Were the Rightly Guided Khalifs Really the Gold Standard?

​

​

Someone once said, “If the Rashidun Khalif’s reign were the ‘Gold standard’, how does anyone explain the multiple civil wars, clan infighting and assassination of 3 of the 4 Kaliph [sic] of that period? That seems far away from a gold standard to aspire to.”

 

In Dr. Uthman Lateef's khilafah series, he mentioned that it is a 'human' project. The key word is 'human' as the khilafah is not a system to be implemented on angels by angels. In fact, when Allah Ta'ala mentions in Surah al-Baqarah ayah 30 that He will place on Earth a khaleefah (vicegerent/successive authority/(mankind) generations after generations), the initial response of the angels showed that they believed that placing humans on Earth would cause bloodshed. Muslim scholars have discussed how they could know this and some have suggested that it could have come from their experiences of dealing with the jinn who they, the angels, fought wars against.

 

Also, in Surah al-Hujurat ayah 9, Allah Ta'ala talks about what to do when two groups among the believers fight, one of which is the transgressing group, so it is clear from the beginning that fighting and bloodshed among humans and even believers is to be expected.

 

The companions of Prophet Muhammad (may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) are the best group of people after the prophets. They are the best examples of how fallible humans dealt with an imperfect world. I've mentioned this before but the trouble between Ali (ra) and Muawiyah (ra) is a perfect example of how we should deal with our current conflicts in war-torn countries. They were both 'believing' groups but Ali (ra) showed us that as he was the one who was not of the transgressing group then it was correct for him to continue on his path regardless of all the people opposing him. Muwaiyah's (ra) harsh response to a Roman general who sought to use the discord between them to cause further division showed us that despite having disagreements with your fellow Muslims you must NEVER ally with those who disbelieve in Allah and His final messenger against your brothers in Islam.

 

Ultimately, Allah Ta'ala created death and life to test which of us would be best in deed (Qur'an 67:2) and we were never promised paradise on Earth. Rather, our response to the trials and difficulties on Earth is a means for us to achieve the paradise that we have been promised: the paradise of the Hereafter.

​

​Wal-hamdu lillahi rabbil 'alamin (March 2023 originally a comment in response to an article/video and comments made on it)

​

Umm Hafab

​

Home

Muslim News

Answering Disbelievers

Advising Believers

​