Moral Principles as the Basis of Islamic Culture — Page 11
designed to promote the welfare of the individual, the community or the state. During the last years. of his life the Holy Prophet of Islam com- bined in his petson. the functions of spiritual guide of the Muslims and of secular rule,- of the greater part of Arabia. This was a unique position. His successors, though not prophets, also occupied the same. P05ition. They were known as 'Khalifas', meaning Vicegerents. The regulations laid down by Islam for their selection and in respect of the. . . discharge of their functions indicate clearly the moral basis of Muslim administration. It has been explained that Islam teaches that God is the real and ultimate Master of the universe and that He has, within certain limits, etl. t_i'Usted mast~ over the 1JJ1iverse to man as such. A prophet, who is directly selected and appointed by God, t;J:ius becomes the Vicegere. ,t of God and derives his authority directly from God. On the other hand, the Head of a State in whom may be vested the authority, for purposes of administration, with which man has been entrusted over the universe, is aprointed by the people and is only a representative of the people. Islam has presented to us an instance of a Vicegerent who combines in his person both these charaders and who is known as Khalifa. From one angle he represents divine authority'and his ~lec tion l>cars the seal of divine appro·w. ai; and from another angle he is the selected or elected. cepresentative and ruler of the people. The Islamic rule with regard to the appointment of a Khalif a is that he mμst be either directly elected by the ·pcopte·or nominated by a directly elected Kha/if a, the nomination being subsequently confirmed by the people. If the nomination should be rejected by the people after th~ demise of the nominating khaJifa it would become V()id. Once he is duly appointed, whether by election or through con6nnation of his nomination, he is not liable to removal, for his appointment. is deemed to carry with it the seal of divine approval. Inasmuch ~ at Kha/if ,a combines in his per~n the authority for the exercise of spiritual as well as secular functions, h~ derives such authority both. . from God and from the people. His appointment becomes effective through the , ·11-