The Institution of Khilafah :

Should the Institution be

rest to the ‘Ulama’ or
Professionals ? A
Contemporary study.

-shahdhuan-

I hope this serves as a reading material and not as a reference for university
subjects. All of the arguments connected and raised are based on my humble
opinion and it is not complete as it only for the purpose of answering the
assignment question. However, all of the references and footnotes are relevant and
genuine. This work was done with best hope and proper research for a degree level.
Best wishes.
INTRODUCTION

Khilafah is a body responsible for implementation of the divine laws and the propagation
of Islam. It is the common leadership of all Muslims. He or they shall be the man who will
implement Shariah laws and convey dawa of Islam to the world. According to Quran and
Sunnah, khilafah is unique. And also, he shall be the representative of Ummah.

The Khilafah has already been practiced a long time ago after the Prophet Muhammad
(pbuh) era. There is group that holds the position of the Khilafah which is the Khulafah
Rashideen. The group starts with Abu Bakar, then Umar, Usman and lastly Ali Bin Abi Talib.
These are the companions that Prophet Muhammad loved most. They rule the Muslims for the
period of 30 years after the death of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). In the past, to appoint someone
to become a Khilafah, they will go through certain methods to become the Khilafah. For example
like the Syura’. The structures of the Khilafah started from the above, the Khilafah, i.e the head
of State, the Khaleefah's delegated assistants (mo'aawin Tafweed), the Khaleefah’s executing
assistants (mo'aawen Tanfeez), the Ameer of Jihad, the Governors (Wulah), the Judges (qudah),
state departments, and the state assembly (Majlis al-Ummah).1 This structure existed until the
demolition by Kamal Ataturk on the 3rd of March 19242. After the era of Khilafah Rashideen, the
Khilafah continue but they did not use the title of the Khilafah. This was narrated by at-Tirmizi
on the authority of Safeenah who said that the Messenger (saw) said: “The Khilafah in my
Ummah after me will be for thirty years. Then there will be Mulkan ‘aduudan (hereditary rule)
after that.” This hadith does not meant that there were no more khilafah after the Khilafah
Rashideen, but not compulsory for them to be called as the Khilafah. Function of the khilafah is
to be the rulers of the Muslim and leader of the Ummah. In this world, there cannot be two
khilafah and more than one state at a time. This is because, as a Khilafah, their duty is to annex
all the other present day Muslim countries thus forming one state for all Muslims. Besides that,

1 For further reference look Article 23 of Hizbut Tahrir Draft Constitution in the book The System of Islam
(Nidham ul Islam) by Taqiuddin An-Nabahani

2 Look ‘How Khilafah Was Destroyed’ by Abdul Qadeem Zallum, Al-Khilafah Publication
he who been appointed to become the leader of the Ummah, shall carry out the administration of
their decisions. He must make sure to maintain their restrictive ordinances, guarding their
frontiers, equipping their armies with weapons, and perform the worship on Fridays and the
Festivals with the Muslims.

The Institution of Khilafah consist various department and branch and also co-exist with
the Syura Council. Therefore, to obtain definite answer whether Ulema team or Professionals
should fill up the institution is difficult. Thus, for the purpose of this assignment most of the
studies would be focus to the qualification and requirement of Khalifah (the highest leader of
Islamic Polity). It is believed that the other leaders which are subordinate to the Khalifah should
also possess the same requirement. However, Khalifah should be the best of them all, strictly
best of the best.
CONDITIONS AND CRITERIAS OF CALIPH

The criteria of Khalifah are listed and followed on suggestion made Hizbut Tahrir3 and
Dr Khalid Ali Muhammad Al-Anbariy4. Their suggestion are based on authentic Hadith and
similarly related by most prominent scholars of Islam. The default requirement that must be
fulfilled by a candidate of Khalifah is Mukallaf (Muslim, sane and Baligh), a man, just or adil,
not a slave, not disable or impaired are not to be discussed. We will only touch on relevance
condition to determine whether Ulema or Professional should be the Khilafah.

