What does caliphate mean?

Definitions for caliphate
ˈkæl əˌfeɪt, -fɪt, ˈkeɪ lə-caliphate

This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word caliphate.

Princeton's WordNet

  1. Caliphatenoun

    the era of Islam's ascendancy from the death of Mohammed until the 13th century; some Moslems still maintain that the Moslem world must always have a calif as head of the community

    "their goal was to reestablish the Caliphate"

  2. caliphatenoun

    the territorial jurisdiction of a caliph

  3. caliphatenoun

    the office of a caliph

Wiktionary

  1. caliphatenoun

    A unified federal Islamic government for the Muslim world, ruled by an elected head of state or caliph.

Wikipedia

  1. Caliphate

    A caliphate or khilāfah (Arabic: خِلَافَة, Arabic pronunciation: [xi'laːfah]) is an institution or public office under the leadership of an Islamic steward with the title of caliph (; Arabic: خَلِيفَة Arabic pronunciation: [xæ'liː'fæh], pronunciation ), a person considered a political-religious successor to the Islamic prophet Muhammad and a leader of the entire Muslim world (ummah). Historically, the caliphates were polities based on Islam which developed into multi-ethnic trans-national empires. During the medieval period, three major caliphates succeeded each other: the Rashidun Caliphate (632–661), the Umayyad Caliphate (661–750), and the Abbasid Caliphate (750–1258). In the fourth major caliphate, the Ottoman Caliphate, the rulers of the Ottoman Empire claimed caliphal authority from 1517. Throughout the history of Islam, a few other Muslim states, almost all hereditary monarchies such as the Mamluk Sultanate (Cairo) and Ayyubid Caliphate, have claimed to be caliphates. The first caliphate, the Rashidun Caliphate, was established in 632 immediately after Muhammad's death. It was followed by the Umayyad Caliphate and the Abbasid Caliphate. The last caliphate, the Ottoman Caliphate, existed until it was abolished in 1924 by the Turkish Republic. Not all Muslim states have had caliphates, and only a minority of Muslims recognise any particular caliph as legitimate in the first place. The Sunni branch of Islam stipulates that, as a head of state, a caliph should be elected by Muslims or their representatives. Followers of Shia Islam, however, believe a caliph should be an Imam chosen by God from the Ahl al-Bayt (the "Household of the Prophet"). In the early 21st century, following the failure of the Arab Spring and related protests, some have argued for a return to the concept of a caliphate to better unify Muslims. The caliphate system was abolished in Turkey in 1924 during the secularisation of Turkey as part of Atatürk's Reforms.

ChatGPT

  1. caliphate

    A caliphate is a form of Islamic government led by a caliph, who is considered a political and religious successor to the Islamic prophet Muhammad. The responsibility of the caliph is to lead the Muslim community and implement religious laws while providing civil and administrative leadership. The caliphate is based on the principles of sharia law and represents the unity and community in Islam across political boundaries.

Webster Dictionary

  1. Caliphatenoun

    the office, dignity, or government of a caliph or of the caliphs

  2. Etymology: [Cf. F. califat.]

Wikidata

  1. Caliphate

    A caliphate is an Islamic state led by a supreme religious as well as political leader known as a caliph. The term caliphate is often applied to successions of Muslim empires that have existed in the Middle East and Southwest Asia. Conceptually the caliphate represents the political unity of the entire community of Muslim faithful ruled by a single caliph. In theory, the organization of a caliphate should be a constitutional theocracy, which means that the head of state, the Caliph, and other officials are representatives of the people and of Islam and must govern according to constitutional and religious law. In its early days, the first caliphate resembled elements of direct democracy and an elective monarchy. It was initially led by Muhammad's disciples as a continuation of the leaders and religious system the prophet established, known as the 'Rashidun caliphates'. A "caliphate" is also a state which implements such a governmental system. Sunni Islam stipulates that the head of state, the caliph, should be elected by Shura – elected by Muslims or their representatives. Followers of Shia Islam believe the caliph should be an imam chosen by God from the Ahl al-Bayt. From the end of the Rashidun period until 1924, caliphates, sometimes two at a single time, real and illusory, were ruled by dynasties. The first dynasty was the Umayyad. This was followed by the Abbasid, the Fatimid, and finally the Ottoman Dynasty.

Matched Categories

Usage in printed sourcesFrom: 

Anagrams for caliphate »

  1. cataphile

  2. hepatical

How to pronounce caliphate?

How to say caliphate in sign language?

Numerology

  1. Chaldean Numerology

    The numerical value of caliphate in Chaldean Numerology is: 4

  2. Pythagorean Numerology

    The numerical value of caliphate in Pythagorean Numerology is: 3

Examples of caliphate in a Sentence

  1. Max Abrahms:

    It's indiscriminate about who can be a soldier of the caliphate ... and it's indiscriminate about which attacks the group will claim as its own.

  2. Mike Pence:

    As we begin to bring our troops home, the American people can be assured, for the sake of our soldiers, their familiesand our nation, we will never allow the remnants of ISIS to re-establish their evil and murderous caliphate -- not now, not ever.

  3. Imam Shaikh Mohammad Tawhidi:

    'They have called me a fake Muslim imam or a Shaikh only because I expose their intentions to create a caliphate within Australia, i am considered a fake because I condemn terrorism. I am considered a fake because I oppose and expose extremism.

  4. Lindsey Graham:

    The only way you can protect America from another 9/11 is to destroy the caliphate, go in on the ground as part of a regional army, we can't outsource this.

  5. Nathan Sales:

    As the false caliphate collapsed, we saw ISIS' toxic ideology continue to spread around the globe in 2018, iSIS recognized new regional affiliates in Somalia and in East Asia. Foreign terrorist fighters headed home or traveled to third countries to join ISIS branches there. And homegrown terrorists, people who have never set foot in Syria or Iraq, also carried out attacks.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

caliphate#10000#71454#100000

Translations for caliphate

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"caliphate." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2025. Web. 22 Feb. 2025. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/caliphate>.

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