Khilafat (Caliphate) Issue

The Khilafat issue refers to the agitation by Indian Muslims, allied with Indian nationalists, to pressure the British government to preserve the authority of the Ottoman Sultan as Caliph of Islam after World War I. The movement was led by the Ali brothers (Muhammad Ali and Shaukat Ali), Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, Hakim Ajmal Khan, and others.

Here are the steps that led to the Khilafat issue:

1. End of World War I: The defeat of the Ottoman Empire in World War I raised concerns about the safety of the Islamic holy places and the Ottoman Sultan's position as Caliph among Indian Muslims.

2. Treaty of Sevres: The Treaty of Sevres (1920) further exacerbated these fears as it proposed harsh terms for the Ottoman Empire, including the partitioning of its territories and no clear assurance on the protection of the Caliphate.

3. Formation of the Khilafat Committee: In response, Indian Muslim leaders formed the Khilafat Committee in 1919 to build political action to protect the Caliphate. They demanded that the British government secure the Caliphate's safety and the Islamic holy places.

4. Alliance with the Indian National Congress: The Khilafat leaders allied with the Indian National Congress, which was fighting for India's independence from British rule. This alliance led to the Non-Cooperation Movement (1920-1922), where both groups boycotted British goods and institutions.

5. Abolition of the Caliphate: Despite these efforts, the Caliphate was abolished by the Turkish Grand National Assembly in 1924, leading to the end of the Khilafat Movement. This event also caused a rift between the Indian National Congress and the Khilafat leaders, leading to the eventual decline of Muslim support for the Congress.