Kalifah

Kalifah is a transliteration variant of the title Khalifa, derived from the Arabic word khalifa meaning “successor,” “steward,” or “representative.” It is used as a given name and honorific in several languages, notably Malay, Indonesian, Turkish, Urdu, and other Muslim-majority cultures. Variants include Khalifa, Kalifa, and Kalifah.

In Islamic history, a caliph (khalifa) is the leader of the political and religious community after the Prophet Muhammad. The caliphate represents governance in Islam but is not a prophet. The office began with Abu Bakr in 632 CE and continued through successive dynasties such as the Rashidun, Umayyad, Abbasid, Fatimid, and Ottoman. Methods of selection varied: some caliphs were chosen by consultation or election, others inherited power in practice, with overlapping religious and political authority. The institution evolved across regions and eras, and its significance differed in various Muslim communities.

In modern usage, Kalifah is common as a personal name or honorific in many Muslim communities. The term appears in transliterations of Arabic into Malay, Indonesian, and other languages, and may be encountered in religious education and discourse. Spelling variants reflect pronunciation and script differences across languages, including Khalifa, Khalifah, and Kalifa. The term remains primarily historical and cultural, with contemporary usage focusing on naming and title conventions rather than a single, centralized office.