List of Caliphs

Khalīfah (Caliph) خَليفة
Calligraphic of Abū Bakr as-Șiddīq, the first caliph
Style	Amir al-Mu'minin
Residence	al-Madīnah al-Munawwarah (Medina) al-Kūfah (Kufa) Dimashq (Damascus) Baġdād (Baghdad) Sāmarra (Samarra) Qāhirah (Cairo) Qustantiniyye (Constantinople) or Istanbul
Formation	8 June 632
First holder	Abū Bakr as-Șiddīq
Final holder	Abdülmecid II
Abolished	3 March 1924

This is a list of people who have held the title of Caliph, the supreme religious and political leader of an Islamic state known as the Caliphate, and the title for the ruler of the Islamic Ummah, as the political successors to Muhammad . All years are according to the Common Era.

Background

Main article: Succession to Muhammad

When Muhammad died in 632 the whole future of the Islamic project hung in the balance. For a few weeks it was touch and go whether this new community would survive and expand or simply disintegrate into its feuding constituent parts. The future history of much of the world was decided by the actions of a small number of men arguing and debating in Medina. Muhammad had left no generally acknowledged heir. He had made it clear that he was the 'seal of the Prophets', the last in the great chain of messengers of God which had begun with Adam. It was quite unclear whether he could have any sort of successor at all.

While the debate rumbled on and ideas were tossed around, other people were moving with speed and efficiency. Before the ansar had come to any firm conclusions, Omar b. al-Khattab had taken the hand of Abu Bakr and pledged allegiance to him as khalifat Allah, the deputy of God on earth. He also seems to have been tactful and diplomatic, but perhaps his most important quality was his knowledge of the Arab tribes of Arabia, their leaders, their interests and their conflicts. These qualities were to be extremely valuable in the crucial two years of his short reign.

Ecumenical caliphates

Rashidun Caliphate (8 June 632 – 29 January 661)

Main articles: Rashidun and Rashidun Caliphate

#	Calligraphic	Name (and titles)	Born	Reigned from	Reigned until	Died	Relationship with Muhammad	Parents	House	Notes
1		Abū Bakr (أبو بكر) Aṣ-Ṣiddīq	573	8 June 632	22 August 634		Father of Aisha, Muhammad's wife	'Uthman Abu Quhafa Salma Umm-ul-Khair	Banu Taim	Approximately the fourth person to accept Islam after the beginning of Muhammad's prophethood Launched the Ridda Wars in 632
2		ʿUmar ibn al-Khattab (عمر بن الخطاب) Al-Farooq	584	23 August 634	3 November 644 (assassinated)		Father of Hafsa, Muhammad's wife	Khattab ibn Nufayl Hantamah bint Hisyam	Banu Adi	Became a Muslim in approximately the sixth year of Muhammad's prophethood
3		'Uthman ibn 'Affan (عثمان بن عفان) Dhun Nurayn	579	11 November 644	20 June 656 (assassinated at the end of a siege upon his house)		Husband of Muhammad's daughters, Ruqayya and later Umm Kulthum Grandson of Umm Hakim bint Abdul Muttalib, Muhammad's paternal aunt	'Affan ibn Abi al-'As Arwa bint Kurayz	Banu Ummaya
4		'Ali ibn Abi Talib (علي بن أبي طالب) Amir al-Mu'minin Haydar Abu Turab Al-Murtaza	15 September 601	20 June 656	29 January 661 (assassinated while praying in the Mosque of Kufa)		Muhammad's first cousin Husband of Muhammad's daughter Fatimah Husband of Umamah bint Zainab, Muhammad's granddaughter All modern descendants of Muhammad are through Ali	Abu Talib ibn 'Abd al-Muttalib Fatimah bint Asad	Banu Hashim	Born in the Kaaba, the holiest site in Islam First male to openly accept Islam Considered as the first successor to Muhammad by Shia Muslims

Hasan ibn Ali's Caliphate (661)

#	Calligraphic	Name (and titles)	Birth	Reigned from	Reigned until	Death	Relationship with Muhammad (or previous Caliph)	Parents	House	Notes
5	100px	Ḥasan ibn ʿAli (الحسن بن علي) Ahl al-Bayt Al-Mujtaba	624	661 (six or seven months)		670	Grandson of Muhammad Son of 'Ali ibn Abi Talib	'Ali ibn Abi-Talib, fourth Rashidun Caliph and first Imam of Shia Islam Fatimah, daughter of Muhammad and his first wife Khadijah	Banu Hashim	Considered as the second successor to Muhammad by Shia Muslims Abdicated for Mu'awiyah Also known as the 5th Rashidun Caliph

Umayyad Caliphate (661 – 6 August 750)

