The Importance of Khilaafat
Khilaafat is a very important belief in Islam. It is not just only a political system of Islam, as said by some scholars, but is a system that encompasses various systems of life. It is a link in between Allah and His slaves throuh the Khilaafat, showering the attributes and qualities of Allah to His creatures living on the earth according to the commandments of Allah.
The Islamic system of living is a "comprehensive code of life". Any one entering Islam is directed to adopt the religion completely. There is no choice of opting for certain portions of Islam and leaving out others. For this, Islam has given the name of Khilaafat to a system that encompasses various systems of life. In other words, it may be a political system or economic system, social system or spiritual system - these all are the parts of Khilaafat. Today, if someone negates the system of Khilaafat, it is like declaring the Islam as an impracticable religion. Islam and Khilaafat are the two sides of a coin and therefore inseparable. According to the Holy Qur'aan, Islam is merely a theory and Khilaafat is its practical shape.
It should be very clear to all that by the dilapidation of Khilaafat, the social, spiritual, economical and all other systems are automatically broken down.
Every act of a Muslim is counted worship if it is performed according to the Holy Qur'aan and Sunnah. Hence, for a Muslim, it is essential to perform every act in accordance with the Shari'ah and definitely if he does so, he will also adopt the same way in founding Khilaafat. The way adapted to set up Khilaafat by the prophets (alayhimus salaam), cannot be understood properly until their collective struggle may be divided in two eras of founding and establishing Khilaafat. The struggles made during these two eras are entirely different as per their nature. The clear difference between these two ages is that in the first era, there is no concept of resorting to bullet and ballot while in the second era, the use of bullet and ballot is a must. When Hadhrat Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wasallam migrated from Makkah to Madeenah, he was not only a Muhaajir but also a ruler. At the same time, a small state had been set up in Madeenah and a Khilaafat had come into being against the false systems of the world.