caliph
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Related to caliph: Caliph Ali
ca·liph
also ca·lif or kha·lif (kā′lĭf, kăl′ĭf)n.
A leader of an Islamic polity, regarded as a successor of Muhammad and by tradition always male.
[Middle English calife, from Old French, from Arabic ḫalīfa, successor (to Muhammad), caliph, from ḫalafa, to succeed; see ḫlp in Semitic roots.]
ca′li·phal adj.
caliph
(ˈkeɪlɪf; ˈkæl-) ,calif
,kalif
orkhalif
n
(Islam) Islam the title of the successors of Mohammed as rulers of the Islamic world, later assumed by the Sultans of Turkey
[C14: from Old French, from Arabic khalīfa successor]
ca•liph
or ca•lif
(ˈkeɪ lɪf, ˈkæl ɪf)n.
a former title for any of the religious and civil rulers of the Islamic world, claiming succession from Muhammad.
[1350–1400; Middle English caliphe, califfe < Middle French < Medieval Latin calipha < Arabic khalīf(a) successor (of Muhammad), derivative of khalafa succeed]
cal•iph•al (ˈkæl ə fəl, ˈkeɪ lə-) adj.
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Noun | 1. | caliph - the civil and religious leader of a Muslim state considered to be a representative of Allah on earth; "many radical Muslims believe a Khalifah will unite all Islamic lands and people and subjugate the rest of the world" |