The Caliphate in Islam[1]

Finally, the Turks have given up a force that was once a powerful weapon in their possession but has now become a severe and persistent problem. The decision was met with mixed feelings in both the Eastern and Western worlds. However, there is widespread anticipation of significant consequences due to the political role that the Caliphate has played in history, making it one of the most influential factors. Non-Muslims or those unfamiliar with Muslim perspectives may struggle to form an informed opinion on the Caliphate and its importance and impact. In recent years, many Muslims lacked a solid understanding of the nature of the Caliphate and its position in the Islamic world. Historical sources indicate that the Caliphate had ceased to exist as the leader and representative of the Islamic world, and the ultimate authority for Muslims. The Ottoman Caliphs carried out actions that were not endorsed by the general Muslim population. Ideally, the Turks should have been stripped of the Caliphate a long time ago, but the principle of keeping it in the hands of the most powerful Sultan in Islam prevented that. Nonetheless, Muslims' strict adherence to the law helped preserve the dignity and influence of the Caliphate, though this influence waned over time. By the start of World War I, the Caliphate's significance had almost faded away, to the point that Turkey's defeat in the war did not cause any alarm in the Islamic world. According to reports in the Western media, Ankara's unexpected decision to terminate the Caliphate in Turkey is expected to bring about significant changes and far-reaching consequences globally. European nations are particularly interested in the future of the Caliphate because the West still perceives it as a powerful force that controls the lives of the 400 million Muslims worldwide, directing them according to the will of the Caliph as the Commander of the Faithful. These states are driven by a desire to expand their influence over the entire Islamic world and are vying to exert influence over the selection of the next Caliph, ensuring that he becomes a mere puppet of their governments. However, the time when Islam required a central authority to protect it from religious persecution is long gone. Nowadays, persecution of one religion by another is rare, and people are free to practice their faith without discrimination or fear. Additionally, Islam is no longer seen as a crusade against unbelievers, making it unnecessary to entrust the Caliphate to the most powerful ruler in Islam. Even during its final years under the Ottomans, the Caliph's power was minimal, and Muslims only nominally accepted his authority. The numerous uprisings by Arabs and other Muslim nations against the Ottoman Turks during the Great War are clear evidence of this and highlight that the Caliphate holds as little significance to Islam as the Papacy does to Christianity. Instead, it serves as a purely spiritual power, detached from worldly affairs. Therefore, I find the termination of the Caliphate in Turkey to be unexceptional, and I anticipate that the consequences will be contrary to what Western nations are expecting.

Some changes are inevitable after major disasters occur. The severity of the disaster determines the extent of the required changes. Those who were unaware of the significant changes that followed World War I, one of the worst disasters in history, should brush up on their knowledge and study it more thoroughly. Conversely, those who desire change in everything except Islam may either believe that Islam is unchanging or that the Islamic world is separate from the rest of humanity and does not deserve to progress. However, this is factually incorrect as the awareness that emerged after the war impacted both the Eastern and Western worlds, and shook every nation, regardless of their religious beliefs. Furthermore, the changes that began in certain parts of the world are now spreading globally.

One lesson that Islamic nations learned after the war is that religious groups under the authority of a central religious leader no longer exist as they did in the early days of Islam. Instead, these groups have transformed into nations that must determine their own destiny and play their part in global progress based on their own judgement. Therefore, the existence or absence of the Caliphate in Turkey is no longer crucial for the Islamic nations. The interest shown by Muslims worldwide concerning the future of the Caliphate is partly due to their unfamiliarity with such significant changes and partly because they are unprepared to address the fate of the Caliph. Thus, it is incorrect to attribute Muslim concern for the Caliphate's future to its influence on their existence and national life. On the contrary, I believe that the actions taken by Turkey will serve as a precedent for other Islamic nations to rely on their own intellectual, spiritual, and material strengths, now that they are individual nations and not religious communities under the authority of a religious leader.

