19th Oct 2009
Assalamu 'Alaikum waRahmatullahi waBarakatuh
All Praise Belongs to Allah (swt), and May the Salah and Salam of Allah (swt) be upon our beloved Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم
We write to you regarding the importance of learning and studying the life of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be on him) as well as the life of his Companions, may Allah be pleased with them all. It was their high character and dealings that will help us in regards to the practice of our deen; especially in this day and age where we are faced with similar fitan.
There are several events which are taking place in our time of which is a great test for the Muslim Ummah and will show how much allegiance we truly give to Islam. By learning the trials faced by the "The Rightly-Guided Caliphs" (those being Abu Bakr, 'Umar, Uthman and Ali) and relate them to our own lives and to the society we live in in order to see what we can benefit from their great examples.
The word 'Caliph' is the English form of the Arabic word 'Khalifa,' which is short for Khalifatu Rasulil-lah. The latter expression means Successor to the Messenger of Allah (swt), being our Prophet Muhammad (peace be on him). The title 'Khalifatu Rasulil-lah'. was first used for Abu Bakr, who was elected head of the Muslim community after the death of the Prophet (s).
The mission of Prophet Muhammad (peace be on him), like those of the earlier Messengers of Allah (swt), was to call people to the worship of and submission to the One True Deity. In practice, submission to Allah (swt) means to obey His (swt) commands as given in the Noble Qur'an and as exemplified to us through the "Sunnah" (the practice of the Prophet Muhammad). Abu Bakr being the successor to the Prophet, was now the head of the whole Muslim community and his primary responsibility was to continue in the path of the Prophet. Since the religion of Islam was perfected and the door of Divine revelation was closed at the death of the Prophet Muhammad, the Caliph was to make all laws in accordance with the Qur'an and the Sunnah without any additions or substractions. Abu Bakr was a ruler over Muslims but not their sovereign since sovereignty belongs to Allah (swt) alone. He was to be obeyed as long as he obeyed Allah (swt). He was responsible for creating and maintaining conditions under which it would be easy for Muslims to live according to Islamic principles, and to ensure that justice was done to all. Abu Bakr, at the time he accepted the Caliphate, stated his position thus:
The Caliphs who followed in the Prophet's foot steps are called 'The Rightly-Guided Caliphs' (Al-Khulafa-ur Rashidun in Arabic). They are the first four Caliphs: Abu Bakr, 'Umar, Uthman and Ali. All four were among thc earliest and closest Companions of the Prophet (peace be on him). They lived simple and righteous lives and strove hard for the religion of Allah (swt). Their justice was impartial, their treatment of others was kind and merciful, and they were one with the people. After these four, the later Caliphs started to assume the manners of kings and emperors and the true spirit of equality of ruler and ruled slowly started to diminish in the political life of Muslims to the sad affairs of today's time.
It should be clearly understood that the mission of Prophet Muhammad (peace be on him), and hence that of the Rightly-Guided Caliphs, was not political, social or economic reform, although such reforms were a logical consequence of the success of this mission, nor the unity of a nation and the establishment of an empire, although the nation did unite and vast areas came under one administration, nor the spread of a civilization or culture, although many civilizations and cultures developed, the true mission was only to deliver the message of Allah (swt) to all the peoples of the world and to invite them to submit themselves to Him (swt), while being the foremost among those who submitted - and call them towards that which will give them success in this life and hereafter.
All Praise Belongs to Allah The Rabb Al'Aalameen.
Jazakumullahu Khayran!
Wassalaamu 'Alaikum waRahmathullahi waBarakaathuhu.
Written by Abu Affan. (London, UK.)
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