Main article: Umayyad Caliphate

#	Calligraphic/Coin	Name (and titles)	Born	Reigned from	Reigned until	Died	Relationship with Muhammad (or previous Caliph)	Parents	Notes
6	100px	Mu'awiyah I (معاوية)	602	661	29 April or 1 May 680		Half-brother of Ramla bint Abu Sufyan, Muhammad's wife	Abu Sufyan ibn Harb Hind bint 'Utbah	Worked as one of at least 29 scribes during the time of Muhammad Became Governor of Syria during the reign of Umar Led a war against Ali and Hasan
7	100px	Yazid I (يزيد)	647	680	11 November 683		Son of Mu'awiyah I	Mu'awiyah I and Ummayad Caliph Maysun bint Bajdal	Title caliph also claimed by 'Abd Allah ibn az-Zubayr in 680
8	100px	Mu'awiyah II (معاوية الثاني)	664	November 683	684		Son of Yazid I	Yazid I, Ummayad Caliph	Last Ummayad Caliph from Sufyanid line Abdicated without children
9	100px	Marwan I (مروان بن الحکم)	623–626	684	7 May 685		First cousin of 'Uthman ibn 'Affan	Hakam ibn Abi al-'As	Marwan's ascension pointed to a shift in the lineage of the Umayyad dynasty from descendants of Abu Sufyan (the "Sufyanids") to those of Hakam (the "Marwanids"), both of whom were grandsons of Umayya (for whom the Umayyad dynasty is named)
10		'Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan (عبد الملك بن مروان)	646	685	8 October 705		Son of Marwan I	Marwan I, Ummayad Caliph 'Aisha bint Muawiya ibn Al-Mughira
11	100px	Al-Walid I (الوليد الأول)	668	October 705	23 February 715		Son of 'Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan	'Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan, Ummayad Caliph Walida bint al-'Abbas
12	100px	Sulayman ibn 'Abd al-Malik (سلیمان بن عبدالملک)	674	February 715	22 September 717		Son of Abd al-Malik Younger brother of Al-Walid I	'Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan, Ummayad Caliph Walida bint al-'Abbas
13	100px	'Umar ibn 'Abd al-'Aziz (عمر بن عبد العزيز)	2 November 682	September 717	February 720		Grandson of Marwan I First cousin of Al-Walid I and Sulayman ibn 'Abd al-Malik Great-grandson of 'Umar ibn al-Khattab from female-line	'Abd al-'Aziz ibn Marwan Umm Asim Layla bint Asim ibn 'Umar	Widely known as the 5th Rashidun Caliph Some refers him as the Sixth Rashidun Caliph counting the 5th Rashidun Hassan Ibn Ali
14	100px	Yazid II (يزيد الثاني)	687	10 February 720	26 January 724		Son of 'Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan	'Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan, Ummayad Caliph Atikah bint Yazid
15		Hisham ibn 'Abd al-Malik (هشام بن عبد الملك)	691	26 January 724	6 February 743		Son of 'Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan	'Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan, Ummayad Caliph Fatimah bint Hisham
16	100px	Al-Walid II (الوليد الثاني)	709	6 February 743	17 April 744 (assassinated)		Son of Yazid II Nephew of Hisham ibn 'Abd al-Malik	Yazid II, Ummayad Caliph
17	100px	Yazid III (يزيد الثالث)	701	17 April 744	3/4 October 744		Son of Al-Walid I	Al-Walid I, Ummayad Caliph Persian princess
18	100px	Ibrahim ibn al-Walid (ابراهيم ابن الوليد)		744 (few weeks)		25 January 750 (executed)	Son of Al-Walid I	Al-Walid I, Ummayad Caliph
19	100px	Marwan II (مروان بن محمد)	691	744	6 August 750 (killed)		Grandson of Marwan I	Muḥammad ibn Marwān

Abbasid Caliphate (25 January 750 – 20 February 1258)

Main article: Abbasid Caliphate

(Not accepted by the Muslim dominions in the Umayyad-ruled Iberian Peninsula from 756).

