Q. & A. 711 to 1707 with solved Papers css 1971 to date

(i) Election of the ”Khalifah” by ”Shura” and General Consent
The ”Khalifah” was never a nominated person during the period of the Pious Caliphs. The election of Hazrat Abu Bakr (Rad.A), as described above, took place. It was an exemplary democratic way of election never held before in history. The election of Hazrat Umar (Rad.A), Hazrat Usman (Rad.A) and Hazrat Ali (Rad.A) also was in no way undemocratic. If the voting system, as we know today had prevailed in those days, all these three Caliphs would had got the largest number of popular votes in their respective times. Although Hazrat Abu Bakr (Rad.A) nominated Hazrat Umar (Rad.A) as his successor, nevertheless it had the backing of general consent of the people. At the time of nomination he asked the Muslim to assemble in the Mosque of the Prophet and told them ”Do you agree on the successor and propose to appoint. I swear by Allah I have not done anything wrong in proposing the name of the person who is not my relative. He is no less a person than Umar Ibn Khattab. I ask you to listen to him and obey him”. All the Muslims said with cnc voice, ”we will listen to him and obey him.”
The election of Hazrat Usman (Rad.A) was done by a panel of persons appointed by Hazrat Umar (Rad.A) and then approved by the general public in the mosque. Hazrat Ali (Rad.A) was also nominated by the public. When insurgents approached him, he clearly said, ”I cannot allow you to take pledge secretly. It should be done by the Muslim Republic”. His nomination was approved by the Muslims. Hazrat Aisha (Rad.A), who opposed him in the beginning because of the delay in taking avenge from the assassinators, consented to his ”Khilafat”. Amir Mu’awiya (Rad.A) did not agree on his ”Khilafat” due to the political situation at that time but he did not declare himself a ”Khalifah” during the life time of Hazrat Ali (Rad.A).
S A.Q. Hussaini, Arab Administration. P 35.

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Political and Cul ural History of Islam

This clearly proves ^hat the companions considered the institution of ”Khilafat” as a sacred office and believed that a ”Khilafah” must be appointed on the basis of ”Shura” and general consent. Once Hazrat Umar (Rad.A) heard a man saying, ”I would take pledge at the hand of the person I liked most after Umar (Rad.A)”. Hazrat Umar (Rad.A) said, ”If a person took pledge on the hand of a person without the ”Shura”, then both of them (i.e. the person who took the pledge and the person on whose hand the pledge was taken) should be killed”. Hazrat Abu Musa Ash’ari (Rad.A) said, ”Khilafat (or Imamat) established by ”Shura” while kingship is established by sword”. (ii) The ”Khilafah” was bound to follow the Holy Qur’an