The careers and achievements of the four Rightly-Guided Caliphs
The word caliph means 鈥荣耻肠肠别蝉蝉辞谤鈥. The four Rightly Guided Caliphs were those who succeeded Muhammad as leaders of the Islamic empire. They were:
- Abu Bakr
- Umar
- Uthman
- Ali
Abu Bakr (632-634CE)
Abu Bakr was chosen as the first successor. His daughter was the wife of Muhammad and the two were close friends. Abu Bakr was a holy and righteous man who cared for the less fortunate. He helped to defend Makkah (Mecca)City in Saudi Arabia. Birthplace of the Prophet Muhammad. and assisted in the creation of the 蚕耻谤鈥檃苍The sacred book in Islam, it is believed that it contains the word of God, dictated by Angel Jibril and written in Arabic. by gathering material.
Umar (634-644CE)
Umar was chosen by Abu Bakr. He was a man who was known to have a violent temper, but was a great and strong soldier.
His conversion story is famous as he tried to stop his sister converting to Islam before being inspired and changed by the words of the 蚕耻谤鈥檃苍 himself. He was also a companion of Muhammad.
Although he had a temper, Umar was a good man who put others before himself. He introduced a tax system to help those less fortunate.
Uthman (644-656CE)
Uthman was the son-in-law of Muhammad. He was appointed by a council of six men who Umar elected. He helped organise the 蚕耻谤鈥檃苍 and was a very religious man. However, he was murdered as he was a weak leader who had become very unpopular with the people.
Ali (656-661CE)
Ali grew up with Muhammad in the same household and the two were very close. He was married to Muhammad鈥檚 daughter, Fatima. From an early age, he believed in Muhammad as a prophet.
Muslims known as 厂丑颈鈥檃丑蝉The word 'Shi'ah' comes from a phrase meaning 'followers of Ali'. Shi'ah Muslims believe that Ali succeeded the Prophet Muhammad. believe that Ali is the true successor of Muhammad. They refer to him as the first imamA Muslim religious figure who leads the communal prayer and is also a leader in the local community and mosque. In Shi'a Islam, the title is given to a line of descendants of Muhammad (twelve in all) who are believed to be exemplary human beings. as opposed to the Fourth caliphA chief Muslim religious leader, regarded as a successor to Muhammad..
Ali was a good soldier. He was assassinated in 661 at the mosque at Kufa, Iraq, after the civil war.