[Cronos]

Patricia Crone has pointed out that before the canonical text of the Koran was established, the Caliphs of the Muslim empire called themselves khalifa allaha "God's deputy" and the title did not change until a generation after the canonical text was disseminated into khalifa rasul allaha or "deputy of God's prophet."

interesting, thanks...

[odds]

Patricia Crone has pointed out that before the canonical text of the Koran was established, the Caliphs of the Muslim empire called themselves khalifa allaha "God's deputy" and the title did not change until a generation after the canonical text was disseminated into khalifa rasul allaha or "deputy of God's prophet."

interesting, thanks...

As far as I know, Khalifa allaha means "successor of Allah (or God's successor or "deputy"). Khalifa is just the arabic word for what we usually spell or pronounce as "Caliph" in English. It means "Successor". Or, possibly, "deputy", depending on context.

But, "Rasul" is also an arabic word, originating from "resalat" meaning to bear messages or be a medium.

Khalifa rasul allaha, presumably spelt per arabic pronunciation, does not mean "deputy of God's prophet". It literally would mean "Successor or deputy, messenger of Allah".

Unless I am corrected, or given a more accurate translation (meaning), by a native Arabic speaker, I believe what I just said is the most precise/accurate translation into English, but more importantly, the *meaning* of the mentioned words.