Caliph

(Revision as of 16:13, 19 Jul 2005)

Categories: Ordo Templi Orientis

The term Caliph is the Latin version of the Arabic Khalīfah, which can be loosely translated as "successor", or more specifically, the successor to the prophet Muhammad. It can also mean "stewardship". Within the Islamic tradition, it refers to a temporal successor to the Sunnis, and a spiritual one to the Shi'ites. Generally, to Muslims the Caliph is the leader of the Islamic nation, although no individual has held this title since Abdul Mejid II when the Turkish Grand National Assembly, led by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, abolished the title in 1924.

The Sunnis identify the first four Caliphs, all close associates of Muhammad, as the Rashidun or '"rightly guided" caliphs: Abu Bakr (the first Caliph), Umar ibn al-Khattab, Uthman ibn Affan, and Ali ibn Abi Talib. It is important to understand, however, that the Sunnis and Shi'as differ profoundly on the critical question of who the first Caliph of Islam should have been, and the subsequent legitimacy all later office holders. Although the Caliph had temporal and spiritual authority, he did not have phophetic power, which was reserved for Muhammad.

Within Ordo Templi Orientis, the Outer Head of the Order (OHO) has been refered to as the Caliph since Hymenaeus Alpha assumed that title in 1969.

References

• Graeb, James. (2000). Caliph or Khalifa—Spelling is Defunct? (http://www.rahoorkhuit.net/ota/jgraeb/caliph_or_khalifa.html). Retrieved July 19, 2005.
• Wikipedia. (2005). Caliph (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caliph). Retrieved July 19, 2005.
• Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. (2005). Caliphate (http://www.bartleby.com/65/ca/caliphat.html).