The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) - Volume II — Page 546
Seal of the Prophets - Volume II 546 from office after being elected as the Amīr or Khalīfah due to a shortcoming or weakness, is one which requires extensive analysis. In this respect, Islām has made a distinction between religious and secular rulers. Religious rulers infer those leaders who possess religious government or a mixture of both religious and secular government. Secular rulers imply such leaders who merely administer a secular government. With regards to the first category of rulers, Allāh the Exalted states in the Holy Qur’ān: “O ye who believe! Allāh has promised to those among you who instill within them a high level of faith, and perform good works of a high order, that He will surely appoint them as Successors in the earth, as he made Successors from among those who were before them; and that Allāh will grant strength and power to the religion He has chosen for the Khulafā’ through their persons; and that He will give them in exchange security and peace after their fear. These people shall always worship me, and they will not associate anything with Me. Those who do not obey these Khalīfahs, shall be among the treacherous and rebellious. ” 1 It is ascertained from this verse of the Holy Qur’ān that the Khilāfat of religious Khulafā’ is established by the special Power and Will of God the Exalted. They receive special succour from Allāh the Exalted and their purpose is to grant power and strength to the religious system of government. It is for this reason that a person who does not render obedience to such people is considered to be among the disobedient and rebellious. A practical example of this is narrated in a Ḥadīth : 1 An-Nūr (24:56)