺ说道：

“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:

“只要他以安拉的经典引导你。”此外，所有哈里发·拉希德们都接受了不设期限（穆拉格）的效忠宣誓（拜尔阿），即圣训中所提及的那种。他们的任期并非有限期的，而是每一位都担任哈里发之职，直至去世；这代表了圣门弟子（愿安拉喜悦他们）的一致共识，证实哈里发之职并非有限任期，而是不受限制的。因此，若某位哈里发被授予效忠宣誓，他便将留任其职，直至去世。

“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.

然而,如果哈里发发生了某种变化,使其不再适合担任此职,或necessitated其被罢免,那么他的任期将被终止,并被罢免。但这不能被理解为对其哈里发任期的限制,而仅仅表明哈里发的条件遭到了违反。效忠(Bay'ah)的措辞、经过伊斯兰法律文本确认的内容以及众圣门弟子的普遍共识,都表明哈里发的任期是无限期的。其限制仅在于哈里发所承担的职责范围,即他之所以获得效忠,是为了依照《古兰经》和圣训进行统治,并执行其中的律法。如果他不遵循沙里亚,或不加以实施,那么就必须罢免他。

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.