. . "A caliphate (Arabic: \u062E\u0650\u0644\u0627\u0641\u0629\u200E khil\u0101fa) is a form of Islamic government led by a caliph (Arabic: \u062E\u064E\u0644\u064A\u0641\u0629\u200E khal\u012Bfah About this sound pronunciation )\u2014a person considered a political and religious successor to the prophet Muhammad and a leader of the entire Muslim community. The Rashidun caliphs, who directly succeeded Muhammad as leaders of the Muslim community, were chosen through shura, a process of community consultation that some consider an early form of Islamic democracy."@en . . . .