#	Image/Coin	Regnal name	Personal name	Born	Reigned from	Reigned until	Died	Parents	Notes
20	100px	As-Sāffaḥ	'Abdallah Abul-'Abbās	721	750	10 June 754		Muhammad ibn Ali ibn Abdallah Raita al-Harsia	Descendant of Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib, an uncle of Muhammad
21		Al-Mansur	Abu Ja'far 'Abdallah	714	10 June 754	775		Muhammad ibn Ali ibn Abdallah Sallamah	Remembered for killing Ja'far al-Sadiq, who was a descendant of Muhammad , the sixth Shia Imam and a major figure in Sunni jurisprudence
22	100px	Al-Mahdi	Abu 'Abdallah Muhammad	744/745	775	4 August 785		Al-Mansur, Abbasid Caliph	Named al-Mahdi by al-Mansur in order to turn the attention of his subjects from the ‘Alid family toward the family of 'Abbas
23		Al-Hadi	Abu Muhammad Musa	764	August 785	14 September 786		Al-Mahdi, Abbasid Caliph Al-Khayzuran bint 'Atta
24	100px	Al-Rashid	Harun	763/766	14 September 786	24 March 809		Al-Mahdi, Abbasid Caliph Al-Khayzuran bint 'Atta
25	100px	Al-Amin	Muhammad	787	March 809	24/25 September 813		Harun ar-Rashid, Abbasid Caliph Zubaidah bint Ja`far, granddaughter of Al-Mansur, Abbasid Caliph
26		Al-Ma'mun	Abu Jaʿfar 'Abdallah	13/14 September 786	September 813	9 August 833		Harun ar-Rashid, Abbasid Caliph Marajil
27	100px	Al-Mu'tasim	Abū Ishaq Muhammad	October 796	9 August 833	5 January 842		Harun ar-Rashid, Abbasid Caliph Marida
28		Al-Wathiq	Abu Ja'far Harun	811–813	5 January 842	10 August 847		Al-Mu'tasim, Abbasid Caliph Qaratis
29		Al-Mutawakkil	Ja'far	February/March 822	10 August 847	11 December 861 (assassinated)		Al-Mu'tasim, Abbasid Caliph Shuja
30		Al-Muntasir	Abu Ja'far Muhammad	November 837	861	7 or 8 June 862		Al-Mutawakkil, Abbasid Caliph	Reigned during the Anarchy at Samarra (861–870)
31		Al-Musta'in	Ahmad	836	862	866 (executed)		Muhammad, son of Al-Mu'tasim, Abbasid Caliph
32		Al-Mu'tazz	–	847	866	869		Al-Mutawakkil, Abbasid Caliph
33		Al-Muhtadi	Abū Isḥāq Muḥammad		869	21 June 870		Al-Wathiq, Abbasid Caliph Greek concubine
34		Al-Mu'tamid	Abu’l-ʿAbbās Aḥmad	842	21 June 870	15 October 892		Al-Mutawakkil, Abbasid Caliph
35		Al-Mu'tadid	Abu'l-'Abbas Ahmad	854/861	October 892	5 April 902		Al-Muwaffaq, regent of the Abbasid Caliphate Dirar	Grandson of Al-Mutawakkil, Abbasid Caliph
36		Al-Muktafi	Abu Ahmad ʿAlî	877/878	5 April 902	13 August 908		Al-Mu'tadid, Abbasid Caliph
37		Al-Muqtadir	Abu al-Fadl Ja'far	895	13 August 908	929	31 October 932 (killed)	Al-Mu'tadid, Abbasid Caliph	Title caliph also claimed by al-Mahdi Billah of the Fatimids in 909
38		Al-Qahir	Abu Mansur Muhammad	899	929		950	Al-Mu'tadid, Abbasid Caliph
(37)		Al-Muqtadir	Abu al-Fadl Ja'far	895	929	31 October 932 (killed)		Al-Mu'tadid, Abbasid Caliph	Title caliph also claimed by 'Abd ar-Rahman III of Córdoba on 16 January 929
(38)		Al-Qahir	Abu Mansur Muhammad	899	31 October 932	934	950	Al-Mu'tadid, Abbasid Caliph
39	100px	Ar-Radi	Abu al-'Abbas Muhammad	December 909	934	23 December 940		Al-Muqtadir, Abbasid Caliph
40		Al-Muttaqi	Abu Ishaq Ibrahim	908	940	944	July 968	Al-Muqtadir, Abbasid Caliph Khalub or Zahrah	Beginning of the later Abbasid period
41	100px	Al-Mustakfi	'Abdallah	905	September 944	January 946	September/October 949	Al-Muktafi, Abbasid Caliph
42	100px	Al-Muti	Abu al-Qasim al-Faḍl	914	January 946	974		Al-Muqtadir, Abbasid Caliph
43		At-Ta'i	–	932	974	991	3 August 1003	Al-Muti, Abbasid Caliph
44		Al-Qadir	–	947	1 November 991	29 November 1031		Ishaq bin Caliph Al-Muqtadir Tumna
45		Al-Qa'im	–	1001	29 November 1031	2 April 1075		Al-Qadir, Abbasid Caliph
46		Al-Muqtadi	–	1056	2 April 1075	February 1094		Muhammad, son of Al-Qa'im, Abbasid Caliph Urjuman, Armenian concubine
47		Al-Mustazhir	–	April/May 1078	February 1094	6 August 1118		Al-Muqtadi, Abbasid Caliph
48		Al-Mustarshid	–	April/May 1092	6 August 1118	29 August 1135		Al-Mustazhir, Abbasid Caliph
49		Ar-Rashid	–	1109	29 August 1135	1136	6 June 1138 (killed by Hashshashins)	Al-Mustarshid, Abbasid Caliph
50	100px	Al-Muqtafi	–	9 March 1096	1136	12 March 1160		Al-Mustazhir, Abbasid Caliph
51		Al-Mustanjid	–	1124	12 March 1160	20 December 1170		Al-Muqtafi, Abbasid Caliph Thawus
52		Al-Mustadi	Hassan	1142	20 December 1170	30 March 1180		Al-Mustanjid, Abbasid Caliph
53	100px	An-Nasir	–	6 August 1158	2 March 1180	4 October 1225		Al-Mustadi, Abbasid Caliph Zumurrud, concubine
54		Az-Zahir	–	1176	5 October 1225	11 July 1226		An-Nasir, Abbasid Caliph
55		Al-Mustansir	Abû Ja`far	17 February 1192	11 July 1226	2 December 1242		Az-Zahir, Abbasid Caliph
56		Al-Musta'sim	–	1213	2 December 1242	20 February 1258		Al-Mustansir, Abbasid Caliph	Last Abbasid Caliph
	Interregnum								Mongol sack of Baghdad

