❖ The Promised Caliphate and the Virtue of the Four Rightly Guided Caliphs ❖
By: Professor Zafar Ahmad
In Surah An-Nur, Allah ﷻ promises to grant caliphate to the believers and the righteous. This promise is further clarified in Surah Al-Hajj through Ayat al-Tamkeen, which refers to the establishment of religious authority. According to scholars, this promise was specifically fulfilled in the era of the first four rightly guided caliphs:
Hazrat Abu Bakr, Hazrat Umar, Hazrat Uthman, and Hazrat Ali (RA).
① Context of the Muhajirun:
The verse refers to those who migrated from Makkah to Madinah and held firmly to Islam.
② The Restriction of "مِّنكُمْ":
In Surah An-Nur, the phrase "مِّنكُمْ" following "آمنوا و عملوا الصالحات" explicitly identifies those Companions present in Madinah at the time of revelation.
③ Negation of Generality:
Had this promise been for righteous believers of all times, there would have been no need for the phrase "مِّنكُمْ". Including it shows the Qur'an's precise and eloquent mode of expression.
This is the caliphate explicitly promised by Allah ﷻ in Ayat al-Istikhlaf. It pertains exclusively to the four rightly guided caliphs:
Hazrat Abu Bakr, Hazrat Umar, Hazrat Uthman, and Hazrat Ali (RA).
This refers to later caliphs who attained the position of caliphate but without a preceding divine promise or glad tiding.
Examples include:
✔ The promised caliphate (موعودہ بہا) holds a higher rank than the non-promised caliphate, just as the Ashara Mubashsharah (ten promised Paradise) have higher distinction than other Companions.
✔ The caliphate of the four is referred to as “‘ala minhaj al-nubuwwah”, i.e., based fully on the Prophetic model.
A Sahih Hadith mentions that there will be twelve caliphs:
① Tamkeen of Religion vs. Authority:
Surah An-Nur promises establishment of the religion, not simply political rule or governance.
② Hazrat Ali (RA)'s Caliphate:
Although his government lacked full stability, his caliphate was still part of the promised caliphate, similar to how the rejection of Prophet Musa (AS) by his people did not diminish his Prophethood.
✔ A clear distinction exists between the promised rightly guided caliphate (خلافت راشدہ موعودہ بہا) and the non-promised caliphate (خلافت راشدہ غیر موعودہ بہا).
✔ The caliphate of the four rightly guided caliphs holds the highest rank, being explicitly promised by Allah ﷻ.
✔ The caliphate of later leaders continues the function of religious establishment, but without the same divine assurance.
✔ The true goal of the caliphate has always been the implementation and representation of true religion, a mission inherited from the Prophets and carried out by the rightly guided caliphs.
By: Professor Zafar Ahmad
◈ Background of Ayat al-Istikhlaf in Surah An-Nur
In Surah An-Nur, Allah ﷻ promises to grant caliphate to the believers and the righteous. This promise is further clarified in Surah Al-Hajj through Ayat al-Tamkeen, which refers to the establishment of religious authority. According to scholars, this promise was specifically fulfilled in the era of the first four rightly guided caliphs:
Hazrat Abu Bakr, Hazrat Umar, Hazrat Uthman, and Hazrat Ali (RA).
✿ Indications from Ayat al-Tamkeen (Surah Al-Hajj)
① Context of the Muhajirun:
The verse refers to those who migrated from Makkah to Madinah and held firmly to Islam.
② The Restriction of "مِّنكُمْ":
In Surah An-Nur, the phrase "مِّنكُمْ" following "آمنوا و عملوا الصالحات" explicitly identifies those Companions present in Madinah at the time of revelation.
③ Negation of Generality:
Had this promise been for righteous believers of all times, there would have been no need for the phrase "مِّنكُمْ". Including it shows the Qur'an's precise and eloquent mode of expression.
◈ Two Types of Caliphate
1. The Promised Rightly Guided Caliphate (خلافت راشدہ موعودہ بہا)
This is the caliphate explicitly promised by Allah ﷻ in Ayat al-Istikhlaf. It pertains exclusively to the four rightly guided caliphs:
Hazrat Abu Bakr, Hazrat Umar, Hazrat Uthman, and Hazrat Ali (RA).
2. The Non-Promised Rightly Guided Caliphate (خلافت راشدہ غیر موعودہ بہا)
This refers to later caliphs who attained the position of caliphate but without a preceding divine promise or glad tiding.
Examples include:
- Hazrat Mu‘awiyah (RA)
- Hazrat Umar bin Abdul Aziz (RH)
◈ The Superiority of the Four Rightly Guided Caliphs
✔ The promised caliphate (موعودہ بہا) holds a higher rank than the non-promised caliphate, just as the Ashara Mubashsharah (ten promised Paradise) have higher distinction than other Companions.
✔ The caliphate of the four is referred to as “‘ala minhaj al-nubuwwah”, i.e., based fully on the Prophetic model.
◈ The Context of the Hadith on Twelve Caliphs
A Sahih Hadith mentions that there will be twelve caliphs:
- This includes:
- The four rightly guided caliphs,
- Hazrat Hasan (RA),
- Hazrat Mu‘awiyah (RA),
- Hazrat Umar bin Abdul Aziz (RH).
- The identities of the remaining caliphs are speculative and based on scholarly interpretations.
- Some scholars also include Imam Mahdi in this count.
◈ Difference Between Caliphate and Mere Governance
① Tamkeen of Religion vs. Authority:
Surah An-Nur promises establishment of the religion, not simply political rule or governance.
② Hazrat Ali (RA)'s Caliphate:
Although his government lacked full stability, his caliphate was still part of the promised caliphate, similar to how the rejection of Prophet Musa (AS) by his people did not diminish his Prophethood.
❖ Summary
✔ A clear distinction exists between the promised rightly guided caliphate (خلافت راشدہ موعودہ بہا) and the non-promised caliphate (خلافت راشدہ غیر موعودہ بہا).
✔ The caliphate of the four rightly guided caliphs holds the highest rank, being explicitly promised by Allah ﷻ.
✔ The caliphate of later leaders continues the function of religious establishment, but without the same divine assurance.
✔ The true goal of the caliphate has always been the implementation and representation of true religion, a mission inherited from the Prophets and carried out by the rightly guided caliphs.
