variants
or less commonly calif
: a successor of Muhammad as temporal (see temporal entry 1 sense 1c) and spiritual head of Islam
—used as a title
Examples of caliph in a Sentence
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In 639 ce ʿUmar I, the second caliph, introduced the Hijrah era—the starting point of the Muslim calendar dating from the Prophet Muhammad’s migration in 622 ce from Mecca to Yathrib (Medina).
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Charles Preston, Encyclopedia Britannica, 22 May 2026
Similarly, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, the caliph of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, has long warned of global conflict and emphasized that only justice and peace can prevent it.
—Chicago Tribune, 11 Apr. 2026
Yazid was the second Umayyad caliph, which means deputy of God, and the ruler of the early Islamic empire.
—Eric Lob, The Conversation, 2 Mar. 2026
History has shown that the ISIS caliph ends up getting killed by us at some point.
—Paul Tilsley, FOXNews.com, 2 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for caliph
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Charles Preston, Encyclopedia Britannica, 22 May 2026
Similarly, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, the caliph of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, has long warned of global conflict and emphasized that only justice and peace can prevent it.
—Chicago Tribune, 11 Apr. 2026
Yazid was the second Umayyad caliph, which means deputy of God, and the ruler of the early Islamic empire.
—Eric Lob, The Conversation, 2 Mar. 2026
History has shown that the ISIS caliph ends up getting killed by us at some point.
—Paul Tilsley, FOXNews.com, 2 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for caliph
Cite this Entry
“Caliph.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/caliph. Accessed 28 May. 2026.
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