Leadership in the Qur’an: How is a Khalifah Chosen in Islam?

In the Qur’an, leadership (khilāfah / imāmah) is always chosen directly by Allah, not left to human councils or tribal elections. From Adam (AS) to Dāwūd (AS) to Ibrāhīm (AS) and Hārūn (AS), succession and leadership were divinely appointed. By the same divine principle, Shia Muslims believe the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ declared Imam ʿAlī (AS) as his successor by Allah’s command.

Explanation

The Qur’an shows a consistent pattern: whenever a leader is appointed for mankind, it is done by Allah Himself. No Prophet was appointed by popular vote or committee — instead, Allah directly chose them. Shia Muslims argue this divine precedent continues with the Prophet ﷺ’s succession, which was clarified at Ghadīr Khumm.

Evidence

Adam (AS) as Khalīfah on Earth
Qur’an (2:30)
Arabic:
«وَإِذْ قَالَ رَبُّكَ لِلْمَلَائِكَةِ إِنِّي جَاعِلٌ فِي الْأَرْضِ خَلِيفَةً»

Transliteration:
Wa idh qāla rabbuka lil-malāʾikati innī jāʿilun fī ’l-arḍi khalīfah

English:
“And when your Lord said to the angels: Indeed, I am placing upon the earth a Khalīfah (successor).”

📖 Reference: Qur’an 2:30 (King Fahd Complex, Sahih International translation)

📌 Allah directly appointed Adam (AS) as Khalīfah without consultation.

Dāwūd (AS) as Khalīfah
Qur’an (38:26)
Arabic:
«يَا دَاوُودُ إِنَّا جَعَلْنَاكَ خَلِيفَةً فِي الْأَرْضِ فَاحْكُمْ بَيْنَ النَّاسِ بِالْحَقِّ»

Transliteration:
Yā Dāwūdu innā jaʿalnāka khalīfatan fī ’l-arḍi fa’ḥkum bayna ’n-nāsi bil-ḥaqq

English:
“O Dāwūd! Indeed, We have made you a Khalīfah upon the earth, so judge between the people with truth.”

📖 Reference: Qur’an 38:26 (King Fahd Complex, Sahih International translation)

📌 Again, Allah Himself appoints Dāwūd (AS).

Ibrāhīm (AS) and His Descendants
Qur’an (2:124)
Arabic:
«إِنِّي جَاعِلُكَ لِلنَّاسِ إِمَامًا قَالَ وَمِنْ ذُرِّيَّتِي قَالَ لَا يَنَالُ عَهْدِي الظَّالِمِينَ»

Transliteration:
Inni jāʿiluka li’n-nāsi imāmā qāla wa min dhurriyyatī qāla lā yanālu ʿahdī ’ẓ-ẓālimīn

English:
“I am making you an Imam for mankind.” Ibrāhīm said: “And from my descendants?” Allah said: “My covenant does not include the wrongdoers.”

📖 Reference: Qur’an 2:124 (King Fahd Complex, Sahih International translation)

📌 Imāmah is a divine covenant — Allah chooses, and it excludes oppressors.

➡️ Nuance: This verse is key in Shia theology, as it shows leadership (Imāmah) is not hereditary by default — only those divinely chosen, free of injustice, are included.

Hārūn (AS) as Deputy of Mūsā (AS)
Qur’an (7:142)
Arabic:
«وَقَالَ مُوسَىٰ لِأَخِيهِ هَارُونَ اخْلُفْنِي فِي قَوْمِي وَأَصْلِحْ»

Transliteration:
Wa qāla Mūsā li’akhīhi Hārūna ’kh-lufnī fī qawmī wa aṣliḥ

English:
“And Mūsā said to his brother Hārūn: Succeed me among my people and do right.”

📖 Reference: Qur’an 7:142 (King Fahd Complex, Sahih International translation)

📌 Mūsā (AS) told Hārūn (AS): “Succeed me among my people” (Q 7:142); elsewhere, Mūsā asked Allah to appoint Hārūn as his helper and Allah granted it (Q 20:29–36).

Conclusion / Summary

The Qur’an consistently shows that leadership (khilāfah / imāmah) is a matter of divine appointment, not human election. Just as Adam, Dāwūd, Ibrāhīm, and Hārūn were chosen by Allah, Shia Muslims hold that Imam ʿAlī (AS) was divinely appointed by the Prophet ﷺ at Ghadīr Khumm.

Quick FAQ

Q: Did the Qur’an ever allow leaders to be elected?
No. Every example of leadership (Khalīfah, Imam, successor) is by Allah’s choice.

Q: Does this mean only prophets can be appointed?
No. The Qur’an shows even non-prophets being appointed — for example, Ṭālūt (Saul) was appointed king by Allah (Q 2:247).

Q: What does this mean for after the Prophet ﷺ?
By the same divine principle, Muslims believe succession had to be by Allah’s command — which the Prophet ﷺ declared at Ghadīr Khumm.

References

• The Qur’an — King Fahd Complex / Quran.com (Sahih International translation).
• Qur’an 2:30 — Adam (AS) as Khalīfah.
• Qur’an 38:26 — Dāwūd (AS) as Khalīfah.
• Qur’an 2:124 — Ibrāhīm (AS) and the covenant of Imāmah.
• Qur’an 7:142 — Hārūn (AS) as successor to Mūsā (AS).
• Qur’an 20:29–36 — Allah granting Hārūn as Mūsā’s helper.
• Qur’an 2:247 — Ṭālūt appointed king by Allah.
• Event of Ghadīr Khumm — widely narrated in Sunni and Shia hadith collections (e.g., Musnad Aḥmad, al-Kāfī, al-Ṭabarī’s Tārīkh).