Why do we Need the Khilafah?

The presence of a demand by a handful of parties who asked that the government should dissolve the Islamic organizations that called for the Khilafah, surely ought to be questioned. Considering that the obligation of establishing the Khilafah is a shar’ie obligation which has clear daleels based on the Qur’an, Sunnah and Ijma’ of the Companions. It is not surprising that the madhab imams and the ulama’s agreed on the obligation.

Imam al-Qurthubi in his tafseer, al-Jâmi’ li Ahkâm al-Qur`ân stated that there is no difference of opinion among the ummah, as well as the ulama’s, about the wajib ruling on appointing a Khalifah, except that was reported from Al-Asham, who indeed is Asham (deaf) from the shari’ah. In tune with that, Imam an-Nawawi in his kitab, Sharah Saheeh Muslim wrote that the ummah and the ulama’s had agreed on this obligation.

The existence of a Khilafah is absolutely necessary in relation to three important matters in Islam.

First, the obligation of the implementation of Islamic Shari’ah in kaffah (fullness) which is the consequence of a Muslim’s imaan. It is impossible for it to become a reality without the existence of the Khilafah. Because, only the system of Khilafah has a clear pillar, namely sovereignty in the hands of shara’ (Islamic) law.

While other systems like democracy, kingdom or theocracy handed over the sovereignty of the source of law to men.

Second, the Khilafah is needed by the ummah for the unity of Muslims. The obligation of the Muslim unity is an absolute matter (qat’i) which is commanded by the shara’ law. The unity of the ummah cannot be relinquished from the unity of the leadership of Muslims worldwide. And this will be realized if amongst Muslims, there is one Khalifah for the entire Islamic world.

About this wajib ruling of having one leader for the Islamic ummah worldwide, it was affirmed by Rasulullah (saws) in his hadith about the obligation of giving bai’ah (pledge of allegiance) to one Khalifah and the instruction to kill anyone who claims to be the second Khalifah, after the first Khalifah has existed. Rasulullah (saws) said: “If the bai’ah is given to 2 rulers (Khalifatain), kill the latter of them.” (Muslim). Based on this, Imam an-Nawawi said, “The ulama’s have agreed that it is not allowed to give the bai’ah to two Khalifahs at the same time, whether the territories of the Islamic State is big or otherwise.”

Meanwhile, the nation state system and the kingdom adopted by Muslims today have obviously been dividing the Islamic ummah and hindering a single leadership in the body of the Islamic ummah.

Third, the Khilafah is needed by the ummah to take care of and protect the Muslims. Because the main function of the Imam that becomes the head of state (Khalifah) in Islam is ar-ra’in (caretaker) and al-junnah (protector) of the ummah.

Based on this, it is the responsibility of the state to ensure the fundamental needs of every individual citizen (food, clothing and shelter), which includes guaranteeing free education and healthcare for all its people. For that, the Khalifah will manage properly the public ownership (milkiyah ‘amah) such as gold mine, oil, coal, where the amount is abundant, for the benefit of the people.

While in the system of democracy, the leaders no longer serve as the caretaker of the society, but the extortioners of the people for the benefit of the capitalists. The politics of democracy becomes a money machine to regain the political capital that was expensive or to give the way of collusion to the elite cronies of politics to enrich themselves by means of corruption and connivance.

The absence of the Khilafah has made the Muslims without any protector. Besides their land and riches being robbed, millions of Muslims are killed by the invaders. The lives of Muslims are so cheap without anyone to protect them. Whereas, Rasulullah (saws) explicitly said that for Allah the destruction of the Earth with its contents is lighter compared with the killing of a life of a Muslim without any haq (valid) reason.

It is already proven that the existence of the rulers of Muslims today is unable to protect their people. In fact, they are the murderers of their own people. They give way to the imperialist states to kill their own people in the name of war on terror.

Then, where is the danger of the Khilafah that will implement the Islamic Shari’ah which is sourced from Allah (swt), the Khilafah that will unite the ummah, the Khilafah that will take care of and protect the ummah?

Indeed, the return of the Khilafah is very dangerous for the invader countries because it will end their imperialism in the Islamic world. The Khilafah is also dangerous for the rulers of the Muslim countries who have become the puppets of the West which are shedding the blood of Muslims and give them ways to loot the Muslim countries. Because the Khilafah will bring down the traitor leaders like them.

As a result, anyone who propagandizes the danger of the Khilafah or obstructs the establishment of the Khilafah, consciously or not, directly or not, has become the trumpet of the invaders. Indeed, they are not on the side of the Muslims and Islam!

Na’udzubillahi min dzalik