Khalifa: Who is fit to be our leader?

A few young university students were distributing leaflets. Some were talking to fellow Muslim students about the present political and religious situation of Muslims. What Muslims needed, they were arguing, is to go back to Islamic law, Sharia, and work towards choosing a Khalifa, (also known as Caliph) to be the leader of the whole Muslim world. In Islamic terms, Khalifa is the successor of Muhammad, the Prophet of Islam, and head of the Muslim community. He is addressed as Amirul Muminin, the leader of the believers.

After Muhammad died, the system continued for 1,400 years but was abolished by Mustafa Kamal Ataturk in 1924 and since then no effort has been fully succesful to choose a successor for this position.

Who can be a Khalifa?

Many Muslims see that it is a very difficult, if not impossible, task. Some groups among the Sufis and others, like the Ahmadiyya, already have such a system but their leaders are not recognised as leaders outside their own groups. Through continous bloodshed of Muslims and non-Muslims, a group of Sunni Muslims in Iraq and Syria known as ISIS (also ISIL) in July 2014 claimed their leader as the Khalifa of all Muslims. Its bloodshed of opposition is a reminder of the Muslim history of how often a new khalifa would come to power through murder and slaughter. 

In the light of the Bible, Christians do not have to choose a Khalifa. God has already chosen one. He is the one who claimed, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me." (Matthew 28:18). According to Islamic teaching he is a Prophet and an apostle of God. He is known as Jesus, the Messiah.

He is still alive and is inviting all the people of the world to submit to his leadership. Many have accepted him as their Khalifa, and have pledged allegiance to him by becoming members of his kingdom. Many testify that he has already fulfilled his many promises, as written in the Torah and the Sahaif Anbia (books of the Prophets). His invitation to the people of this earth is still open:

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." (Matthew 11:28-30)

"I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." (John 8:12)

"I have come into the world as a light, so that no-one who believes in me should stay in darkness." (John 12:46)

"Behold I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades." (Revelation 1:18)

Jesus claimed many other things which are found in the New Testament section of the Bible. If you would like a copy in the English language, please write to the address below.

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