Caliphate and the Delhi Sultans

 The institution of the Caliphate came into existence after the death of Prophet Muhammad when Abu Bakr became the new head (Khalifa) of the Muslim community (Umma or Ummat). Originally, there existed some elements of elective principle in the matter of succession, a practice not much different from the previous tribal traditions.

In the Islamic world, the Caliph was regarded as the guardian of religion and the upholder of political order. He was the leader of the entire community. After the period of the first four ‘pious Caliphs’ (Abu Bakr, Umar, Usman and Ali) dynastic rule became the norm when the Umayyads took over the Caliphate in 661 CE from their base at Damascus in Syria. After the fall of the Umayyad Caliphate the Abbasids came to power in the mid-8th century as Caliphs at Baghdad. However, with the decline of central authority, the centralized institution of Caliphate (Khilafat) broke into three centres of power based in Spain (under the rule of a branch of the Umayyad Caliphs), Egypt (under the Fatimids) and the older one at Baghdad – each claiming the exclusive loyalty of the Muslims. Nearer home, towards the northwest, many minor dynasties carved out small states, one of which was based at Ghazna. The significant point to remember is that, theoretically; no Muslim could have set up an ‘independent’ state, big or small, without procuring the permission from the Caliph, else its legitimacy could become suspect amongst the Muslims. And, yet, all this was nothing more than a formality which could be dispensed with impunity.

The recognition of a Caliph by the Delhi Sultans seen in the granting of robes of honour, letter of investiture, bestowing of titles, having the name of the Caliph inscribed on coins and reading of khutba in his name in the Friday prayer symbolized an acceptance and a link with the Islamic world, though in reality it only meant an acceptance of a situation whereby a ruler, had already placed himself in power. The Sultans of Delhi maintained the fiction of the acceptance of the position of the Caliph. Under the Saiyyids (1414-1451) and the Lodis (1451-1526), the legends on the coins continued in the sense of a tradition being maintained but it was purely a nominal allegiance

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