Behold, your Lord said to the angles: ”I will create a vicegerent on earth”. They said: ”Will you peace therein one will make mischief there-in and shed blood?; while we do celebrate Your praise and glorify Your Holy (name)?” .He said: ”I know what you know not”! (Al Baqarah, 2: 30)
Allah s.w.t created man with purposes. One of the purposes is to be His Khalifah (vicegerent).in this capacity man is obliged not merely to serve and worship Him, but also to act in accordance with His instructions and guidance . The quran warns that if man allows himself to be misled by his arch-enemy, satan, he will be guilty of the most serious rebellion and will have to face the consequence of his action.
Base on Ibn Khatir’s view on the khalifah, khalifah means the person reproducing generation, century after century, just Allah said: “And it is Who made you (Khala’if) generations coming after generation, replacing each other on the earth” (6:165). It shows that Allah was not referring to Adam especially as khalifah, otherwise he would not allowed the angles statement: “Will you place therein those who will make mischief therein and shed blood”. The angles meant that type creatures usually commits the atrocities they mentioned. The angels knew this fact. Base on their understanding of human nature, Allah stated that He would create man from clay. The angels understood this fact from the word khalifah, which means the person who judges disputes that occur between human, forbidding them from injustice and sin as Al Qurtubi said.1
Allah has mentioned as angles do not precede Him in speaking which means that they do not ask Allah anything without permission. When Allah inform them that He was going to create a creation on earth, they had knowledge that this creation would commit mischief on earth. Then the angels said, Our Lord! What is the wisdom of creation such creatures that will cause trouble to earth and spill blood “If the wisdom behind this action is that You be worshipped, we praise and glorify You (we pray for You) we never indulge in mischief, so why create other creatures”.1
Allah said to the angels “I know what you do not know”. It means “I know the benefit of creating this type of creature outweighs the harm that you mentioned, that which you have no knowledge. I will create among the Prophets and send messengers. I will also create among them truthful, martyrs, righteous believers, worshippers, the modest, the pious, the scholars who implement their knowledge, humble people and those who love Allah and follow His Messengers”.1
Back to my main reason, here i want to talk is about khalifah al-ammah. There are many meaning for khalifah. The literal meaning for khalifah is to replace a person due to his absence, his incompetence or his death as an honour for the successor. The technical meaning for khalifah base on Ibnu Ishaq is a vicegerent on earth means a dweller and builder who will build up the earth and inhabit it. However, base on Al-Qurtubi, khalifah means specifically to Adam as since it was mentioned in Surah Al-baqarah that he was the first messenger on earth. 1
Khalifah al-ammah is the vicegerent inclusively to all Muslim and non-Muslim. He is responsible to make this earth comfortable to live. He also has to fulfil general responsibilities towards Allah, himself, fellow human beings and all creatures in earth. This is different from khalifah al-khassah that exclusively to Muslims only because only Muslims can implement Allah’s instructions, commands and administer life according to His will.2
There are a few function of a khalifah.2
1. The main function of a khalifah is to defend and maintain Islam.
2. He also is the protector of the Islamic territory.
3. Khalifah also act as the provision of troop for guarding for the frontiers.
4. He also is the head of organization and collection of zakat.
5. Decide the legal dispute.
6. Punish the wrong doers.
7. The waging of jihad against the kafir wahabi.
8. The payment of salary and administration of public fund.
9. The appointment of competent officials.
10. The most important role as a khalifah in is become the personal attention to the detail of the government.
In addition, Ibnu Khaldun in his Muqaddimah defined the khalifah as: “The representative of the Prophet; the exponent of the divinely inspired law (Shariah) and function to protect religion and the government of the world. In Khalifaj al-ammah context, he must protect the religion and all muslims without abandon the non-Muslims.2
Generally, there are many some prerequisites to become a khalifah.2 1. The main prerequisites is the khalifah must be a muslim and a man.
2. He also must be knowledgeable in Islam, and be able to make independent decisions if necessary.
3. He also must be physically able, spiritual, brave, and helpful to protect the ummah against its enemy.
4. His eyes, ears, tongue, in generally should be in in working condition.. Today, for example, an artificial limb could be used to offset an otherwise crippling injury.
5. As a khalifah, he must be politically, militarily and administratively experienced. Finally, to be a great khalifah, he must be just, have a good morals and be trustworthy.
6. He must be from The Tribe of Quraish because they used to be the leading tribe, the majority. However, many muslims scholars have commented on this prerequisite.
As a conclusion, all Muslims in this world act as a khalifah to retain the holiness of Islam and change the world become better. However, we need a leader like khalifah al ammah like the leader of many country today that can be the head of religion, country, protect his kingdom and lead the Muslims to the light of Allah without abandon non-Muslim under his responsibility.
And He has subjected to you, as from Him, all that is in the Heavens and on earth: behold, in that are Signs indeed for those who reflect. (Surah Fatir).
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