Jihad and Justice: Islamic Just War Theory, Part 1

Due to the importance of unity among the believers in Islam, legitimate authorization of war is imperative. The Islamic conception of the ideal government has one ruler (the deputy, or khalifa) at its head. This was modeled most perfectly in Mohammed and in the Rashidoon, or “the four rightly guided caliphs,” who followed him. Mohammed was the leader of the religious as well as political aspects of the community of believers (umma) since, in fact, there was little distinction between the two. Khalifa literally means successor or deputy, and the full title of the Muslim ruler (after the death of Mohammed) was khalifa Allah (deputy of God) or sometimes khalifa rasul Allah (deputy of the prophet of God). The khalifa was considered the head of the umma. He had been given his authority by God, and was meant to fulfill all the same functions as Mohammed had during his life.