The Blessings of Khilafat

Bismillahi Arrahmani Arraheem

The Muslim ummah in this day and age is in an utter state of dissaray, being attacked from all sides as well as from within. There is no such thing as real Muslim unity, because if there were, Islam at this moment would be triumphant, and our enemies defeated. There are multitudes of Muslims, but quantity without quality is meaningless. Though it is true that religion in general is on the decline, while secularism and irreligion is on the rise, Islam which stands out as the one true religion is also, unfortunately, in a state of weakness and vulnerability. We have lost our honour and dignity, we are under the curse of Allah for our idolatry and insolence towards our Lord. The Holy Quran has repeatedly warned us against this state of ours, by mentioning the example of the Israelites, who were also cursed for rejecting the glad tidings and commandments brought by their Prophets. Allah favoured the Children of Israel over all other nations, bestowed upon them the greatest blessing of all - Prophets - so much so that when one Prophet died, another would succeed him. The Muslims have also been given a great blessing because our dispensation has the Holy Quran and the Holy Prophet (alaihi sala'atu wa sala'am). I am afraid, however, that this generation has failed to show its gratitude and appreciation towards Allah for giving us this religion. Nevermind the minor commandments and adhering the sunnat, the Muslims of this age have even forsaken the fundamentals of Islam, such as sala'at and zaka'at. Why should it be surprising, therefore, that everywhere in the world Muslims are suffering immensely at the hands of our enemies? Did not Allah punish the insolence of Bani Israeel by having their enemies, the Babylonians, pillage their land, destroy their temple, and take them into captivity? History is doubtless repeating itself, and this dispensation of Muslims must take heed.

إِنَّ اللّهَ لاَ يُغَيِّرُ مَا بِقَوْمٍ حَتَّى يُغَيِّرُواْ مَا بِأَنْفُسِهِمْ

Verily never will Allah change the condition of a people until they change it themselves (with their own souls).

(Ar-Ra'd 13:11)

The burden is on the Muslims as a collective ummah to revive our observance of Islam and rekindle our search for knowledge. It is not a major effort to do so individually, but when a Muslim corrects his attitude and committs himself to the cause of Allah, the Heavenly bounties and blessings will pour forth so quickly and abundantly that one will be amazed, and one's faith will increase manifold.

Zealous Muslims of this age, though they are marginal and even demonized, have taken it upon themselves to work for the restoration of the khilafat, the leadership of the ummah. However, they should realize that of their own efforts, however noble, they can never succeed in restoring something which is a bounty of Allah, and which is solely His perogative - the khilafat. The khalifa is not appointed by mere men, the coming of a khalifa is like the coming of a Prophet - He is sent by God. Our Nabi (alaihi sala'atu wa sala'am) said:

Allah never sends a prophet or gives the khilafat to a khalifa but that he (the prophet or the caliph) has two groups of advisors: A group advising him to do good and exhorts him to do it, and the other group advising him to do evil and exhorts him to do it. But the protected person (against such evil advisors) is the one protected by Allah.

(Sahih Bukhari: Kitabul Ahkaam)

In the time of the Children of Israel, a certain Prophet, Samuel (alaihi sala'am), was commissioned by Allah to announce to the Israelites that Allah had appointed a king, Talut (Saul) over them:

وَقَالَ لَهُمْ نَبِيُّهُمْ إِنَّ اللّهَ قَدْ بَعَثَ لَكُمْ طَالُوتَ مَلِكًا

Their Prophet said to them: "(Allah) hath appointed Talut as king over you."

(Al-Baqarah 2:247)

Some might question that according to history, the khulafa rashideen (rightly-guided caliphs), were given their positions through consultation and concensus of mere men, or otherwise appointed to their office by their predecessor. Such a notion comes from not understanding the way which Allah works. He fulfills His will through the agency of ordinary men. Does He not say in the Holy Quran:

وَلَوْلاَ دَفْعُ اللّهِ النَّاسَ بَعْضَهُمْ بِبَعْضٍ لَّفَسَدَتِ الأَرْضُ وَلَـكِنَّ اللّهَ ذُو فَضْلٍ عَلَى الْعَالَمِينَ

And did not Allah check one set of people by means of another, the earth would indeed be full of mischief: But Allah is full of bounty to all the worlds.

(Al-Baqarah 2:251)

Here Allah has explained that He fulfills His divine plan through the deeds and actions of ordinary people, though they realize it not. In fact, Allah extracted retribution against His own people - the Children of Israel - by means of their foreign, idolatrous enemies. Though the enemies of the Children of Israel acted according to their own free will, and doubtless transgressed against Allah, the conditions were set by Heaven in such a way for this to occur in order to unfold the divine will.

The agenda of the Muslims should be to regain favour with Allah, as the most grassroots level, through tabligh and preaching the very basics and fundamentals of Islam which have been abandoned by the masses. Prayer is most pleasing to Allah, and one of the priorities of each and every Muslim while offering His prayers and supplications should be to beseech Allah to restore the blessings of khilafat upon this community. May Allah Subhana wa Ta'ala hear our earnest prayers and see us as worthy once again for Him to commence such abundant blessings that will fall like rain, among them being the khilafat. Ameen.