Help with Islamic empire?

In a timeline that I am writing there is a Moorish empire in the 1780s. What type of leadership would be most realistic, assuming this is as close to OTL as possible. Should it be a Caliphate, Sultanate, or just a generic empire? I want it to be fairly religious but also very liberal, and becoming more secular. The empire stretches across the north African coasts, and down the Nile for a long way. It doesn't quite reach the West Sahara of Sinai.
 
Assuming it's some sort of wanked Morocco, I expect it to be at cross with Turks. So, while not claiming caliphate, Sultan, Malik, Sayyid or Sharif (both of these being conditioned by your "moorish" ruling dynasty) seems plausible as titles.

The very religious and very liberal part there seems contradictory. Especially when it comes to band together not only coastal regions but as well North African tribes, a really intermixed religious/social/judicial system as Islam isn't easy to liberalize.
 
Assuming it's some sort of wanked Morocco, I expect it to be at cross with Turks. So, while not claiming caliphate, Sultan, Malik, Sayyid or Sharif (both of these being conditioned by your "moorish" ruling dynasty) seems plausible as titles.

The very religious and very liberal part there seems contradictory. Especially when it comes to band together not only coastal regions but as well North African tribes, a really intermixed religious/social/judicial system as Islam isn't easy to liberalize.
Difficult, but not ASB. Look at the Mughal Empire.
 
Difficult, but not ASB. Look at the Mughal Empire.

Mughal Empire was set in a region where Islam wasn't virtually the only one reference. Being forced to compose with such situation makes the religious-based power toning down.
When it comes to North Africa where Islam isn't only hegemonic but virtually "monopolizating", I doubt it would works the same.
 
It isn't too religious, it's just that the government likes to follow religious philosophies on how to rule. Also it is liberalizing due to the fact that its government is controlled by a somewhat progressive secret society.
 
I suppose a Caliphate is possible if a) the Moorish Empire is descended from the Umayyad Caliphate of Cordoba (I don't know what your TL is), or if b) the Moorish Empire captures/'discovers' the Abbasid Caliph/one of his descendants during its possession of Egypt.

I think Sultan is probably the more likely title, since the Almohads/Almoravids called themselves 'Sultan' and really occupied around the same territory as your Empire, excepting Egypt.
 
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