2. What Is a Caliph?
Based in Indiana, Dana Pittard is the vice president of defense programs at Allison Transmission,
where he manages global and domestic defense programs in 110 countries. Dana Pittard is also a
writer. His book Hunting the Caliphate: America’s War on ISIS and the Dawn of the Strike Cell
comes out in August of 2019.
3. What Is a Caliph?
A caliphate is an Islamic state led by a caliph, who is a political and religious successor to the
Islamic prophet Muhammad. The word “caliph” stems from the Islamic word for successor,
“khalifah.” As a leader, the caliph maintains absolute power and control.
4. What Is a Caliph?
Abu Bakr, a companion of Muhammad and early convert to Islam, was recognized as the first
caliph when he was elected by a majority of Muslims to lead the Muslim community. Abu Bakr and
his three successors are known as the “perfect caliphs.” Many others subsequently assumed the
title of caliph until 1517, when the last caliph was captured by Ottoman Sultan Selim I. The
Ottoman sultans then claimed the title of caliph until it was abolished by the Turkish Republic in
1924.