Quraiysh Lineage

First and foremost Khalifah should be selected among the Quraish. Though this point
essentially eliminates the issue whether it should be Ulama or Professional, or in simple word it
doesn’t matter if he is Ulema or Professional as long as they are Quraisyh, but still it is the
criteria and a point that should be pondered. Why Quraisyh? What are their specialities? Is it
part of professionalism or Theologian?

This is an interesting view, Qurasyh before the coming of Rasulullah was the most
ignorance people in their time. However, it is said and proven that they possessed wealth and
high status in the pre-Islamic time. They are among leaders of other Arab tribe and most people
in Arab Peninsular submit to their leadership5. Even though they are popular for their kabilah
assabiyah, but still they have an organized system of management. If Persian Kisras were the
King of all Asia, Quraisy are the King of all Arabs. The coming of Islam disposed their immoral
value but retain their Arabic goodness. It is said that Quraisy in their Jahiliyyah period are the
best in entertaining their visitors and guest, and this can be seen by most Arab nowadays.

3 Article 31 of Hizbut-Tahrir Draft Constituion available in ‘The System Of Islam (Nizham-ul-Islam) by Taqiuddin
An-Nabhani

4 ‘Sistem Politik Islam : Menurut Al-Quran, Sunah dan Pendapat Ulama Salaf’ by Khalid Al-Anbariy and translated
into Malay language by Telaga Biru Sdn Bhd.

5 Especially during the time of Qusai bin Kilab source http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qusai_ibn_Kilab

 To compare Arab (Bani Ismail) and Yahudi (Bani Yaqob or Isarel) either pre Islam or
after the coming of messenger of Islam, Quraishi tend to show powerful management and
leadership skill and loyalty. In Surah Al-Baqarah , it is told many times on how ignorant,
arrogant and disobedient the bani Isarel to Moses. In fact they were sent many Messengers. To
the fact that most Jewish are successful in worldly matters and it is widely spoken that they have
the most organized occult structure should not be taken as a good management and leadership
skill. It is only an act of greed and discrimination.

Most views of Islamic scholars such as Mawardi, Khalid Al- Anbariy suggest that a
Quraysh bloodline is a must for selecting Khalifah. This is narrated in Book of Leadership in
Sahih Muslim and also in Sahih Bukhari6. But Hizbut Tahrir says that Quraysh is not wajib, it is
just mandub. Syiah on the other hand specified that a Quraysh of Ahlul-Bayt should be it. Both
Syiah and HT however received major critics by the rest of Islam community due to
Syiah’s fanatics on Ahlul Bayt and HT aggressiveness and intolerance of secularism and
democracy politics.

Proof Of Professionalism

What can be derived from the Hadith of Rasulullah narrated by Muslim is that the term
“Quraysh” extract the characteristic that possessed by them. These characteristics are relevant
to this discussion whether Ulama’or Professional suits the characteristic

Concept of Wilayatul-Faqih by Imam Khomeini clearly said that it should be rested to

Ulama’ where in Syiah they use the term Imamah instead of Khalifah. However through Sunni
view the revolution of Ayatollah to set up Republic in Iran is against the teaching of
Prophet SAW.

Back to basic, what is actually meant by Khalifah? Generally it is divided into two types,
Khalifah Adamiyah and Khalifah Rasullah/ Nubuwwah. Khalifah Adamiyah occured when the
father of human kind was brought onto earth. On the other hand the Khalifah Nubuwwah started
after the demise of Prophet Muhammad SAW where it was replaced by four Khulafa Ar-
Rasyidin. Basically Khalifah Adamiyah bears the concept of vicegerent while Khalifah
Nubuwwah bears the concept of successor ship. The Khalifah Nubuwwah used the Manhaj of

6“This caliphate should remain in Quraish as long as there are two people around” narrated by Abdullah bin Umar
Rasulullah in administrating the Islamic Polity. It was mention in authentic Hadith that Khalifah
is the shadow of Allah on the earth surface7. While it was mention in another authentic
Hadeeth that Ulema is the inheritor of Rasulullah. Caliph Abu Bakr, Umar Al-Khattab,
Uthman bin Affan and Ali bin Abi Talib have the highest status of Wali Allah or Saint, proven to
be blood related and kin to Rasulullah, they were Mujtaheed and were given Baiah or pledge by
whole Muslims8. The relevant issue is what is the Manhaj brought by Rasulullah and
followed by His successors?

