Who is the successor to Muhammad as head of the Islamic community?

• A. Imam
• B. Caliph
• C. Sultan
• D. Shaykh

Answer: (B)

Succession and the leadership of the early Muslim community centered on the title used for Muhammad’s successor. After his death, the community needed a leader to guide both religious interpretation and political governance, and this role was filled by the Caliph. The term Khalifa means successor or deputy, signaling that this leader carried forward Muhammad’s mission and oversaw the administration of Islamic law. While an imam can mean a prayer leader or a respected scholar, and sultan is a later ruler title, neither designation captured the formal office of head of the community immediately after Muhammad. A shaykh is typically an elder or teacher, not the overarching political leader.