During the latter period of Abbasid rule, Muslim rulers began using other titles, such as Sultan.

Abbasid Dynasty of Cairo (1261 – 1517)

Caliphs of Cairo (13 June 1261 – 22 January 1517)

The Cairo Abbasids were largely ceremonial Caliphs under the patronage of the Mamluk Sultanate that existed after the takeover of the Ayyubid dynasty.

#	Regnal name	Personal name	Reign	Parents	Notes
57	Al-Mustansir	Abu al-Qasim Ahmad	13 June 1261 – 28 November 1261	Az-Zahir	Installed as Caliph in Cairo, Egypt by the Mamluk Sultans in 1261 Title caliph also claimed by Al Hakim I who was installed as caliph by ruler of Aleppo
58	Al-Hakim I	Abu 'Abdullah Muhammad	16 November 1262 – 19 January 1302	Abu 'Ali al-Hasan	Great-grandson of Al-Mustarshid Installed as caliph by ruler of Aleppo in 1261 Proclaimed as caliph by Mamluk Sultan after Al-Mustansir II died
59	Al-Mustakfi I	Abu ar-Rabi' Sulaiman	20 January 1302 – February 1340	Al-Hakim I
60	Al-Wathiq I	Abu Ishaq Ibrahim	February 1340 – 17 June 1341	Muhammad, son of Al-Hakim I
61	Al-Hakim II	Abu al-'Abbas Ahmad	1341 – 1352	Al-Mustakfi I
62	Al-Mu'tadid I	Abu Bakr	1352 – 1362	Al-Mustakfi I
63	Al-Mutawakkil I	Abu 'Abdillah Muhammad	1362 – 1377	Al-Mu'tadid I
64	Al-Mus'tasim	Abu Yahya Zakariya	1377	Al-Wathiq I
(63)	Al-Mutawakkil I	Abu 'Abdillah Muhammad	1377 – 1383	Al-Mu'tadid I
65	Al-Wathiq II	'Umar	September 1383 – 13 November 1386	Al-Wathiq I
(64)	Al-Mus'tasim	Abu Yahya Zakariya	1386 – 1389	Al-Wathiq I
(63)	Al-Mutawakkil I	Abu 'Abdillah Muhammad	1389 – 9 January 1406	Al-Mu'tadid I
66	Al-Musta'in	Abu al-Fadl al-'Abbas	22 January 1406 – 9 March 1414	Al-Mutawakkil I Bay Khatun	Became Sultan of Egypt from 7 May 1412 until 6 November 1412
67	Al-Mu'tadid II	Abu al-Fath Dawud	1414 – 1441	Al-Mutawakkil I Kazal
68	Al-Mustakfi II	Abu ar-Rabi' Sulayman	1441 – 29 January 1451	Al-Mutawakkil I
69	Al-Qa'im	Abu Al-Baqa Hamzah	1451 – 1455	Al-Mutawakkil I
70	Al-Mustanjid	Abu al-Mahasin Yusuf	1455 – 7 April 1479	Al-Mutawakkil I
71	Al-Mutawakkil II	Abu al-'Izz 'Abdul 'Aziz	5 April 1479 – 27 September 1497	Ya'qub bin Al-Mutawakkil I Haj al-Malik
72	Al-Mustamsik	Abu as-Sabr	1497 – 1508	Al-Mutawakkil II
73	Al-Mutawakkil III	Muhammad	1508 – 1516	Al-Mustamsik
(72)	Al-Mustamsik	Abu as-Sabr	1516 – 1517	Al-Mutawakkil II
(73)	Al-Mutawakkil III	Muhammad	1517	Al-Mustamsik	He formally surrendered the title of caliph as well as its outward emblems — the sword and mantle of Muhammad —to Ottoman Sultan Selim I in 1517, made him the last caliph from Abbasid Dynasty and Banu Quraysh

