What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Caliph vs Sultan - What's the difference?

caliph | sultan |

As nouns the difference between caliph and sultan

is that caliph is the political leader of the Muslim world, successor of Muhammad's political authority, not religious or spiritual while sultan is originally, a secular office, formally subordinate to -, but de facto the power behind the throne of the (theoretically universal) caliph.

As a proper noun Sultan is

{{surname}.

caliph

English

Alternative forms

* calif, kalif, kaliph, khalif, khalifa

Noun

(en noun)
  • The political leader of the Muslim world, successor of Muhammad's political authority, not religious or spiritual.
  • Ahmadis call their Caliph the Khalifatul Masih .

    sultan

    English

    (wikipedia sultan)

    Noun

  • Originally, a secular office, formally subordinate to -, but de facto the power behind the throne of the (theoretically universal) caliph.
  • A hereditary ruler in various Muslim states (sultanate), varying from petty principalities (as in Indonesia and in Yemen), often vassal of a greater ruler, to independent realms, such as Oman, Brunei, or an empire such as the Turkish Ottoman Empire.
  • (card games) A variant of solitaire, played with two decks of cards.
  • A breed of chicken originating in Turkey, kept primarily in gardens for ornamental reasons. See:
  • Derived terms

    * sultana * sultanate

    See also

    * sultana bird

    References

    ----