Khilafat o Malookiat - Maududi

About Khilafat o Malookiat - Maududi

Khilafah and Malookiat are some of the most famous books of Abul A'la Maududi. In this book, he discusses the issues of the Islamic Khilafah and tries to show that successful governance can be achieved by following the method of the first Khilafah. Just as in the time of the Righteous Caliphate everyone had his own rights and the Caliph was allowed to question and answer, such a system is a better system for this universe.

In contrast, monarchy, which is a monarchical system, has many shortcomings, and this is due to changes in the monarch's electoral system. Yes, but it is impossible for that to happen. Therefore, there is only one standard left before the world and that is the standard of the Righteous Caliphate. In it, he has discussed the principles of Islamic rule, the righteous caliphate, and its characteristics, from the righteous caliphate to the monarchy, the difference between the caliphate and the monarchy, etc. This book has been very popular and varied. Therefore, if one wants to know Maududi's views, one should listen this book with great care.


Khilafat o Mulukiyat (English: transl. Caliphate and Kingship) is a book written by Abul Ala Maududi in October 1966 as a refutation of the book, The Caliphate of Mu'awiyah and Yazid by Pakistani scholar Mahmood Ahmad Abbasi.

This book discusses about the stages of transformation of Khilafat into monarchy. It was translated into English and published under the title, Islam's Political Order: The Model, Deviations and Muslim Response. The English edition was translated by Tarik Jan.

Some Sunni scholars have written in an attempt to refute Maududi's book. Some prominent works are Khilafat-o-Malookiat, Tareekhi-o-Shar'i Haysiat by Hafiz Salahuddin Yousaf, Shahwahid-e-Taqaddus by Syed Muhammad Miyan Deobandi and Hazrat Muawiyah aur Tareekhi Haqa'iq by Muhammad Taqi Usmani. Works in favour of Maududi include nearly 700 pages long Tajaliat-e-Sahabah by Amir Usmani, nephew of Shabbir Ahmad Usmani; who originally wrote for almost a year in favour of Abbasi's book. Amir Usmani went so far as to claim that Maududi's book was unprecedented in the entire Islamic literature. Another book in favour, Khilafat-o-Malookiat par Aitrazat ka Tajziya was written by Justice Malik Ghulam Ali.



Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi wrote it as a refutation of the book, The Caliphate of Mu’awiyah and Yazid by Pakistani scholar Mahmood Ahmad Abbasi. Maududi argued that individuals do not have the right to force their dictatorial rule over Muslims through aggression, instead Islam calls for the system of Caliphate, known in its modern form as Islamic democracy. The book discusses the principles through which the first Caliphate was established, and the reasons due to which it converted into kingship, a first in Muslim history. Other topics include the reasons for the end of Caliphate, era of Utahan ibn Affan, the conflict between Ali and Muawiyah, the rules of Islamic government, and how the degeneration of the Rashidun Caliphate began the system of religious divisions among Muslims.

The book claims that the Caliph is selected by the majority votes of Muslims. Caliphate always works in the outline given by Islam. The book deals with the era of Uthman, the third Caliph, and the events which occurred at that time, arguing that unrest in the nascent Muslim society started due to some unpopular decisions by the government. After Uthman, Ali was selected as a Caliph by the majority of Muslims. The book looks at Mu’awiyah as a rebel Governor of Syria and discusses the simplicity of Ali and cleverness of Mu’awiyah. After the peace agreement of Hassan and Mu’awiyah, Mu’awiyah became the first king of Muslim history. The book also mentions the various factional groups of the time.

Maududi was not a prophet. Like all other ordinary humans, he was prone to error and he did, not necessarily in this book. His method of analysis and critical style of writing can be debated.