Arabic · noun · Faith & Sacred History

Khalifa

ख़लीफ़ा

said kha-lee-fa

also written: Caliph,Khaleefa

Meaning

A successor or vicegerent; the head of the Muslim community after the Prophet, and the human as God's steward on earth.

Literally: successor, deputy

Usage & notes

Iqbal develops the Quranic idea of the human as khalifa, God's vicegerent charged with creative stewardship of the world.

Related words

The institution of the caliphate; also humanity's vicegerency, its office as God's deputy on earth.

A deputy or vicegerent; in religious thought, the human as God's representative on earth.

The worldwide community of a faith, especially the Muslim ummah.