A Return of the Caliphs?

Guest Piece by The Resident Historian
It's been relatively quiet in the Middle East this summer (apart from Iraq, that is). However, the peace is very tenuous and indeed violence could re-erupt at the drop of a hat, just like last summer. I think it crucial, then, to offer this as an idea for the future of that troubled region.

Many academics and religious groups in the Muslim world have called for the restoration of the ancient caliphs (a word that literally means ‘successor’). The practice began with the election of Abu Bakr to succeed Mohammed after his death and continue to spread Islam.

A modern caliph, a supreme religious authority in Islamic society, holds several key solutions to what observers describe as the "pestilences of Islam". Of particular note, such an authority would be able to unify large portions of the Muslim populace. Not necessarily the whole religion, as that would be a far fetch. However, I don't think it impossible to have, say, a Caliph for the Sunnis, who could denounce, and thereby limit support for, Wahabbi extremists or other similar radical factions. A caliph would also create a single source of legitimate evaluation and representation of the religion. This would promote solidarity and prevent internal disputes from further fracturing Muslim society. And while the idea seems to effuse clerical conservatism, it is probably the best way to mollify the more archaic and inhumane practices of shariah law.

It is important to note that the original caliphs’ successions were either deathbed nominations or contentious confrontations (one resulting in the Sunni-Shiite rift), and the following caliphs ruled by appointment or hereditary succession. However, seeing as the modern world requires a more representative administration, it would probably be best if the caliphs were elected popularly, or at least by Majiles of assembled Imams. True, this process would be a bit contentious and undoubtedly spark protest groups to splinter from the mainstream, but that would be to their own disadvantage, and the process would still ensure legitimacy for the general, moderate, popular will of the greater Muslim community.

Another point is that the caliphs of old were political heads as well as religious. However, the modern revival must be clear that today’s caliphs are to have religious authority, but no power in any political form. From Othman to the fall of Baghdad to Mongols, caliphs found nothing but trouble in the political arena. The Umayyad dynasty, a group famed for bringing Byzantine administration to a cohesive Muslim community, saw their entire crumble to less than half of Spain because they dared to rule like “kings instead of caliphs”.
The idea is shaky, but doable if pursued correctly, and the yields could be tremendous along the line of Middle East Peace. Only with legitimate authority can the fringe groups of Muslim society be reigned in and can the open culture that once flourished under caliphate rule reemerge in modern times. A good man for this kind of duty might be King Abdullah II of Jordan – an enlightened, open-minded man who is beloved by Muslims and adored by Western leaders. But the time for this form of action is running out. Who knows how long this peace will last?