Although some Muslims may see the transfer of the Caliphate from the Turks to the Arabs as an opportunity to revive its temporal powers and expand its influence over the entire Muslim world, I am confident that these efforts will fail. Islamic nations are starting to realize that relying on the Caliphate to manage their affairs is no longer viable. If they want to enjoy freedom and sovereignty, they must rely directly on their national unity and spiritual-material resources. Currently, these nations are closely observing Turkey and Egypt, two countries that have undergone remarkable revitalization, with the intention of emulating their success and adopting similar policies and strategies.

As a form of government, the Caliphate is no longer necessary for Islam in the modern era. In fact, there is no longer any need for it. The final years of the Caliphate demonstrate that it is crucial to divest the Caliph of the power to control millions of people from diverse backgrounds and cultures in order for the Islamic nations to progress. Furthermore, since the Caliphate does not represent global unification through force, and Islam is not under any threat and is recognized as an independent religion worldwide, the Caliphate should only have spiritual authority. This is likely to happen over time. Both Turkey and Egypt have made significant advancements in this area, choosing to govern their affairs based on national and patriotic principles rather than religion and the Caliphate. They have already achieved great success, which will inspire other Islamic nations to follow their example.

In my view, the dissolution of the Caliphate in Turkey was the most important event to impact the East after the Great War. It is the first time in the history of Islam that this institution has been abolished, leading Muslim nations to confront profound issues and enter a period of intellectual turmoil. If they manage to comprehend and address these issues, it could lead to unforeseen consequences for Western states. These states are predominantly observing the Caliphate issue through the lens of the Caliph's actions, rather than focusing on the awakening of the Muslim nations and their intentions. Undoubtedly, raising the question of the Caliphate at this moment and in this manner will prompt many Muslim scholars to carefully analyze concerns such as:

•     Does religion mandate the maintenance of the most powerful Muslim leader, the Caliph, in the Islamic world?

•     Is it an Islamic obligation and beneficial for the Islamic nations to preserve the Caliphate's temporal authority?

•     Should the Islamic nations continue functioning as religious communities subject to the dictates of the Caliph?

•     Is it appropriate for a Caliph, who is inevitably influenced by national and political factors, to exercise his authority over millions of Muslims in accordance with national or political interests?

•     Does complete separation of religion from politics harm Islam?

I believe that once scholars explore and analyze these questions, they will reach a definitive conclusion on the status and future of the Caliphate. It will undoubtedly involve stripping the Caliph of temporal authority and preventing religious figures from interfering in political matters, while also urging Muslim nations to follow Turkey's example in this regard.

The power of the recent Caliphate, under Turkish leadership, was primarily the British colonial government's tool to prevent the Indians from rising up and declaring independence. Whenever Indian Muslims entertained such ideas, the British approached the Ottoman Sultan and requested a statement from him urging the Indian Muslims to calm down and obey British authority. These statements, like a magical wand in the hands of the British, silenced the voices of freedom and quelled potential uprisings throughout their colonies. This example illustrates the potential dangers posed by the Caliph's authority to Muslim nations. Indeed, if the scholars of these nations consult history, they will quickly realize why it is logically necessary to strip the Caliphate of its temporal authority. I cannot envision them reaching any other decision.

The Caliphate was officially declared by some Muslims to be under the rule of Sherif Hussein, who is likely to maintain this position due to his suitability in comparison to other emirs after the Turkish regime. However, there are multiple emirs who have either nominated themselves or been nominated by foreign powers with interests in Muslim nations. The resolution of this matter is still pending, which benefits Islamic nations by allowing them ample time to thoroughly evaluate the situation before appointing someone unfit for the role. This process aids in establishing new criteria for future Caliph selections.

The intense rivalry surrounding the Caliphate also has its advantages for Islamic nations, as it sheds light on the insatiable greed and deceitfulness of other nations and highlights the potential threat the Caliph's power and authority can pose to their national and political lives. It also serves as a reminder that their lives should not solely revolve around religion, without any specific purpose other than to satisfy the whims of their religious leader.

The dispute over the Caliphate is likely to persist for an extended period. However, if the Islamic world is not prepared to free itself from the Caliphate's control, this ongoing dispute will eventually lead to their readiness for such liberation. Nonetheless, in due time, the Caliph is expected to become a purely spiritual leader, with no influence beyond the spiritual bounds of their position.