Islam 101: What is a Caliphate?

"O Muslims everywhere, glad tidings to you and expect good. Raise your head high, for today – by Allah's grace – you have a state and khilafah, which will return your dignity, might, rights, and leadership." Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi, July 20, 2014

For some Muslims, the announcement of a Muslim caliphate by Al-Baghdadi of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria – which became the Islamic State – was a dream come true.

But what is a caliphate? What's its history?

A while ago, we sat down with Professor Moshe Sharon, one of the leading experts on Islam in the world. In this segment, he explained the history of the caliphate and why many Muslims see the restoration of the caliphate as their ultimate goal.