To touch on the issue of Muawiyah Abi Sufyan, minor view argued that he was included
under the tree of Khulafa Ar-Rasyidin9. However on my personal view, he was the beginning of
an era of non Nubuwwah concept. The modern Khalifah should adapt his concept and follow his
footstep. The concept that he brought was more to normal human kind with no special status like
Rasulullah and the Four Rightly Guided Caliphs. To make the opinion clearer, Muawiyah gain
his Baiah through the psychology method, the political play of lobbying and warfare (‘Al-
Bidayah Wan Nihayah’ by Ibn Khatir) while The Khulafa Ar-Rasyidin gain 100% pledge
through successor ship and divine intervention10. What Muawiyah did was, what are the
leaders of Muslim are currently doing in this new world political society.

To summarize this portion of argument, the Caliph to be should follow the Sunnah of
Rasulullah, The Khulafa Ar-Rasyidin and Caliph Muawiyah and perhaps Caliph Umar bin Abdul
Aziz11. I would like to quote the Hadith by Imam Ahmad “…then the Caliphate of nubuwwah
method will return”. Besides Rasulullah as the Model of Human, the rest of the above mentioned
people are the proof of Professionalism. The discussion does not stop here and it continues.

7 Look page # of ‘Sistem Politik Islam : Menurut Al-Quran, Sunah dan Pendapat Ulama Salaf’ by Khalid Al-
Anbariy and translated into Malay language by Telaga Biru Sdn Bhd.

8 Syah Waliyullah al-Dihlavi in Izalat al-Khafa an Khilafah al-Khulafa, Hafizi Book Depot, Deoband, India

9 Saidina Mu`awiyah: Khalifah Rashid Yang Teraniya karangan Maulana Muhammad `Asri Yusuf

10 http://al-fikrah.net/Forums/viewtopic/p=227564.html#227564

11 Refer to headings of Economic Policy and Financial Proficiency

Mujtahid

Another requirement that should be met by a person to become a Caliph is, he must have
the status of Mujtahid, a person that can derive his opinion on Islamic legal and non legal
decision.

The people who second this opinion was Mawardi (during the reign of Abbasiyyah
Caliphate, the rulers are mostly ignorant of Islamic responsibility), the high council of Parti
Islam Semalaysia and Islamic Republic of Iran through their concept of Wilayatul Faqih
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vilayat-e_Faqih). Generally this view was supported by Ulema’.
Since Ulema are the person who qualified in Islamic Legal Matters and Studies.

There are people who found that this requirement is unnecessary. Hizbut Tahrir argued
that there are no specific provision in Al-Quran and As-Sunnah and they stated that Caliph
can be advised by Ulama’ and if we have look back on the structure of Khilafah Institution, there
are Ulama’ body to handle the system and they are acting as an advisor to the Caliph in the
Syariah and Fiqh matters. It is the responsibility of Caliph to protect this body.

Dr. MAZA the ex Mufti of Perlis also stands on the same ground. He claims that there
are no specific provision in Al-Quran and As-Sunnah. Moreover the emergence of group of
people who succeed in Professional field with the knowledge of Islamic has given the
different perception to the necessity of Mujtahid requirement. They were called Erdogan in PAS
(taken from name of Turkish Prime Minister) and Protaz (combination Professional and Ustaz).
Traditionally people relied on Ulama to become a Caliph as the top Mujtahid. This is due to the
failure of most leaders of Muslim country to uphold Islam genuinely, for example Egypt and
other Middle East countries. But, Siyasah Syariah and Syariah consist of obvious different
meaning. Siyasah Syariah talks about state administration, human management and
politics, while Syariah talks only on Islamic Jurisdiction which is a small part in Islamic
Polity. Therefore the outlook of Ulema to be the Caliph should be fade away.

