Khilafat Centenary Souvenir 1908-2008 — Page 23
Khilafat Centenary ---------------- Daud Hanif, Naib Amir, Missionary-in-Charge USA The title Khatamal Khulafa means the chief of the Khulafa. The word Khulafa is plural of Khalifa, which means a vicegerent, a successor; and in Islamic terminology it means head of the system, which provides guidance and manages affairs of the believers. This was introduced by God for the benefit of mankind from the very beginning of the world, and later revised, upgraded and perfected by Him according to needs of human evolution till its full maturity. Islam proclaims that Allah the Almighty has created the universe and everything that it encompasses with a specific purpose. For achieving the goals and proper functioning of every creation, man has been made its chief trustee, everything else being subservient to him. Man has been endowed with appropriate faculties to achieve the purpose of his life. From among men , God raises His Prophets as their guides. He discloses His will through them and provides guidance through such teachings that fulfill the needs of the time. The purpose underlying the creation of man , stated in very clear words in the Hol y Qur 'a n, is recognition of the Creator and immersing in Him through worship. All other purposes that men choose or adopt are mundane, and hence secondary in nature. Those who reflect on the creation of the univer se invariably find this exhibited throughout the ages in the annals of human history. We find Hadhrat Adam as as the first Khalifa or the Prophet appointed by God for the guidance of mankind. Through him, basic principles of communal life were introduced for the first time. The best way of governing human society was taught and implemented through Hadhrat Adam as. Thereafter, a progressive set of guidance has been provided befitting human evolution in the ever-dynamic world throughout history up to its full maturity. An yone who critically reads the history of religion cannot deny that there has been a very wise and