Ottoman Caliphate (1517 – 3 March 1924)

Main article: Ottoman Caliphate

The head of the Ottoman dynasty was just entitled Sultan originally, but soon it started accumulating titles assumed from subjected peoples. Murad I (reigned 1362–1389) was the first Ottoman claimant to the title of Caliph; claimed the title after conquering Edirne.

#	Portrait	Tughra	Name	Reign	Parents	Notes
74			Selim I	1517 – 21 September 1520	Bayezid II Gülbahar Hatun	Reigned until his death.
75			Suleiman I	30 September 1520 – 6 or 7 September 1566	Selim I Hafsa Sultan	Reigned until his death.
76			Selim II	29 September 1566 – 21 December 1574	Suleiman I Hurrem Sultan	Reigned until his death.
77			Murad III	22 December 1574 – 16 January 1595	Selim II Nurbanu Sultan	Reigned until his death.
78			Mehmed III	27 January 1595 – 20 or 21 December 1603	Murad III Safiye Sultan	Reigned until his death.
79			Ahmed I	21 December 1603 – 22 November 1617	Mehmed III Handan Sultan	Reigned until his death.
80			Mustafa I	22 November 1617 – 26 February 1618	Mehmed III Halime Sultan	Deposed due to his non-syndromic mental retardation in favour of his young nephew Osman II.
81			Osman II	26 February 1618 – 19 May 1622	Ahmed I Mahfiruz Hatun	Deposed in a Janissary riot on 19 May 1622; Murdered on 20 May 1622 by the Grand Vizier Kara Davud Paşa (Black Da'ud Pasha) from compression of his testicles.
(80)			Mustafa I	20 May 1622 – 10 September 1623	Mehmed III Halime Sultan	Returned to the throne after the assassination of his nephew Osman II; Deposed due to his syndromic mental retardation and confined until his death in Istanbul on 20 January 1639.
82			Murad IV	10 September 1623 – 8 or 9 February 1640	Ahmed I Kösem Sultan	Reigned until his death.
83			Ibrahim	9 February 1640 – 8 August 1648	Ahmed I Kösem Sultan	Deposed on 8 August 1648 in a coup led by the Sheikh ul-Islam; Strangled in Istanbul on 18 August 1648 at the behest of the Grand Vizier Mevlevî Mehmed Paşa (Sofu Mehmed Pasha).
84			Mehmed IV	8 August 1648 – 8 November 1687	Ibrahim Turhan Hatice Sultan	Deposed on 8 November 1687 following the Ottoman defeat at the Second Battle of Mohács; Died in Edirne on 6 January 1693.
85			Suleiman II	8 November 1687 – 22 June 1691	Ibrahim Aşub Sultan	Reigned until his death.
86			Ahmed II	22 June 1691 – 6 February 1695	Ibrahim Muazzez Sultan	Reigned until his death.
87			Mustafa II	6 February 1695 – 22 August 1703	Mehmed IV Gülnuş Sultan	Deposed on 22 August 1703 by reason of the Janissary uprising known as the Edirne Event; Died in Istanbul on 8 January 1704.
88			Ahmed III	22 August 1703 – 1 or 2 October 1730	Mehmed IV Gülnuş Sultan	Deposed in consequence of the Janissary rebellion led by Patrona Halil; Died on 1 July 1736.
89			Mahmud I	2 October 1730 – 13 December 1754	Mustafa II Saliha Sultan	Reigned until his death.
90			Osman III	13 December 1754 – 29 or 30 October 1757	Mustafa II Şehsuvar Sultan	Reigned until his death.
91			Mustafa III	30 October 1757 – 21 January 1774	Ahmed III Mihrişah Kadın;	Reigned until his death.
92			Abdülhamid I	21 January 1774 – 6 or 7 April 1789	Son of Ahmed III Şermi Kadın;	Reigned until his death.
93			Selim III	7 April 1789 – 29 May 1807	Mustafa III Mihrişah Sultan;	Deposed as a result of the Janissary revolt led by Kabakçı Mustafa against his reforms; Assassinated in Istanbul on 28 July 1808 at the behest of Ottoman Sultan Mustafa IV.
94			Mustafa IV	29 May 1807 – 28 July 1808	Abdul Hamid I Sineperver Sultan	Deposed in an insurrection led by Alemdar Mustafa Pasha; Executed in Istanbul on 17 November 1808 by order of Ottoman Sultan Mahmud II.
95			Mahmud II	28 July 1808 – 1 July 1839	Abdul Hamid I Nakşidil Sultan	Disbanded the Janissaries in consequence of the Auspicious Event in 1826; Reigned until his death.
96			Abdulmejid I	1 July 1839 – 25 June 1861	Mahmud II Bezmiâlem Sultan;	Proclaimed the Hatt-ı Sharif (Imperial Edict) of Gülhane (Tanzimât Fermânı) that launched the Tanzimat period of reforms and reorganization on 3 November 1839 at the behest of reformist Grand Vizier Great Mustafa Rashid Pasha; Accepted the Islâhat Hatt-ı Hümayun (Imperial Reform Edict) (Islâhat Fermânı) on 18 February 1856; Reigned until his death.
97			Abdülaziz	25 June 1861 – 30 May 1876	Mahmud II Pertevniyal Sultan;	Deposed by his ministers; Found dead (suicide or murder) five days later.
98			Murad V	30 May 1876 – 31 August 1876	Abdulmejid I Şevkefza Kadın;	Deposed due to his efforts to implement democratic reforms in the empire; Ordered to reside in Çırağan Palace where he died on 29 August 1904.
99			Abdülhamid II	31 August 1876 – 27 April 1909	Abdulmejid I Tirimüjgan Kadın	Reluctantly allowed the First Constitutional Era on 23 November 1876 and then suspended it and reverted to personal rule on 13 February 1878; Forced to restore the Second Constitutional Era on 3 July 1908; Deposed after the 31 March Incident (on 13 April 1909); Confined to Beylerbeyi Palace where he died on 10 February 1918.
100			Mehmed V	27 April 1909 – 3 July 1918	Abdülmecid I Gülcemal Kadın;	Reigned as a figurehead of Mehmed Talât, İsmail Enver, and Ahmed Cemal (Djemal) Pashas until his death.
101			Mehmed VI	4 July 1918 – 1 November 1922	Abdülmecid I Gülüstü Hanım;	Sultanate abolished; Left Istanbul on 17 November 1922; Died in exile in Sanremo, Italy on 16 May 1926.
102		—	Abdülmecid II	18 November 1922 – 3 March 1924	Abdülaziz I Hayranidil Kadın;	Elected caliph by the TBMM; Exiled after the abolition of the Ottoman Caliphate; Died in Paris, France on 23 August 1944.

