Khalif
/ˈkælɪf/noun
A Muslim ruler or successor, especially one who claims authority as a successor to the Prophet Muhammad.
Did you know?The title is tied to the Arabic root meaning “to come after” or “succeed,” and it gave rise to *caliph* and *caliphate* in English political and religious history.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Semitic
PS
*ḫ-l-f
“to come after, succeed, replace”
Classical Arabic
Arabic
خَلِيفَة (khalīfa)
“successor, deputy, representative”
Medieval Arabic
Arabic
خَلِيفَة (khalīfa)
“the successor to the Prophet; ruler of the Muslim community”
Middle English
English
caliphe / calife
“a Muslim ruler or title of the Islamic successor”
Modern English
English
caliph
“a Muslim ruler claiming succession to Muhammad”