Talk:Somalia

I feel compelled to point out that the title "Caliph" has a very specific meaning, namely "Islamic leader of the Ummah, or community of Islam. For the leader of one country to call himself Caliph without most of the rest of Islam agreeing is rather like the Bishop of New Orleans proclaiming himself Pope--which is not impossible. Most Muslim rulers tended to use the title Emir or Sultan. Even the leaders of the Ottoman Empire only rarely dared to call themselves Caliph. Zahir 07:04, 21 March 2006 (PST)

The problem with that is that there was at one time three Calphs (Abbasid, Fatimid and Cordoban). It's just like the two (later three) Pope problem. --Sikulu 07:11, 21 March 2006 (PST)

I believe there was written somehwere that in IB Morroco was once (or is now even) ruled by Caliphs well, so I assume the usage of the term in IB is more liberal, it probably meaning just *a* ruler that is both relgious and political ruler in his country, rather than *the* ruler of all muslims. And, given more Catholic denomnations, there could be more than one Pope in IB as well... Abdul-aziz 08:43, 21 March 2006 (PST)

Even *here* its more liberal. Think of the title as being (very roughly) the equivalent of emperor in europe. Its supposed to one anointed by the pope, protector of christiendom, etc... But how many people have taken up that term ? Basicaly, just because he call himself calif doesn't mean other will take it litteraly (especialy the shia if he's not a descendent of Ali). --Marc Pasquin 16:10, 21 March 2006 (PST)

Explained some in the Caliphate article. Abdul-aziz 02:08, 1 June 2006 (PDT)