46. Can man be called Kalifa of Allah?

In these verses of the Quran (2:30, 6:133, 6:165, 7:69, 7:74, 7:129, 7:142, 7:150, 7:169, 10:14, 10:73, 11:57, 19:59, 24:55, 27:62, 35:39, 38:26, 43:60, 57:7) the word Kalifa is mentioned.

A person who takes the place of the deceased or an incapacitated one by replacing him is known as Kalifa. In certain verses of the Quran this word is used in the said context.

The same word is also used in the Quran to mean someone representing an entire generation. 

When a woman marries another man on her husband’s death the second husband can be named as the Kalifa of her first husband. Since he is replacing the first husband he is termed so. There is evidence for this in the Hadith. 

(Hadith Book Muslim:1674, 1675, 1676) 

Allah has mentioned the first human Adam (A.S) as a Kalifa (an entire generation) in this context. When He declared ‘I am going to create a Kalifa’ the angels said ‘they will shed blood’

By this word the angels could be believed to have understood that from Adam (A.S) a female partner would be created where from generations will be raised, fighting each other resulting in bloodshed.

Hence it should be understood that the word Kalifa used in the Quran while referring to Adam (A.S) to be taken as representing generations of humankind.

But in some translations, we find mention of Adam (A.S) as Kalifa of Allah. Allah is immortal and would never encounter incapability and no one can replace Him, hence it is erroneous to say that man is Kalifa of Allah.

From verse 7:142 of the Quran a man can be a Kalifa of another. 

After the demise of Prophet Muhammad, Abubacker (R.A) represented him to carry out his work. In this context he was called Kalifa.

There can never be a replacement for Allah, because He can never be incapacitated, nor does He encounter death. 

Allah can be a representative of man, and a vice versa is never possible. 

Hence the translation mentioning man as a representative of Allah is a grave mistake.