The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions (1275 page)

Group of eighty-five temples in Madhya Pradesh, built from about 850–1150, dedicated to both Hindu and Jain devotions.

 
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(Arab.,
khalafa
, ‘succeed’). A successor or representative, often transliterated as ‘Caliph’.
1
In the Qur’
n, frequently used of those who enter into the blessings enjoyed by their ancestors (e.g. 6. 165; 24. 55; 27. 62); and specifically of
Adam
as khal
fat
All
h
on earth (2. 20).
2
The successor(s) of the Prophet
Mu
ammad
. The first three Khulaf
’ were Abu Bakr, ‘Umar, and ‘Uthm
n. But some thought that
‘Al
, Mu
ammad's nearest male relative, should have succeeded, and become the party (
sh
‘a
) of ‘Ali. His claim prevailed briefly, and he was the fourth caliph; but other dynasties, ‘Umayyad (661–750 CE), then ‘Abbasid (750–1517) were established, and the Sh
‘a became minorities with their own rulers and successions (see
IM
M
). The first four khulaf
’ are known as arR
shid