Caliphate*

"Khilafat" and "Khalifah"--Indian Subcontinent movement. For the Khilafat in Ahmadiyya Islam, see Khalifatul Masih.

The term caliphate, "dominion of a caliph ('successor')" refers to the first system of government established in Islam and represented the leader's unity of the Muslim community.

In theory, it is an aristocratic–constitutional republic, the Constitution being the Constitution of Medina, the head of state, the Caliph, and other officials who govern.

In its early days, it resembled elements of direct democracy (see shura) and an elective monarchy.

It was initially led by Muhammad's disciples as a continuation of the leaders and religious system the prophet established, known as the 'Rashidun caliphates'. A "caliphate" is also a state which implements such a governmental system.

*The caliphate was "the core leader concept of Sunni Islam, by the consensus of the Muslim majority in the early centuries." 

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