Press Release
The Fall of the Khilafah Marks the Call for Its Revival

On 3 March 1924, corresponding to 28 Rajab 1342 AH, a small group of Turkish traitors, led by Mustafa Kemal, destroyed the legacy of over 13 centuries of Muslim unification. From that moment on, Muslims lost their roof over their heads and became orphans. Today, 104 hijri years have passed since this tragic event. After the fall of the Khilafah, the kuffar divided the Muslim world into small, isolated regions. They imposed travel restrictions between these regions, requiring passports and visas, and destroyed our armies, weapons, resources, lands, human potential, and technology—everything. In short, we became a hunting ground for the kuffar. There is now no Muslim army to defend the Muslims of Gaza or Burma. Neither Pakistan’s armed forces are mobilized to liberate Masjid Al-Aqsa, nor are the Turkish armed forces mobilized to free Kashmir. It is as though the body has been dismantled, head, torso, arms, and legs all severed!

To preserve the Khilafah, the Muslims of India launched the largest political campaign in the country’s history, known as the Khilafah Movement. “Khilafah Committees” were established in every street and every neighborhood. Even Gandhi recognized that the future of Hindus in India would be bleak without supporting this movement. The Muslims of India had previously sent aid to support the Khilafah during the Balkan War, and many Indian Muslim soldiers chose to face the death penalty at the hands of the British rather than fighting against the Ottoman Khilafah. Yet today, our forces are used as mercenaries in American wars. Our young lieutenants, captains, and majors are becoming casualties in conflicts that benefit the colonialists every day. We witness with our own eyes the atrocities committed by the kuffar against our people in Palestine. The suffering of our brothers and sisters in East Turkestan, Kashmir, Myanmar, Central Asia, Sudan, Yemen, Syria, and other Muslim lands is well-known. They endure oppression, bloodshed, and destruction in the absence of the Imam (Khaleefah), their shield, whom they relied on for protection, and to whom they looked for leadership in battle.

O Muslims! The fall of the Khilafah marks the call for its revival. The Khilafah is the state and political entity of Islam. It is the Shariah method for implementing Islam. Indeed, Allah (swt) commanded His Messenger (saw) to judge between the Muslims according to the Shariah Law revealed by Allah (swt). Allah (swt) said, [فَٱحْكُم بَيْنَهُم بِمَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ ۖ وَلَا تَتَّبِعْ أَهْوَآءَهُمْ عَمَّا جَآءَكَ مِنَ ٱلْحَقِّ] “So judge between them by what Allah has revealed, and do not follow their desires over the truth that has come to you” [TMQ Surah Al-Maidah, 5:48]. And He (swt) said,

[وَأَنِ ٱحْكُم بَيْنَهُم بِمَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ وَلَا تَتَّبِعْ أَهْوَآءَهُمْ وَٱحْذَرْهُمْ أَن يَفْتِنُوكَ عَنۢ بَعْضِ مَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ إِلَيْكَ]

“And judge between them O Prophet by what Allah has revealed, and do not follow their desires. And beware, so they do not lure you away from some of what Allah has revealed to you.” [TMQ Surah Al-Maidah, 5:49]. The Shariah principle is that, خِطَابُ الرَّسُولِ ﷺ خِطَابٌ لِأُمَّتِه “The Khitaab (Address) to the Messenger (saw) is an Address to His Ummah.” Although the address to the Messenger (saw) is directed to him and he is included within the address, the address is directed to him as a Messenger not only for him personally. So the address is an address to the Messenger of the Ummah. Also, the evidence that the address to the Messenger is an address to his Ummah is that the address which is specified for the Messenger (saw) is clarified that it is specific for him (saw). So the obligation of ruling by Islam is upon the Ummah of Muhammad (saw).