The Office of the Ottoman Caliphate was transferred to the Grand National Assembly of Turkey which dissolved the office on March 3, 1924, in keeping with the policies of secularism that were adopted in the early years of the Republic of Turkey by its President Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.

After the abolition of the Caliphate, the Grand National Assembly of Turkey founded the Presidency of Religious Affairs as the new highest Islamic religious authority in the country.

Non-ecumenical caliphates

Caliphates not accepted as legitimate by the majority of muslims.

Ibn al-Zubayr's Caliphate (684–692)

Main article: Ibn al-Zubayr's revolt

Abd Allah ibn al-Zubayr, the nephew of Aisha, the third wife of Muhammad led a rebellion against the Umayyad Caliphate in 684 AD. He was proclaimed caliph in Mecca but was defeated and killed there in 692 AD after a six-month siege by general Al-Hajjaj ibn Yusuf.

Ummayad Caliphate of Córdoba (929–1031)

Main article: Caliphate of Córdoba

(Not universally accepted; actual authority confined to Spain and parts of Maghreb)

Name	Reign	Parents	Notes
Abd-ar-Rahman III	929–961	Muhammad ibn Abdullah son of the Emir of Córdoba Abdullah ibn Muhammad al-Umawi Muzna	Descendant of Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik, Umayyad Caliph
Al-Hakam II	961–976	Abd-ar-Rahman III Murjan
Hisham II al-Hakam	976–1009	Al-Hakam II Subh
Muhammad II	1009	Hisham bin Abd al-Jabbar bin Abd ar-Rahman III, grandson of Abd ar-Rahman III Muzna
Sulayman ibn al-Hakam	1009–1010	Al-Hakam bin Sulayman bin Abd ar-Rahman III, grandson of Abd ar-Rahman III Thabiya
Hisham II al-Hakam	1010–1013	Al-Hakam II Subh
Sulayman ibn al-Hakam	1013–1016	Al-Hakam bin Sulayman bin Abd ar-Rahman III, grandson of Abd ar-Rahman III Thabiya
Abd ar-Rahman IV	1021–1022	Mohammed, grandson of Abd ar-Rahman III
Abd ar-Rahman V	1022–1023	Hisham bin Abd al-Jabbar bin Abd ar-Rahman III, grandson of Abd ar-Rahman III Ghala
Muhammad III	1023–1024	Abd ar-Rahman bin Ubayd Allah bin Abd ar-Rahman III, grandson of Abd ar-Rahman III Hawra
Hisham III	1027–1031	Muhammad bin 'Abd al-Malik bin Abd ar-Rahman III, grandson of Abd ar-Rahman III 'Ateb

