ABSTRACT
InChapter 1 we noted the controversy touched off by Shaikh ‘Ali Abd al-Raziq with his book al-Islam wa Usui al-Hukm [Islam and the basis of rule] in which he spoke out against the institution of the caliphate in Islam. We also noted how he was castigated for this view, especially by Shaikh Muhammad Bakhit. First we shall briefly review the development of the caliphate in the history of Islam.
