⭑ Shar‘i Necessity and Rational Justification of Establishing the Khilafah ⭑
Written by: Zāhid Mughal
A commonly raised objection is:
“Which verse of the Qur’an commands the establishment of Khilafah?”
Such questions reflect a misunderstanding of the concept of Khilafah and its critical role. They indicate that the questioner lacks a proper grasp of the issue’s true nature.
The correct question should be:
➤ Are the rights and duties prescribed by Allah obligatory?
➤ If they are, then what kind of system is required to implement and uphold them?
Khilafah is the collective governance system established for the purpose of implementing the essential rights and duties ordained by Allah.
It is not an optional or additional structure, but rather a necessary mechanism to ensure the preservation and application of the Divine commandments as outlined in the Qur’an and Sunnah.
A study of Qur’an and Hadith makes it evident that Allah has imposed various obligatory duties and rights upon humanity, such as:
➤ Punishing murderers
➤ Penalizing theft and adultery
➤ Ensuring a husband provides for his wife
➤ Upholding honesty in business and transactions
These commands are not circumstantial or temporary, but essential elements for a just and stable society.
➊ Why were these commands revealed?
To promote human welfare and moral well-being, making them necessary and non-negotiable.
➋ Can these commands be implemented automatically?
No, they require a functional, collective system.
➌ Is organizing their implementation also necessary?
Any rational mind would agree: if the rights and duties are mandatory, then their enforcement mechanism is also mandatory.
From the study of Islamic jurisprudence (fiqh) and Islamic political thought, it is evident that scholars view it as a collective obligation (farḍ kifāyah) for Muslims to:
➤ Appoint an Amīr or Khalīfah,
➤ Who ensures the implementation of Allah’s commands.
This system is termed “Khilafah”, and in the modern era it has also been described as “the establishment of Divine sovereignty.”
Those who view Khilafah as optional are essentially denying the very aim of Islam—to protect life, wealth, dignity, and other essential rights.
To consider Khilafah as a dispensable structure contradicts the core purpose of Islamic legislation.
The obligation to establish Khilafah is a deductive conclusion, rooted in reason and established Shariah premises. Therefore, it does not require an isolated textual command.
➤ If Divine rights and duties are obligatory,
➤ Then establishing a system to enforce them is also obligatory,
➤ That system is what we call Khilafah.
If:
Then it logically follows that:
A > C
If someone accepts the premises but demands separate proof for the conclusion, this reflects a faulty and unreasonable mindset.
This depends on the belief system and moral outlook of the person asking.
➤ For a secularist, the concept of human rights differs.
➤ For a socialist, the definition of justice and distribution changes.
➤ For a Muslim, the understanding of rights is grounded in Divine revelation.
From the Islamic worldview, Khilafah is the only legitimate system to ensure the protection and execution of the rights Allah has decreed.
If one accepts those rights as binding and essential, then one must also accept the obligation of establishing Khilafah.
It is the indispensable structure for implementing the Divinely ordained rights and duties.
To question its necessity is tantamount to questioning the necessity of those very commandments and rejecting the logic of obligation.
Written by: Zāhid Mughal
❖ The Importance of Asking the Right Question
A commonly raised objection is:
“Which verse of the Qur’an commands the establishment of Khilafah?”
Such questions reflect a misunderstanding of the concept of Khilafah and its critical role. They indicate that the questioner lacks a proper grasp of the issue’s true nature.
The correct question should be:➤ Are the rights and duties prescribed by Allah obligatory?
➤ If they are, then what kind of system is required to implement and uphold them?
✿ The Meaning of Khilafah
Khilafah is the collective governance system established for the purpose of implementing the essential rights and duties ordained by Allah.
It is not an optional or additional structure, but rather a necessary mechanism to ensure the preservation and application of the Divine commandments as outlined in the Qur’an and Sunnah.
◈ The Nature and Purpose of Divine Commands
A study of Qur’an and Hadith makes it evident that Allah has imposed various obligatory duties and rights upon humanity, such as:
➤ Punishing murderers
➤ Penalizing theft and adultery
➤ Ensuring a husband provides for his wife
➤ Upholding honesty in business and transactions
These commands are not circumstantial or temporary, but essential elements for a just and stable society.
✦ Fundamental Questions
➊ Why were these commands revealed?
To promote human welfare and moral well-being, making them necessary and non-negotiable.
➋ Can these commands be implemented automatically?
No, they require a functional, collective system.
➌ Is organizing their implementation also necessary?
Any rational mind would agree: if the rights and duties are mandatory, then their enforcement mechanism is also mandatory.
❖ The Shar‘i and Rational Foundations of Khilafah
✔ Position of the Fuqahāʾ
From the study of Islamic jurisprudence (fiqh) and Islamic political thought, it is evident that scholars view it as a collective obligation (farḍ kifāyah) for Muslims to:
➤ Appoint an Amīr or Khalīfah,
➤ Who ensures the implementation of Allah’s commands.
This system is termed “Khilafah”, and in the modern era it has also been described as “the establishment of Divine sovereignty.”
✿ Denial of Khilafah’s Obligation: A Serious Misconception
Those who view Khilafah as optional are essentially denying the very aim of Islam—to protect life, wealth, dignity, and other essential rights.
To consider Khilafah as a dispensable structure contradicts the core purpose of Islamic legislation.
✔ The Nature of Evidence and Deductive Reasoning
❖ No Separate Proof Required
The obligation to establish Khilafah is a deductive conclusion, rooted in reason and established Shariah premises. Therefore, it does not require an isolated textual command.
➤ If Divine rights and duties are obligatory,
➤ Then establishing a system to enforce them is also obligatory,
➤ That system is what we call Khilafah.
✦ Analogy from Logic
If:
- A > B
- B > C
Then it logically follows that:
A > C
If someone accepts the premises but demands separate proof for the conclusion, this reflects a faulty and unreasonable mindset.
◈ Khilafah and the Notion of Good (Maṣlaḥah)
❖ Is the Collective System Required to Be in the Form of Khilafah?
This depends on the belief system and moral outlook of the person asking.
➤ For a secularist, the concept of human rights differs.
➤ For a socialist, the definition of justice and distribution changes.
➤ For a Muslim, the understanding of rights is grounded in Divine revelation.
✿ Islamic Perspective
From the Islamic worldview, Khilafah is the only legitimate system to ensure the protection and execution of the rights Allah has decreed.
If one accepts those rights as binding and essential, then one must also accept the obligation of establishing Khilafah.
❖ Conclusion
Khilafah is not optional.It is the indispensable structure for implementing the Divinely ordained rights and duties.
To question its necessity is tantamount to questioning the necessity of those very commandments and rejecting the logic of obligation.
