What does the term caliph?

Answer 1

Caliph is a term that is used for the Muslim ruler of a Caliphate.

The Caliph (khalīfah ) is the head of state in a Caliphate, and the title for the ruler of the Islamic Ummah, an Islamic community ruled by the Shari'ah(Islamic Law). It is a transcribed version of the Arabic word Khalīfah which means "successor" or "representative"

Answer

Caliph means representative of God on earth

do you believe prophet talked about every detail part of life and did not said abything about political leader of Islam Ummah and left it for people to themselves select any one they like by voting or any other way they wish?

Caliph literally means deputy. and is representative of God in earth for political leadership of Islamic government.

Quran 6:57 says:

إِنِ الْحُكْمُ إِلَّا لِلَّهِ

"The command rests with none but Allah:"

(the word حکم in this verse (command) has same root and meaning of word حکومت meaning government)

so if prophet is really messenger of God so according to above verse did appoint the Caliph or not?

or left it for people select it?

Quran 2:30 says:

"I am appointing Caliph on earth"

إِنِّي جَاعِلٌ فِي الْأَرْضِ خَلِيفَةً

this verse uses exactly the Arabic word for Caliph.

if God appoints Caliph did God appoint the Caliph after prophet? or left it for people select it by voting or shura or etc. anyway voting shura,.. are not appointing by God and are appointing by people.

also this verse:

يَا دَاوُودُ إِنَّا جَعَلْنَاكَ خَلِيفَةً فِي الْأَرْضِ فَاحْكُم بَيْنَ النَّاسِ بِالْحَقِّ وَلَا تَتَّبِعِ الْهَوَىٰ فَيُضِلَّكَ عَن سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَضِلُّونَ عَن سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ شَدِيدٌ بِمَا نَسُوا يَوْمَ الْحِسَابِ ﴿ص: ٢٦﴾

[We said], "O David, indeed We have made you a successor upon the earth [Caliph], so judge between the people in truth and do not follow [your own] desire, as it will lead you astray from the way of Allah." Indeed, those who go astray from the way of Allah will have a severe punishment for having forgotten the Day of Account. [38:26]

uses exactly the Arabic word for Caliph. and God says:

WE made you Caliph. so did God do the same for Caliph after prophet? or this time God chaged his mind and left it people make Caliph by voting or shura or etc?

if Imams could not be political Caliph it was for Umayyids and Abbasids did not let them and kept them in home arrest or killed them and warned them to not have any political activity.

what you think? Imam Husain (sa) go to Yazid and say: please give me the politial power. and Yazid say OK come sit here in my chair and I go home good bye?!!

you are so simple thinking.

who Killed Imams of Shia? they all were killed because they wanted to be political leaders.

shura is for when God did no specify some thing or any part of religion?

for example can some Muslims make shura and change Zuhr Salat to 2 rakah? or remove fasting from Islam by shura?