This is supported by the view of Hanafi Madhab together with Imam Syatibi and Al
Imam Ghazali to say that the condition of Caliph as a Mujtahid is not wajib. It is sufficient that
the Caliph acquire administration knowledge and able to gain help from the Fiqh Ulema12.

12 Look Bulghatus Salik; (2/330), Mugnil Muhtaj; (4/130) and al-Iktisam; (2/126).
Imam Al-Syaukani speaking in obiter in the book ‘Wablul Ghumam’ that “The Muslim Ummah
is never in need of a leader who just sit in the Musolla holding his tasbih beads, prioritizing his
book of knowledge, teaching his learned and loyal student, only knows how to write his book,
stood away from bloodshed and disruption of public property, while at the same time, the
Moslem were fighting each other, where the superior suppress the inferior. If these kinds of
situation happen, there is no meaning of the administration and Sultanate, due to the loss of
highest element which is justice. Unfortunately, this explanation can only be understood by
certain people of knowledge”.

Knowledgeable Responsible and Outstanding

 This condition is given by Ibn Jamaah in ‘Tahrim Al-Ahkam’13. A caliph must possess
wide knowledge in order to differentiate between Hak and Batil, to administrate state affair, to
provide ummah with complete needs and to dissolve disputes and fights. Below are certain areas
where a leader generally and a caliph specifically, must be well verse with:

Political Skill

What is meant by this condition is a caliph should have variable skill of political art and
play, able to manage the wishes of citizen, able to ascertain the matters of the state, able to
execute and impose a policy on the state, and able to endure the burden of administration. Dr.
Maza14 stated it is inappropriate to say that an individual who masters only one branch of it is
qualified to rule a country whereas he does not possess any aptitude in politics. Al-Imam al-
Mawardi in ‘Al-Ahkam Al-Sultaniyyah’ himself stated that one of the seven prerequisites of a
Caliphate is that he must have the kind of thinking capability that enables him to manage the
country’s political affair and protect the well-being of his people. Even if “he” is regarded as
ulama but is lacking this aptitude (political skill), he is not qualified to rule a country.

Military Affairs

The Khaleefah is the State. He possesses all the powers/function of the state; so he
possesses the following powers. The Khaleefah is responsible for both the internal and external
policies of the State. He takes charge of the leadership of the army and has the right to declare
war, conclude peace, armistice, and treaties. The Khaleefah appoints and dismisses the chief
judge, the directors of departments, the heads of the armed forces and the generals; all of whom
are responsible to the Khaleefah and not to the Majlis al-Ummah.15
Strength

13 “It is wajib to appoint a caliph that is responsible managing religious affair and managing daily life matters of the Moslem,
preventing enemy’s terror, helping to ease the burden on the inferior, putting something to its correct place, protecting the state’s
serenity and the safety of the citizen, preventing damages, because citizen is not secured their safety unless they are protected by
a sultan of leader that arrange their daily matters. As what have been stressed by old saying; The tyrant of a leader for forty years
is better than a year without him.”

14 Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abiddin translation by Umm Hajjar http://drmaza.com/english_section/?p=82

15 Article 35(b) and (e) of Hizbut-Tahrir Draft Constituion available in ‘The System Of Islam (Nizham-ul-Islam)
by Taqiuddin An-Nabhani
 The Messenger of Allah (saw) stipulated that the ruler must be strong and that the weak
person is not suitable to become ruler. Imam Muslim also narrated from Abu Dharr who said: “I
said: O Messenger of Allah, will you not appoint me as a governor/ruler? He said: He struck my
shoulder with his hand then said: O Abu Dhari, you are weak and it is a trust (amanah). On the
Day of Judgement it will be a disgrace and regret except for the one who took it by its right and
fulfilled his duty in it.”

