The territory ruled by a caliph, representing the political and religious leadership of the Islamic community after Prophet Muhammad's death. Major caliphates included the Rashidun, Umayyad, Abbasid, and Ottoman empires.
From Arabic 'khilāfah,' meaning 'succession' or 'stewardship,' derived from 'khalafa' (to succeed). The term reflects the caliph's role as successor to Prophet Muhammad's temporal authority, though not his prophetic mission.
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