The English translation, often titled Caliphate and Kingship, makes this critical scholarship accessible to a global audience. It is particularly important for: *
Khilafat o Malookiat (Caliphate and Kingship), authored by Abul A'la Maududi
in 1966, is a seminal work in Islamic political thought. It explores the transition of the Islamic governing system from the ideal democratic caliphate (Khilafat) to hereditary monarchy (Malookiat). cdn.prod.website-files.com English Version & Download Links
The book has been translated into English under various titles. While many online PDFs are in Urdu, you can find English versions and scholarly reviews at the following links: Official English Title
Islam’s Political Order: The Model, Deviations and Muslim Response , translated by English PDF/Read Online Khilafat o Malookiat English Translation (Full Book PDF) – A digitized full-text version. Scribd - Khilafat o Malookiat PDF Khilafat O Malookiat English Pdf Download
– Provides insights into the rise and fall of the Islamic political system. Physical Copy : Available for purchase on Amazon India and other retailers. Library/Archive Internet Archive
hosts the original Urdu version and related scholarly refutations. Key Themes of the Report The Rashidun Model
: Maududi argues that the early caliphate (Rashidun) was a "pure democracy" where leaders were accountable and every citizen had the right to question them. The Shift to Monarchy
: The book details how the system changed during the Umayyad era, moving away from public selection to a "flawed" system controlled by a single ruler. Refutation & Debate The English translation, often titled Caliphate and Kingship
: It was originally written to refute Mahmood Ahmad Abbasi’s book, The Caliphate of Mu’awiyah and Yazid
. It sparked significant debate, leading to both supporting works and famous refutations by other Sunni scholars like Muhammad Taqi Usmani. , or would you like to see refutations written by other scholars for a balanced view? Khilafat O Mulukiat ( ENGLISH TRANSLATION) - Amazon.in
Nadwi constructs his argument by contrasting two distinct models of leadership found in Islamic history.
A. The Model of the Rightly Guided Caliphs (Khilafat) In Nadwi’s view, the first four caliphs did not view the state as a personal possession. Their rule was defined by: rather than a lust for power.
B. The Model of Monarchy (Malookiat) Nadwi describes the shift under Muawiyah not as a sudden coup, but as a gradual "normalization" of pre-Islamic (Sassanid/Byzantine) political customs. This model was defined by:
A significant portion of the book—and perhaps its most vital contribution—is the author's handling of the conflicts between Hazrat Ali (the fourth Caliph) and Muawiyah I.
In an era where sectarian divides often weaponize this history, Nadwi adopts a stance of Adl (justice) and respect. He refuses to vilify Muawiyah, acknowledging his status as a scribe of the Prophet and a companion, while simultaneously upholding the superiority and rightful authority of Hazrat Ali. The book explains that the conflicts were based on Ijtihad (interpretation of law) regarding the justice of Uthman’s assassination, rather than a lust for power.