Method of Getting Baiah: By Force

Based on outline given by Al-Allamah Al-Dasuqi in the book ‘Hasyiah’ outlay the methods:

1. Will from previous Caliph

2. By force or war.
“The conclusion here is whoever compels hardship to the citizen, and then he obtains
administration and later maintains the reign on his hand, thus making him the Caliph
that is wajib to be given a Baiah and loyalty. It is forbidden for the Moslem to sack the
leader and to ignore his order even though he does not fulfill the condition of a Caliph.”
3. Pledge from the members of Ahl Al-Hil Wa Al’-Aqd.

Imam Ahmad narrated the Athar from Ibn Umar r.a stated that “I will pray behind person
whom he gained power through force.” Major Islamic Scholars agreed with this method, namely
Imam Syafiee, Imam Ghazali, Ibn Hajar and etc. To relate this method into this discussion,
speaking about this modern world, do we have a Caliph? The answer is absolutely in negative.
So in the absence of Caliph, by way making the first method discarded. The possibility to
determine the Ahl Al-Hil Wa Al’ Aqd is way out of the context. As a result, the only way
available is through hardship. There are relations between military affairs knowledge, strength
and force method to this discussion since it is no doubt that this element is a must to Caliph. This
is added by Dr. Khalid Al-Anbariy stating “It must be also someone who is well experienced and
have complete vision regarding military administration, warfare, and border defense, internal
security, has authority to sentence punishment to those who are injustice and to capture balance
on the suppressed.” The person nowadays having this knowledge in hands is a political leader of
the modern state and the famous figure is the late Saddam Hussein, the Ex – Iraqi President and
the Libyan Leader Muammar Gadafi. They are not Ulema but they are the Military General
and this is what the modern world called as Professional.

Economic Policy and Financial Proficiency

The Khaleefah adopts the Ahkam Shara’iah by which the State's budget is set. The
Khaleefah decides its sections and the funds required for every field, whether they are related to
revenue or expenditure16. The reason why one of the conditions of the candidate of Caliph must
be free from slavery is because they cannot run his own affair because he was under his master’s
sovereignty. In the modern perspective, slavery is not the issue, by the term free from slavery for
modern perspective it doesn’t mean that the person were under a master sovereignty. It is more
to be look at that the person is free from a burden of debt. He must be able to have good
reputation in handling their finance since the Khalifah will deal the financial affair of the
state. The economic policy is the objective of the laws which deal with the management of
human affairs. The economic policy in Islam is to secure the satisfaction of all basic needs for
every individual completely, and to enable him to satisfy his luxuries as much as he can, as a
person living in a particular society, which has a certain way of life. By following the example of
Caliph Umar ibn Abdul Aziz17 who maintain zero poverty in his administration, it is preferable
for a Caliph to have this proficiency.

ULEMA VS PROFESSIONALS

16 Article 35(f) of Hizbut-Tahrir Draft Constitution available in ‘The System Of Islam (Nizham-ul-Islam) by
Taqiuddin An-Nabhani

17 Look in website http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Umar_ibn_AbdulAziz

Ulema

Ulema refer to the educated class of Muslim legal scholars engaged in the several fields
of Islamic studies. They are best known as the arbiters of shari‘a law. While the ulema are well
versed in legal jurisprudence being Islamic lawyers, some of them also go on to specialize in
other fields, such as philosophy, dialectical theology or Quranic hermeneutics or explanation.
The fields studied, and the importance given them, will vary from tradition to tradition, or even
from seminary to seminary. In a broader sense, the term ulema is used to describe the body of
Muslim clergy who have completed several years of training and study of Islamic sciences, such
as a mufti, qadi, faqih, or muhaddith (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ulema).

