The Khalifah is entitled, once he feels death is approaching him, and a short while before the Khilafah post becomes vacant, to appoint a provisional Amir for looking after the affairs of the Muslims during the period of the election of a new Khalifah. The provisional Khalifah exercises his duty after the death of the Khalifah. His main task is to carry out the appointment of the new Khalifah within three days. .

The provisional Khalifah is not entitled to adopt (new) laws. This is because this task is the mandatory power of the Khalifah that has the Bayah from the Ummah. He is not allowed to be from the nominees to the Khilafah post nor is it permitted for him to support any one of them. This is because ‘Umar (ra) appointed a provisional Amir who was not from those that he nominated for the post of Khalifah. .

The authority of such a provisional Amir would expire at the time that the new Khalifah is appointed, because his task is temporary and limited to this single objective. The evidence that Suhaib was a provisional Ameer appointed by ‘Umar (ra) is the saying of ‘Umar (ra) to the six nominees: “Let Suhaib lead you in the prayer during these three days in which you consult”. Then he said to Suhaib: “Lead the people in the prayer these three days,” and then he said, “If five (of the six) agreed and accepted one man, while one (of the six) man rejected him, then strike his head with the sword”. This indicates Suhaib was appointed as an Amir over them. He was appointed an Amir over prayer, where leadership over prayer indicated leadership over the people at that time. Moreover, he gave him the authority of executing the punishment (strike his head), where only the Amir can authorise such an action. .