noun
- A Muslim religious and political leader; a caliph.
Usage: Alternative spelling of 'caliph'; Refers to a successor of the Prophet Muhammad as leader of the Islamic community
Examples
- The khalif ruled over a vast Islamic empire during the medieval period.
- Historical texts describe the khalif as both a spiritual and temporal authority.
- The first khalif, Abu Bakr, was chosen by the community of believers.
- Different regions recognized different khalifs throughout Islamic history.