As for the Sunnah, Imam Muslim narrated on the authority of Nafi’ that he said: Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) told me that he heard the Messenger of Allah (saw) say,

«مَنْ خَلَعَ يَداً مِنْ طَاعَةٍ لَقِيَ اللهَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ لَا حُجَّةَ لَهُ، وَمَنْ مَاتَ وَلَيْسَ فِي عُنُقِهِ بَيْعَةٌ مَاتَ مِيتَةً جَاهِلِيَّةً»

“Whoever withdraws his hand from obedience will meet Allah on the Day of Resurrection without any argument for him, and whoever dies without a Bayah of allegiance around his neck will die the death of ignorance.” So, the Messenger (saw) made it obligatory upon every Muslim to have a Bayah on his neck. He described the one who dies without having a Bayah on his neck as if he died the death of Jahiliyyah. The Bayah is not be valid except for the Bayah given to the Khaleefah. The Messenger of Allah (saw) made it an obligation that every Muslim should have a Bayah on his neck for a Khaleefah. However, he (saw) did not oblige every Muslim to give a Bayah to the Khaleefah. The obligation, therefore, is the existence of a Bayah on the neck of every Muslim.

Imam al-Mawardi said in his Ahkam al-Sultaniyyah, الإمامة موضوعة لخلافة النبوة في حراسة الدين وسياسة الدنيا، وعقدها لمن يقوم بها في الأمة واجب بالإجماع “The Imamah (Caliphate) has been established as a successor to the Prophethood in the protection of the Deen and the politics of the world, and the appointment of one who undertakes it in the Ummah is a Shariah obligation by Unanimous Consensus of the Companions.” Imam al-Nawawi said in his Sharh Muslim, أجمعوا على أنه يجب على المسلمين نصب خليفة “They are agreed that it is as Shariah obligation upon the Muslims to appoint a Khaleefah.” The Islamic Khilafah and the unification of the Ummah under a ruler who will rule them according to the Shariah Law of Allah (swt), in the manner of the Prophet (saw), is the greatest goal of a Muslim’s life today. It is one of the most significant objectives of Islam. It represents the highest form of unity and solidarity that Allah (swt) and His Messenger (saw) have commanded. Allah (swt) said,

[وَٱعْتَصِمُوا۟ بِحَبْلِ ٱللَّهِ جَمِيعًۭا وَلَا تَفَرَّقُوا۟] “And hold firmly together to the rope of Allah and do not be divided” [TMQ Surah Ale Imran, 3:103]. Therefore, division within the Ummah leads to chaos and humiliation.

O Muslims! Indeed, establishing the Khilafah is a Shariah obligation from your Lord (swt) and glad tidings from your Prophet (saw). It is a source of honor for you and the method for subduing your enemies. It is the method for spreading truth and justice across the world, so work sincerely toward its establishment. Do not your hearts yearn for Jihad in the Path of Allah (swt)? In the face of the cowardice of your rulers, and indeed their treachery towards you, where are those who will respond to wa-mu‘tasimah?

The Dawah to establish the Khilafah Rashidah (rightly-guided Khilafah) upon the method of the Prophethood, for which Hizb ut-Tahrir is actively working, transcends the false nationalistic borders that colonialism has imposed between Muslim lands after the fall of the Ottoman Khilafah. It is a global Dawah to all Muslims for the Khilafah is their common leadership. The Hizb has prepared a draft constitution for the Khilafah, derived from the Noble Quran and Prophetic Sunnah, which includes Shariah rulings on the economy, foreign affairs, war, social relations, education, health, finance, and everything necessary for its practical implementation from day one, in shaa Allah. The signs of its revival are already appearing, and the Muslims are yearning for it.

So, O Muslims! We invite you to join us in working seriously and sincerely for the establishment of the Khilafah Rashidah, and we call upon you to heed this command of Allah (swt),

[يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱسْتَجِيبُوا۟ لِلَّهِ وَلِلرَّسُولِ إِذَا دَعَاكُمْ لِمَا يُحْيِيكُمْ ۖ وَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَحُولُ بَيْنَ ٱلْمَرْءِ وَقَلْبِهِۦ وَأَنَّهُۥٓ إِلَيْهِ تُحْشَرُونَ]

“O believers! Respond to Allah and His Messenger when he calls you to that which gives you life. And know that Allah stands between a person and their heart, and that to Him you will all be gathered.” [TMQ Suran Al-Anfaal, 8:24]

Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir
in Wilayah Pakistan