哈里发的设立方式是通过效忠（bay‘ah）的程序。统治的权力由乌玛赋予哈里发。主权属于乌玛，乌玛委托哈里发来施行沙里亚。这通过哈里发与乌玛之间的契约来完成。只要哈里发在他们身上实施伊斯兰，乌玛就必须服从。

The method of installing the Khaleefah is through the process of bay‘ah. The power to rule by Islam is given by the Ummah to the Khaleefah. Authority belongs to the Ummah and it deputises the Khaleefah to enact the Shari‘ah. This is done through a contract between the Khaleefah and the Ummah. The Ummah must obey as long as the Khaleefah implements Islam on them.

bay‘ah（效忠宣誓）的程序可以在伊斯兰国所有穆斯林进行的一次全民投票之后进行，也可以在ahl al halli wal ‘aqd（有影响力和权威的人士）之间的投票之后进行。投票仅仅是确定乌玛选择的一种手段，它并不能取代bay‘ah。非穆斯林、儿童以及居住在国家之外的穆斯林没有投票权。如果伊斯兰国所有穆斯林都参与投票，那么被选出的人将获得bay‘ah al-in‘iqad（确立宣誓，据此他成为哈里发）。然而，如果投票是通过代表进行的，那么首先由代表给予bay‘ah al-in‘iqad，之后乌玛再向当选者给予第二次bay‘ah al-ta‘aa（服从宣誓）。乌玛对当选哈里发的沉默可以被视为服从的bay‘ah。正是通过这一bay‘ah的程序，一个人才获得哈里发的职位。哈里发职位的候选人，除了自荐之外，也可以由Majlis al-Ummah（乌玛议会）推举产生。乌玛正是从这些候选人中为自己选出统治者。

The process of bay‘ah may occur after a general vote given by all the Muslims of the Islamic State or it may occur after a vote among the ahl al halli wal ‘aqd (people of influence and authority). Voting is merely a means to determine the choice of the Ummah, it does not substitute the bay‘ah. Non-Muslims, children, and Muslims residing out of the State do not have the right to vote. If all the Muslims of the Islamic State are voting then the bay‘ah al-in‘iqad (pledge of acceptance, by which he becomes Khaleefah) is given to the man elected. However, if the vote occurs through the representatives, then a bay‘ah al-in‘iqad is first given by the representatives, after which a second bay‘ah al-ta‘aa (pledge of obedience) is given by the Ummah to the person elected. The silence of the Ummah over the elected Khaleefah can be considered as the bay‘ah of obedience. It is through this bay‘ah process that a person attains his position as Khaleefah. The candidates for the position of Khaleefah may, in addition to self nomination, be chosen by the Majlis al-Ummah. It is from these candidates that the Ummah chooses for itself a ruler.