A Critical Study of the Topic: "Caliphate" discussed in "Encyclopedia of Religion" (By: Lindsay Jones)
انسائیکلو پیڈیا آف ریلیجن (لنڈسے جونز) میں ذکر کردہ موضوع’’خلافت‘‘ کاتنقیدی مطالعہ
Abstract
In 21st century it is not so difficult to collect a lot of information with the help available various facilities. All the fields of knowledge can be explored very easily, but in the case of religion and theology a lot of interpretations as well as misconception are here on the globe of internet. Therefore in the field of religion or theology, it is very necessary to understand it with a book and the background of its writer to find the reality and facts. For the collection of complete knowledge the encyclopedia is the ultimate bank of data and information. The Encyclopedia of Religion, first published in 1987, is the so called best scholarly reference on religion. The contributors of this encyclopedia claim that “Our encyclopedia was not conceived as a dictionary, with entries covering the entire vocabulary in every field of religious studies. Rather, it was conceived as a system of articles on important ideas, beliefs, rituals, myths, symbols, and persons that have played a role in the universal history of religions from Paleolithic times to the present day.”1 We need to promote religious studies and inter faith dialogues, as religion is one of the basic needs of all human beings. For this purpose, the current research work is based upon the translation and analytical study of the proposed topic of the “Caliphate” which is discussed in the Encyclopedia of religion, which will be further reviewed in the light of Islamic teachings. The work will help to understand particularly the true concepts of Caliphate. As this encyclopedia is full of contradictive words about one issue; for example under the topic of Caliphate once the writer used the word Successor about the companion of the Prophet (S.A.W) and on another place he used the term “So called Rashideen” about the caliphs in the same article.
