Question

Question #1MultipleChoice
Score:

After Muhammad's death, a new leader, called a caliph, was chosen. Caliph means _____.

Answer 1

The Caliphs were simply head of state. The areas whose people accepted Islam became part of the Islamic state that was continuously growing to become an empire. Difference between a Caliph and a regular a ruler (like a King or President) was that the Caliph was not chosen based on his political influence but rather his level of piety and knowledge of religion so that he may lead his people according to the rulings of the religion. Being designated as the Caliph was a very heavy responsibility as he will be held responsible for the well being of all the people under his state. They don't wanted earthly benefits or materialistic gains from their position like a King would. The first Caliph, Abu Bakar Siddiq (RA) e.g. on his death bed asked that he had some property and that it is to be sold and all the salary he had thus far earned be returned to the state treasure. That was his right - his rightly earned salary and even that he did not like to keep if he was able to give it back to the people