In the modern societies which have different kind of believers live in the state, the
arguments of whether Ulama or the Professional which one is the best to become the leader of
the state were always been arise. Ulama is also defined as a person who is have a good faith
(iman) and believe in Allah and Prophet Muhammad, a person who good knowledge and a
person who have the good characteristic (ahlak). The Ulama must have the full knowledge for
determining. This opinion is based by suggestion of al-Imam al-Mawardi r.h. state that “one of
the prerequisites for a Caliphate is that he must possess the knowledge that enables him to make
ijtihad (derive a rule of divine law from the Koran and Hadith without relying on the views of
other scholars) in resolving issues and concluding rulings”.18

Professionals

Professional can be defined as a person who has degree in a professional field. In other
words, it is a person who has achieved an acclaimed level of proficiency in a calling or trade.
They have been formally certified by a professional body of belonging to a specific profession.
Normally, a professional refer to white collar working person or a person who performs in a field
typically reserved for hobbyists or amateurs.

Professional is different than ulama. Even though they do not possess any Islamic
knowledge or lack of it, they still have other advantages. The fact that they are behind ulama in
the field of Islamic knowledge does not stop them from being a leader of a country or Islamic
institution. They still can learn from any of the ulama. If this does happen, the professionals can

18 Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abiddin translation by Umm Hajjar http://drmaza.com/english_section/?p=82

be consider as ustaz as well as long as them possessed the knowledge and able to deliver the
understanding of Islamic religion to the Muslim community.

Nowadays we can see mostly in Muslim countries, professionals are the one who hold the
position of head of government. The nearest example we can see is in Malaysia where the prime
minister is Dato Seri Najib Tun Razak who is a professional. There is no problem actually for the
professionals to lead the country as long as they are capable to rule the country according to
Islamic principles. There may be as situation where the professional as the leaders is lack of
Islamic knowledge. If this situation happens, he can always refer to the ulama for a better
guideline in order to solve the disputes. However it is important for the professionals to get their
self straight. They must deal justly in governing the country.

In the other hand, which is ulama who is known for their knowledge in the Islamic
religion, they cannot able to rule the government successfully if they have no intention to place
justness as its rightful position as commanded by the teachings of Islam.

Other than that, the professionals also have the desire and the knowledge to govern the
country. The kind of knowledge that we are talking in here is political knowledge which is the
essential part in ruling the country. They can still be assisted by the ulama if they lack of
knowledge in Islamic fields. Professional is more suitable in the modern era because the situation
nowadays is different compared to Islamic politics long time ago. The concept of Islamic
political today is much more broad and extensive. If we still stick on the old concepts of Islamic
political, it will cause internal conflicts among Muslim community.

After all, it doesn’t matter whether professional or ulama are the leader as long as they
have the knowledge and put their mind and heart in the big responsibility in ruling the country.

Abdulwahab El-Affendi in his book ‘Who needs an Islamic State?’ states:

“By positing an in-built tendency in governments towards tyranny, it was possible to devise
governments which would not allow rulers enough freedom to turn into tyrants, a quite
successful arrangement. Thus, although former US president Richard Nixon may have had the
potential to be as tyrannical as Joseph Stalin, he was prevented from achieving this by a system
which restricted his despotic tendencies. A major flaw, therefore, in the traditional Muslim
perception of the Righteous Caliphate was the erroneous belief that the rules of government
must be designed to fit rulers who were almost saints – saints do not need the rules anyway”.

CONCLUSION

In nutshell, from the argument and facts given above, most of them indicate the act of
Professionalism. Professionals are the most suitable for the post by reason that Caliph did not
have to be a Mujtahid as long as he protect the body of Ulama’. The most important thing is for
them to acquire knowledge in state administration affairs. Moreover, the characteristic shown by
the Quraish is more to the professionalism type rather than a theologian. They possess good
leadership skills and structure management and most important they maintain their caliber and
their aura. Despite the views of Hizbut Tahrir and Syiah regarding Quraish as not wajib for a
Caliph which were received many critics, there are no concrete evidence that this condition is not
obligatory. It is only non wajib to the rest of Khilafah though, besides the Caliph. However the
point is the characteristics are similar to the qualities of a professional.

