Khilafat-e-Rashidah — Page 225
KHILAFAT-E-R A SHIDAH 225 offspring which did not belong to either category. How was the covenant of leadership fulfilled for them? Some of them received leadership and some were benefited through those leaders. This verse also replies to the objection of the verse of Succession that the covenant was made with all, then how can the Khilafat be personalized. I am, however, pointing to a different aspect of the verse that the covenant of leadership was made with the offspring of Hadrat Ibr a h i m as (Abraham). How was the covenant fulfilled? After him there were four Prophets from his offspring, i. e. Hadrat Ism a ‘ i l as (Ishmael), Hadrat Is ha q as (Isaac), Hadrat Ya‘q u b as (Jacob) and Hadrat Y u suf as (Joseph). These four Prophet Khulaf a ’ accomplished the mission of Hadrat Ibr a h i m as (Abraham). The four are mentioned at another place in the Holy Quran: (Al-Baqarah, 2:261) “And remember when Abraham said, ‘My Lord, show me how You give life to the dead. ’ He said, ‘Have you not believed?’ He said, ‘Yes, but I ask this that my heart may be at