Khilafat-e-Rashidah — Page 118
118 KHILAFAT-E-R A SHIDAH within our own community. If the Muslims had realized that to obey “those in authority” was binding at all times and had they established organization in other parts leaving the impracticable parts of the obedience to “those in authority” aside, they would have fulfilled this commandment and Islam would have been saved from the decline that it has reached. Perhaps it was the will of Allah, the Almighty that this part of Islamic organization be implemented through the Jam a ‘at of the Promised Messiah as and the community called [ others of them] may achieve this excellence because there should have been virtue reserved for us. The Companions ra were granted the excellence that they established a combined religious and worldly organization based on Islamic principles. However, Allah, the Almighty directed our attention to the establishment of an organization, which is purely religious. It is as if Companions ra followed one part of this verse and we followed the other, so we also joined them. In short, the principles of the establishment of Islamic organization are mentioned in this verse. This command is given: (i) Islamic organization should be based on election. (ii) The Muslims should remain obedient to [those among them who are vested with authority].