khalifa
n. countablen. a leader of the Muslim community who is seen as a successor to the Prophet Muhammad. This person traditionally holds both religious and political power.
n. the supreme religious and political leader of an Islamic state or the global Muslim community. Historically refers to the successors of the Prophet Muhammad who exercised authority over the caliphate.
The khalifa ruled over a vast empire.
Historians study how each medieval khalifa balanced the demands of religious law with the practical needs of governing diverse territories.
The title of khalifa has historically represented a unifying symbol of spiritual and temporal authority, though its practical power varied significantly across different dynasties and centuries.
Often capitalized when used as a specific title before a name.
The Khalifa of the mosqueThe Imam of the mosqueLearners often confuse 'khalifa' (a supreme leader of a state or empire) with 'imam' (a leader of prayers in a local mosque).