From 1517 to 1924 the Ottoman Empire was a Caliphate. Some orientalists and modernists have disputed this because they want to diminish the importance of the Caliphate in the minds of Muslims and show it cannot work in the modern age.
This topic has caused much confusion in Islamic circles primarily because those discussing it have completely misunderstood the issue due to a weak understanding of usul ul-fiqh. Instead of gaining the required knowledge they instead resort to slander and even takfir in some cases!
In his book: ‘Aadaab Az-Zafaaf’ Sheikh Muhammad Naasir-ud-Deen Al-Albaani writes: “Shaving of the beard: The Fifth: And what is similar to it in terms of ugliness – where there is nothing uglier than it in relation to the one possessing the sound Fitrahs – What has overtaken most of the men in terms of beautifying themselves by shaving their beards in Taqleed (imitation) to the disbelieving Europeans to the point where it has become a shame on the groom to enter into his marriage ceremony if he is not cleanly shaven. In relation to this there are the following violations:
This is an extract from the book Al-Waadih Fee Usool ul-Fiqh by Muhammad Hussein Abdullah available to purchase from Amazon. In respect to the Adillah (evidences) used as proof by those who say that the Seeghat ul-Amr indicates Al-Wujoob (the obligation), then they have erred in their manner or process of deduction. That is because these evidences are related to the obedience to the command (Al-Amr) and disobedience to it whilst they are not related to the Seeghat ul-Amr (form of the command). The Amr (command) of Allah is Waajib (obligatory) to obey and disobedience to it is Haraam.
سَبَّحَ لِلَّـهِ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ ۖ وَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ “Whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth exalts Allah, and He is the Exalted in Might, the Wise.” (Surah Saff, 61:1)
Slavery does not exist today and a future Caliphate would not attempt to re-introduce it as some misguided people have claimed. Prophet Muhammad ﷺ came to free human beings from slavery to other human beings, so they become slaves of Allah alone. The Prophet ﷺ said: أَيُّمَا رَجُلٍ أَعْتَقَ امْرَأً مُسْلِمًا اسْتَنْقَذَ اللَّهُ بِكُلِّ عُضْوٍ مِنْهُ عُضْوًا مِنْهُ مِنَ النَّارِ “Whichever man frees a Muslim man, Allah ta’ala will liberate for each of his organ an organ from the Fire.” (Agreed Upon)
We have taken up this issue for the purpose of presenting the point of view of Ash-Sheikh Muhammad Abi Zahrah (Rahimahullah) in regards to generalising or extending the Fareedah (obligation) of Az-Zakaah upon non-Muslims in the same way that it is obligatory upon Muslims. This is as a substitute for the Jizyah that is obligatory upon them.
Before I respond to this question it is necessary to mention the consequences of some hasty answers to this subject. These answers can lead to dangerous or serious ramifications that cause Muslims problems that they are not ready to face at the present time. I say: Those who give Shar’iyah Fatawaa (verdicts) in relation to the Ahlu-dh-Dhimmah today and even those who take up arms towards the Muslims, are obliged to the think on the consequences of giving hasty answers. They must think long and hard about the present reality and think long and hard about the Nusoos (texts) that relate to our current time and the compatibility of these texts upon the reality that we are suffering. The Fatwaa (verdict) follows this process and then the issuing of the Hukm.
In answer to this they remain upon the status of being Ahlu-dh-Dhimmah even if the Islamic State is no longer present and there is no Imaam for the Muslims in existence. This is because the ‘Aqd (contract) of the Dhimmah that was contracted with their predecessors is a permanent contract that applies upon them and those that came after them as long as a Dhimmi remains and however much time passes.
The definition of Ahlu-dh-Dhimmah Ibn ul-Qayyim defined the Ahlu-dh-Dhimmah in his presentation of the different categories of Kuffaar (disbelievers) just as he defined each of those who have an ‘Ahd (covenant) from amongst the disbelievers and this was so as to distinguish the Ahlu-dh-Dhimmah from other than them. He said:
Islamic Civilization 