In modern world many people believe that the rise of Islamic Republic of Iran as the
savior of Muslim world. The concept of ‘wilayatul faqih’ which means that an Imamah should be
headed by Ulema should be rejected. Muslim world should realize that their revolution is
rejected and illegitimate according to true Islamic teachings. It indicates that Ulama is not really
suitable to the nature of leadership.

Khalifah is the shadow of Allah on earth face while Ulama is the inheritor of Rasulullah.
Khalifah in Arabic means successorship, supposing that Caliph is the continuer of Prophet SAW.
By virtue of these authentic Hadiths, we should be able to differentiate between the term
Khalifah and Ulama. Their standards are greatly different where Caliph is the “big thing” and
Ulama is just the legal making body. This can be explained thorugh the concept of Siyasah
Syariah that talks about state administration, human management and politics, and Syariah that
talk only on Islamic Jurisdiction which is a small part in Islamic Polity.

To the point of Caliph as the top Mujtahid is supported generally by Khalaf Ulama via
reason that Ulama are the person who qualified in Islamic Legal Matters and Studies. By the
opinion of Salaf Ulama, there are no specific provision in Al-Quran and As-Sunnah regading this
condition. This makes way for the professionals to fill the Khilafah and it is sufficient that the
Caliph acquire administration knowledge and able to gain help from the Fiqh Ulema19.
Additionally, the emergence of group of people who succeed in Professional field with the
knowledge of Islamic which is called Protaz would be the best candidate of professional.

The manhaj that is brought by Rasulullah is far greater than what has been assign to the
Ulama. Prophet Muhammad SAW is the role model for human in all aspects. He is not the

19 Look Bulghatus Salik; (2/330), Mugnil Muhtaj; (4/130) and al-Iktisam; (2/126).
person ‘who just sit in the Musolla holding his tasbih beads, priotizing his book of knowledge,
teaching his learned and loyal student, only knows how to write his book’.

Caliph should be outstanding in the field of politics, military and finance. Muawiyah uses
psychology method, the political play of lobbying and warfare in his administration. Saddam
Hussein is not Ulema but he was the Military General and this is what the modern world called
as Professional. Caliph Abdul Aziz has shown that Finance and Economic as the important part
in protecting the Ummah. These examples weigh more to professionalism rather than theologian.

For that reason, we favour Professionals to be the Caliph and the institution of Khilafah
should be rested to the professionals. However I will let the readers to choose either Ulama with
Political Skills or Professional with Islamic knowledge is the best of the best. The bottomline is
not to judge on appearance, instead to put someone at an appropriate position20

REFERENCES

Website:

How to Appoint a Khalifah page 15-19 http://www.scribd.com/doc/3666373/037-Method-to-

appoint-a-Khalifah

Dr Muhammad Asri Zainul Abiddin http://drmaza.com/english_section/?p=82

20 For example, Khalid Al-Walid was chosen to be the Amir of Jihad because of his prowess in battle despite his
characteristic.
Ustaz Hazizi: http://ustazhazizi.wordpress.com/2009/05/13/kepimpinan-ulama-atau-professional/

http://www.mykhilafah.com/ebook

http://drmaza.com/english_section/?p=82

Books:

The Translation of the Meanings of Summarized Sahih Muslim, Volume 2, by Al-Hafiz

Zakiuddin Abdul-Azim Al-Mundhiri

‘Sistem Politik Islam : Menurut Al-Quran, Sunah dan Pendapat Ulama Salaf’ by Khalid Al-
Anbariy and translated into Malay language by Telaga Biru Sdn Bhd.

The Ideal Muslim Society by Dr Muhammad Ali Hashimi, International Islamic Publishing
House.