The supreme religious and political leader of the Islamic community, considered the successor to Prophet Muhammad's temporal authority. The caliph served as both head of state and spiritual guide for Muslims.
From Arabic 'khalīfah,' meaning 'successor' or 'deputy,' derived from the root 'kh-l-f' (to succeed or follow). The term originally designated the person chosen to lead the Muslim community after Muhammad's death in 632 CE.
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