Fatimid Caliphate (909–1171)

Main articles: Fatimid Caliphate and List of caliphs of the Fatimid Caliphate

The Fatimid Caliphate

(The Fatimids were Isma'ili Shia who claimed to be descendants of Muhammad's daughter Fatimah and were seen as heretics by Sunnis. Their claims to a caliphate are also not recognized by the Muslim Ummah as a legitimate successor of the title of Caliph passed down from Muhammad , as no legitimate proof existed they were descendant from Fatimah).

Name	Reign	Parents	Notes
Al-Mahdi Billah	909–934	Radi Abdullah, Imamah of Isma'ilism	Descendant of Fatimah, youngest daughter of Muhammad Founder of the Fatimid dynasty
Al-Qa'im Bi-Amrillah	934–946	Abdullah al-Mahdi Billah
Al-Mansur Billah	946–953	Al-Qa'im bi-Amr Allah
Al-Muizz Lideenillah	953–975	Al-Mansur Billah	Egypt is conquered during his reign
Al-Aziz Billah	975–996	Al-Mu'izz li-Din Allah
Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah	996–1021	Al-Aziz Billah
Ali az-Zahir	1021–1036	Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah
Al-Mustansir Billah	1036–1094	Ali az-Zahir
Al-Musta'li	1094–1101	Al-Mustansir Billah	Quarrels over his succession led to the Nizari split
Al-Amir	1101–1130	Al-Musta'li	The Fatimid rulers of Egypt after him are not recognized as Imams by Mustaali Taiyabi Isma'ilis
Al-Hafiz	1130–1149	Muhammad bin Mûstensir, son of Al-Mustansir Billah Abu al-Maqmun Abdulmecid
Al-Zafir	1149–1154	Al-Hafiz
Al-Faiz	1154–1160	Al-Zafir
Al-Azid	1160–1171	Yusuf, son of Al-Hafiz

Almohad Caliphate (1145–1269)

Main article: Almohad Caliphate

The Almohad dynasty at its greatest extent (c. 1200)

(Not widely accepted, actual dominions were parts of North Africa and Iberia)

Name	Reign	Notes
Abd al-Mu'min	1145–1163
Abu Yaqub Yusuf I	1163–1184
Yaqub al-Mansur	1184–1199
Muhammad an-Nasir	1199–1213
Abu Ya'qub Yusuf II	1213–1224
Abd al-Wahid I	1224
Abdallah al-Adil	1224–1227
Yahya	1227–1235
Idris I	1227–1232
Abdul-Wahid II	1232–1242
Ali	1242–1248
Umar	1248–1266
Idris II	1266–1269

Indian caliphates

Since the 12th century, despite the South Asian domination of numerous Muslim empires, kingdoms and sultanates, Islamic caliphates were not fully attempted to be established across the Indian subcontinent. However, under the sharia based reigns of Sunni emperors such as Alauddin Khalji, Mughal Empire's Aurangzeb, and Mysore's rulers Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan, absolute forms of caliphates were clearly to have appeared. These largely impacted the French-Italian emperor Napoleone Bonaparte and soldiers of the British Empire.

Sokoto Caliphate (1804–1903)

Main article: Sokoto Caliphate

The Sokoto Caliphate (pink) at its greatest extent (c. 1800)

(Not widely accepted, actual dominions were parts of West Africa)

Established by Tariqa Islamic scholar and religious leader Usman dan Fodio through the Fulani War (alternatively known as the Fulani Jihad), which sought to reduce the influence of pre-Islamic religious practices and spread a more vigorous form of Islam through the auspices of a Caliphate.

Bornu and Songhai Empires

Main articles: Bornu Empire and Songhai Empire

The Bornu Empire at its greatest extent (c. 1750)

Songhai Empire at its greatest extent (c. 1500)

Several rulers of West Africa adopted the title of Caliph. Mai Ali Ghaji ibn Dunama was the first ruler of Bornu Empire to assume the title. Askia Mohammad I of Songhai Empire also assumed the title around the same time.

Non-ecumenical caliphates declared after 1900

Since the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire, there has been no single recognized, "ecumenical" caliphate.

