Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Salaam,

May Allah (swt) Reward Your Effort Brother.

I would like to ask you with the four rightly guide chailphs why was each one elected using a different method. For eg. Abu Bakr(ra) was elected by the Ansar and Muhjarioon. Omar (ra) was appointed by Abu Bakr(ra) before the latter died. Othman(ra) was elected by a committee of six men. Ali(ra) was elected by the general public.

Can you please explain why this is so.

Salaam

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Why each Khalifah was chosen differently?

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad(saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

The deen of Islam is a complete ‘way of life’, and every detail and guidance one needs to live a fruitful and wholesome life can be found in the light of the Quran and Sunnah.

Allah Subhanah gives the basic guidance for governance in the Glorious Quran in Chapter 42 Surah Shuraa verse 38 and says the believers are those: ‘who (conduct) their affairs by mutual consultation’.

When Allah and His Messenger (saws) remain silent on specific issues, it is not that they (and I seek refuge in Allah from saying this) forgot! But it is the wisdom and mercy of the Merciful Lord that He allowed the believers to chose the best system of governance according to the times and ages.

The Messenger of Allah (saws) himself did not nominate a particular successor after him, and Hadrat Abu Bakr (r.a.) was chosen by the leaders of the Ansaar and the Muhajiroon in consultation.

Hadrat Umar’s (r.a.) position as the successor was so obvious as the next Ameer, and he was chosen unanimously by the companions as their leader after the death of Hadrat Abu Bakr (r.a.).

Hadrat Uthmaan (r.a.) was chosen from within a consultative council made up of the closest companions of the Prophet (saws), created by Hadrat Umar (r.a.) prior to his death.

Hadrat Ali (r.a.) was one of the consultative council members, and he was chosen to be the next Ameer, as he had received the most votes after Hadrat Uthmaan (r.a.) when Hadrat Uthmaan (r.a.) was chosen the Ameer.

Thus if one studies the pattern or Sunnah of the Rightly Guided Khalifas, one will see that none appointed a member of their family or clan, or their son or brother to succeed them; but each Ameer was chosen on merit and in consultation amongst the believers.

Thus any system of choosing leadership, be it a Parliament, or a Congress, or a Consultative Council; provided the leader or Ameer of the believers is chosen on merit and in consultation amongst the believers will be deemed a valid Ameer in Islam. And Allah and His Messenger (saws) have guided the believers to obey the chosen Ameer, provided he obeys Allah and His Messenger (saws).

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 4 Surah Nisaa verse 59: O ye who believe! Obey Allah, and obey the Messenger, and those charged with authority among you. If ye differ in anything among yourselves, refer it to Allah and His Messenger, if ye do believe in Allah and the Last Day: that is best and most suitable for final determination.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your Brother in Islam,

Burhan