Unique title about the Caliphate in Islam, contains historical analysis, Quranic injunctions, Hadith references, popular cultural and more of Qalqashandi's era. This critical edition contains extensive reference notes to the text. It defines the meaning of the caliphate and obligations and conditions. It covers treaties, correspondence, events and characteristics of different caliphs up to his time. Al-Qalqashandi (756/1356 - 820/1418) was an Egyptian encyclopedist, polymath and mathematician. He was a government scribe, and the author of the great administrative encyclopedia 'Subh al-A'sha'.