Sharifian Caliphate (1924–1925)

Main article: Sharifian Caliphate

Map with the kingdom in green and the current region in red.

A last attempt at restoring the caliphal office and style with ecumenical recognition was made by Hussein bin Ali, King of Hejaz and Sharif of Mecca, who assumed both on 11 March 1924 and held them until 3 October 1924, when he passed the kingship to his son `Ali ibn al-Husayn al-Hashimi, who did not adopt the caliphal office and style. Hussein's claim for caliphate was not accepted however, and in 1925 he was driven from Hejaz by the forces of Ibn Saud due to his lack of support for Shari'ah. He continued to use the title of caliph during his remaining life in exile, until his death in 1931. Like the Fatimid caliphs, he was a descendant of Muhammad through a grandson of Hasan ibn Ali.

ISIL/ISIS claim (2014–present)

Further information: Worldwide Caliphate

On 29 June 2014, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) started to call itself "Islamic State" and call its leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi "caliph Ibrahim". The validity of this caliphate has not been recognized by any Islamic authority outside of the 10-million-people territory under control of Islamic State.

On 24 August 2014, the leader of Boko Haram in Nigeria, Abubakar Shekau, likewise declared a caliphate. Apparently, it remained unclear whether Shekau declared his group to be part of ISIL or if he was declaring a separate caliphate in Nigeria. On 7 March 2015, Shekau pledged allegiance to ISIL via an audio message posted on the organisation's Twitter account. Afterwards, Boko Haram assumed the name "Wilāyat al Sūdān al Gharbī" (Arabic: ولاية السودان الغربي‎‎, "West Africa Province") or "Islamic State in West Africa" (Iswap). However, on the 10th of April, 2018, during a rally headlined by U.S. President Donald Trump in support of Mike Braun’s bid for the US Senate in Elkhart, Indiana, Vice President Mike Pence referred to ISIS as a Caliphate, claiming “ISIS is on the run, their Caliphate has crumbled, and we will soon drive them out of existence once and for all." This does not, however, imply the United States recognizes or supports ISIL's claim to the caliphate.

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  ISIL Flag (Black Standard).

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       Areas controlled by ISIL      Areas in which ISIL has claimed to have presence or control

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  Areas controlled by Wilāyat al Sūdān al Gharbī  (as of 10 April 2015)

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  The greatest extent of Wilāyat al Sūdān al Gharbī (in January 2015)

Non-political

Ahmadiyya Caliphate (1908–present)

Main article: Khalifatul Masih § List of Ahmadiyya Caliphs

Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Flag.

Khalīfatul Masīh (Arabic: خليفة المسيح‎‎; Urdu: خلیفہ المسیح‎; English: Successor of the Messiah) or Khalifa of Ahmadiya Community sometimes simply referred to as Khalifah (i.e. Caliph, successor) is the elected spiritual and organizational leader of the worldwide Ahmadiyya Community and is the successor of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian who had claimed to be the Mahdi and Messiah in their community. The Caliph is believed to be divinely guided and is also referred to by members of the Ahmadiyya Community as Amir al-Mu'minin (Leader of the Faithful). The fifth and current Khalifatul Masih is Mirza Masroor Ahmad. The first caliph was in 34th direct lineal male descent of Caliph Umar Ibn al-Khattab and thus his followers. The rest of the major sections of Islam that are Sunni and Shiya, do not believe in this caliphate system since Mirza Ghulam Ahmed claimed to be a prophet which is against the belief of Muslims that Mohammad was the last prophet , hence leading the group being considered to be not accociated with Islam by the rest of the Islamic community.

After the death of Ghulam Ahmad, his successors directed the Ahmadiyya Community from Qadian which remained the headquarters of the community until 1947 with the creation of Pakistan. From this time on the headquarters remained in Rabwah, a town built on land bought in Pakistan by the community in 1948. In 1984, Ordinance XX was promulgated by the government of Pakistan which rendered the Khalifatul Masih unable to perform his duties and put the very institution in jeopardy. Due to these circumstances, Khalifatul Masih IV left Pakistan and migrated to London, England, provisionally moving the headquarters to the Fazl Mosque.

See also

• Worldwide Caliphate
• Shah
• Sultan
• Emir
• Amir al-Mu'minin
• Shaykh al-Islām
  • List of Sheikh-ul-Islams of the Ottoman Empire
• Grand Imam of al-Azhar
  • List of Grand Imams of al-Azhar
  • List of Presidents of Al-Azhar University
• Muhammad
• Succession to Muhammad
• History of Islam
• Shi'a Islam
• Sunni Islam
• Sharifate of Mecca
• Sharif of Mecca