哈利法任职的时间并无固定期限。只要哈利法遵行伊斯兰教法，执行其律法，并且能够履行国家的职责和哈里发制度所赋予的责任，他便继续在任。这是因为关于效忠（bayah）的经文和圣训是以无限定（mutlaq）的形式出现的，并未限定于任何特定的时间段。艾奈斯·本·马立克传述：安拉的使者ﷺ说：。

The time term of the Khalifah in office is not determined by a certain period. As long as the Khalifah abides by the Sharia, executes its laws and is able to perform the duties of the State and the responsibilities of the Khilafah, he remains in office. This is because the texts concerning the bayah came as undefined (mutlaq) and were not restricted to any specific period of time. Anas b. Malik reported that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: .

"即便你们被一个头发像葡萄干的埃塞俄比亚黑奴统治，你们也要听从和服从。"[布哈里，《圣训实录》，第7142条]

"Do hear and obey, even if you were ruled by an Abyssinian slave, whose hair is like the raisin". [Bukhari, Sahih, #7142] .

在另一则圣训中，他ﷺ说：

In another narration He (PBUH) said: .

"只要他以安拉的经典引导你"。

"…as long as he leads you by the Book of Allah". .

此外,所有的四大哈里发都被授予了不限定期限(mutlaq)的效忠(bayah),这一点在圣训中有所提及。他们并非任期有限。每一位都担任哈里发之职直至去世;这代表了圣门弟子(ra)的普遍共识,确认哈里发之职并无任期限制,而是不受限定的。因此,若某位哈里发获得了效忠,他便一直在位直至去世。然而,如果哈里发发生了某种使其不再适合此职的变化,或者需要将其罢免,那么他的任期便告终止,他将被罢免。但这不能被理解为对其哈里发任期的限制,而只是表明哈里发的条件已遭违反。因为效忠的措辞已在沙里亚经文以及圣门弟子的普遍共识中得到确认,使哈里发之职具有不限定的任期。哈里发的任期在另一层面上是受限的,即限定于他所承担的、获得效忠所为之事,也就是依照《古兰经》和逊奈来统治,并执行其律法。因此,如果他不维护沙里亚,或不执行沙里亚,那么他就必须被罢免。

Furthermore, all the Khulafa Rashideen were given an undefined (mutlaq) bayah which is the one mentioned in the Ahadith. They were not of a limited period (in office). Each one of them assumed the post of Khilafah until he died; and this represents a general consensus from the Sahabah (ra), confirming that the Khilafah is not of a limited term of office but is unrestricted. Thus if a Khalifah is given a bayah, he remains in office until he dies.. However, if the Khalifah underwent a change that made him unfit for the post, or necessitated his removal, his term would be terminated and he would be removed. However, this cannot be interpreted as a limitation to his Khilafah term, but merely to indicate that a breach of the Khilafah’s conditions had occurred. For the wording of the bayah, confirmed in the Shariah texts and the general consensus of the Sahabah makes the Khilafah of an unlimited term of office. The term of office of the Khalifah is rather restricted in terms of the Khalifah’s undertaking of what he was given the bayah for, i.e. to rule by the Book and the Sunnah and execute their Laws. Thus if it were that he did not uphold the Sharia or did not implement it, then he must be removed.