Halife

Halife is a term used in Turkish to denote the caliph, the traditional religious and political leader of the Muslim community during the era of the caliphates. In historical contexts, a halife acted as the head of state and religious authority within the Islamic ummah, claimed as the successor to the Prophet Muhammad.

The Turkish form Halife derives from the Arabic khalīfah, meaning "successor" or "deputy." The title has cognate forms in other languages, such as Khalifa and Caliph, reflecting the same historical role across different cultures.

In modern usage, Halife is rarely used as an official title; when encountered in contemporary Turkish, it appears mainly in historical writing or religious studies. It may also be used as a personal given name in some communities, reflecting cultural or religious heritage.

Notable individuals primarily associated with the name Halife are not widely documented in major reference works, and the name remains relatively uncommon and regionally variable. See also Khalifa, Caliph, Caliphate.