Approaching the West — Page 19
A pproaching the West—19 2 Concepts of Khil ā fat: Political and Nonpolitical To understand the concepts of Khil ā fat, we have to go back to the Qur’ ā n as its original source. In Arabic, the term Khal ī fah means successor, deputy, vicegerent. In the Qur’ ā n, the terms Khal ī fah (in singular) and khulaf ā ’ and Khal ā ’if (in plural) have a wider connotation than merely civil or political leadership. The Qur’ ā n uses the title of Khal ī fah for political as well as non-political figures. For example, the title of Khal ī fah is used in the Qur’ ā n for King David who ruled Israel after winning a civil war that had followed the death of King Saul. First he ruled for seven and one-half years over the tribe of Judah, and then, after exterminating the house of Saul, he united the Jewish tribes and became the anointed king over all Israel. He was a skillful diplomat and a brilliant military leader. After his death, his son Solomon inherited an empire that covered a wide area in the Middle East. The Muslims consider David and Solomon not only kings of Israel, but also prophets of God. About King David, the Qur’ ā n says: ‘O David! We have made thee a vicegerent [Khal ī fah] in the earth; so judge between men with justice, and follow not vain desires, lest it