File 756/1917 Pt 2-3 ‘ARAB BULLETIN Nos 66-114’ [‎238v] (485/834)

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and in this case to whose lot the sovereignty was to fall. Neither
the Koran, which for Moslems is the Word of God and not
the word or work of Mohammed, nor the Prophet himself had
left any indication on this head.
On the evening of the same day on which the Prophet
had breathed his last, the opinion prevailed after several hours
of violent discussion, that the political unity of the Moslems
had to be maintained. Abu Bakr was elected “ Head of the
State of Islam ” ; the title of “ Caliph ” (Khalifa) 3 also
appears to have been given to him at this time. Lhe word
Khalifa in Arabic signifies as much a “ successor in a public
position as a “ representative ” or “ vicar of a higher authority
in a more limited and special capacity. In the choice of this
word two verses of the Koran concerning Adam and David
respectively may, I think, not improbably have had some
influence.
Historically speaking, therefore, the Caliphs are successors
of Mohammed in “ ruling the whole Moslem state, that is to
say, the Universality of Mohammedans ” ; this is presupposing,
as in fact was the case for several centuries, the absence of
Mohammedan peoples under non-Mohammedan rule. In a
manner, at first sight inexplicable to Europeans, these universal
Sovereigns of Islam, as indeed all other Moslem rulers, while
possessing executive and judicial powers without limitations
are absolutely devoid of any legislative power, since this legis
lative power, properly speaking, can only be the sharia or
Divine Law, which the doctors or “ulema” alone can interpret.
In the religious sphere the only attributions of the Caliph, as
of any other Moslem sovereign, are, to protect the Faith against
internal and external enemies with the weight of his secular
arm, and to see that the public ritual, consisting in common
prayer on Fridays, is regularly celebrated.
This character of the Caliphate which necessarily devolves
from its historical origin, is fully recognised in theory by jurists
and Moslem Sunni writers. As an example, I translate here
part of the famous Islamic catechism concerning the Caliph,
written by Abu Hafs Omar el-Nasafi, who died 1142 a.d. I
have chosen this book not only on account of its celebrity, but
also because it is one of the texts prescribed in the “ Madrasas,
or higher schools of theology and religious law, at Constanti
nople ~
“ Moslems cannot exist without an Imam 4 whose duties
are to cause Islamic law to be observed, apply the punishments
laid down in the Koran, defend the frontiers, train the army,
collect the tithes, reduce rebels to obedience as well as thieves
and brigands, cause public prayer on Fridays and other feasts