Surah Al-Baqarah
وَإِذْ قَالَ رَبُّكَ لِلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةِ إِنِّى جَاعِلٌ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ خَلِيفَةً ۖ قَالُوٓا۟ أَتَجْعَلُ فِيهَا مَن يُفْسِدُ فِيهَا وَيَسْفِكُ ٱلدِّمَآءَ وَنَحْنُ نُسَبِّحُ بِحَمْدِكَ وَنُقَدِّسُ لَكَ ۖ قَالَ إِنِّىٓ أَعْلَمُ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ
Wa iż qāla rabbuka lil-malā'ikati innī jā‘ilun fil-arḍi khalīfah(tan), qālū ataj‘alu fīhā may yufsidu fīhā wa yasfikud-dimā'(a), wa naḥnu nusabbiḥu biḥamdika wa nuqaddisu lak(a), qāla innī a‘lamu mā lā ta‘lamūn(a).
And [mention, O Muhammad], when your Lord said to the angels, "Indeed, I will make upon the earth a successive authority." They said, "Will You place upon it one who causes corruption therein and sheds blood, while we declare Your praise and sanctify You?" Allah said, "Indeed, I know that which you do not know."
📝 Footnotes
13) In the Qur'an, the word khalīfah has the meaning of 'successor', 'leader', 'ruler', or 'manager of the universe'.