2. Significant periods
Year (AD)
570-632 The Prophet (pbuh)
632 - 661 The Khalifas
661-750 The Umayyids
751-983 The Abbasids
984-1289 The Seljuks and the Fatimids
1290-1918 The Ottomans, Safavids and Mughals
3. The Khulafae Rashedeen
(632 -661 AD)
Definition of the word Khalifa
The four Khalifas
Selection
Achievements
The seeds of dissent
Conclusions
4. Definition (1)
Khalifah
Successor, Substitute, Steward, Deputy
Literal meaning – one who replaces someone
who left or died.
Quran Reference
Al-Baqara (30) – Allah creating humanity as his
Khalifah on earth
Sad (26) – King David as Allah’s Khalifa
reminding him of his obligation to rule with
justice
5. Definition (2)
In our context,
A Khalifa is the successor (in a line of
successors) to Prophet Muhammad's (pbuh)
position as the political, military, and
administrative leader of the Muslims.
The prophetic role of the Rasul-Allah (pbuh) is
strictly not included in this definition, as the
Qur'an and Hadith clearly state that He (pbuh)
was the last of the prophets.
6. The Khulafae Rashedeen
Rightly guided successors
Abu bakr as-Siddiq (ra) – 632 -634 ad
Umar Ibn al-Khattab (ra) – 634 – 644 ad
Uthman ibn Affan (ra) – 644 -656 ad
Ali ibn Abu Talib (ra) – 656 -661 ad
7. The Selection of the Khalifas -1
The Prophet (pbuh) left no clear instructions about
his successor or the succession process
Prevailing Arabian practice
The prominent men of a kinship group, or tribe,
gathered after a leader's death and elected a leader
from amongst themselves.
There was no specified procedure for this shura or
consultation.
Candidates were not necessarily, from the same
lineage as the deceased leader. Capable men who
would lead well were preferred
8. The Selection of the Khalifas - 2
Abu Bakr (ra) was elected as the first
successor, with the other companions of
Muhammad (pbuh) giving an oath of
allegiance to him.
On his deathbed, Abu Bakr (ra) appointed
Umar (ra) as his successor without an
election by the community of Believers. The
oath, approving the appointment of Umar (ra),
was taken only by the Companions present in
Medina at the time.
9. The Selection of the Khalifas - 3
Before he was assassinated, Umar(ra)
decided that his successor would come from
a group of six. Ultimately Uthman(ra) was
chosen as Umar's successor.
After the assassination of Uthman(ra), Ali(ra)
was elected as the final Khulafae Rashedeen.
10. Selection Controversies
Abu Bakr (ra)
The Sunni, Shia interpretations
Muhajirs and Ansars
Uthman (ra)
Umar (ra) mentionned six sahabas – Ali (ra),
Uthman (ra), Az-Zubair (ra)Talha (ra), Sad (ra),
Abdur Rahman bin Auf (ra)
Bin Auf served as the negotiator and decider
First Umayyad Khalifa
11. Achievements: Abu Bakr (ra)
Preserve: defeated false prophets,
suppressing rebellion, enforce Zakat
Consolidate: Collect all pieces of the Quran
and organized the tHafez system
Expand: Muslim armies defeated the Roman
forces and Persian forces. Conquest of Syria
12. Achievements: Umar (ra)
Provide Administrative Structure
Establish Majlish-e-shura
Create provinces
Establish the Treasury
Build schools and mosques
Introduce islamic calendar
Define treatment of non-Muslims
Expand
Iran, iraq, Egypt
Jerusalem – 17 Hijri
13. Achievements: Uthman (ra)
Preserve: Complete and distribute the
authoritative text of the Holy Quran all over the
Muslim world.
Consolidate:
Crushed rebellion in Iran; Romans prevented from
invading Egypt
Established Navy
Expand: Iran, Asia minor and Egypt
Rebellion
15. The Seeds of Dissent – Ali (ra)
Demands for punishment of Uthman’s
murderers unmet
Aisha(ra)’s rebellion
Muwaiya of the Umayyad tribe refuses to step
down and remains in place
Forced to move capital to kufa
The Kharajites (outsiders) and the
assassination of Ali (ra)
16. Conclusions
Humility and Simplicity
Complete Commitment to the Quran and the
Sunnah
Preserve, Consolidate and Expand the islamic
Empire
Captive of power and wealth
Parochial interests – Bani hasim, Umayads
Political expediency
The Prophet (pbuh) , "Once the sword is
unsheathed among my followers, it will not be
sheathed until the Last Day."
