The Role of the Accounts in the Discussions on the Caliphate in the Context of Ahl al-Sunnah-Politics Relation

Abstract

While in the political discussions, which took place soon after the death of the Prophet, as to who would come to power the caliphate as known today or any kind of government or its name was not mentioned at all, but, in later periods, the accounts especially those on the caliphate were related as if they had belonged to the Prophet. At the same time, the legitimacy of sultanate was also tried to base on the religious texts. It has been concluded, as a result of the historical data and researches, that these claims were not well-grounded. As a consequence of this study, it has been concluded that "the Model of Caliphate" did not base on the religious texts, but developed in accordance with the conditions of time, and that when the Qur’an, the Sunna of the Prophet and the experiences of humankind were considered, there was no problem in respect of religion in trying new models under different names