Calif (Noun)
Meaning
The civil and religious leader of a Muslim state considered to be a representative of Allah on earth; "many radical Muslims believe a Khalifah will unite all Islamic lands and people and subjugate the rest of the world".
Classification
Nouns denoting people.
Examples
- The new calif of the Ottoman Empire vowed to maintain the integrity of his dominion against European colonialism.
- Osman became calif and adopted the title of Padishah-i Islam, signifying the leader of all the Islamic peoples.
- Mawlay Abdullah bin Husayn, calif of Morocco, allied with Germany and urged a jihad against the Allies during World War I.
- Throughout his life, Ayatollah Khomeini saw the creation of a global calif as his goal.
- Haj Amin Husseini declared that Germany and the calif would ensure peace for Islam after their triumph.