History Of The Rashidun Caliphate

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• published: 03 Feb 2014
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The Rashidun Caliphate (Arabic: الخلافة الراشدة‎ al-khelaafah al-Raashedah), (c. 632--661) is the collective term comprising the first four caliphs—the "Rightly Guided" or Rashidun caliphs—in Islamic history and was founded after Muhammad's death in 632 (year 10 AH in the Islamic calendar). At its height, the Caliphate controlled a vast empire from the Arabian Peninsula and the Levant, to the Caucasus in the north, North Africa from Egypt to present day Tunisia in the west, and the Iranian highlands to Central Asia in the east. After Muhammad's death in 632, the Medinan Ansar debated which of them should succeed him in running the affairs of the Muslims while Muhammad's household was busy with his burial. Umar (a Quraish) and Abu Ubaidah ibn al-Jarrah pledged their loyalty to Abu Bakr, with the Ansar and the Quraish soon following suit. Abu Bakr thus became the first Khalifa Rasul Allah (Successor of the Messenger of God), and embarked on campaigns to propagate Islam. First, though, he would have to subdue the Arabian tribes which had gone back on their oaths of allegiance to Islam and the Islamic community. As a Khalifa or caliph he was not a monarch and never claimed such a title nor did his three successors do so. Abu Bakr was the oldest companion of Muhammad. When Muhammad died, Abu Bakr and Umar, the two companions, were in the Saqifa Bani Sada for the meeting among the Muslims on the selection of Muhammad's successor, while the family of Muhammad was busy in the funeral of the Prophet. Controversy among the Muslims emerged about whom to name as Caliph. The Ansar, considering themselves being the hosts and loyal companions of Prophet Muhammad, nominated Abu Ubaidah ibn al-Jarrah as their candidate for the Caliphate. There was disagreement—in fact, violent disagreement—between the Meccan followers of Muhammad who had emigrated with him in 622 (the Muhajirun, or "Emigrants") and the Medinans who had become followers (the Ansar, or "Helpers"). In the end, however, Muhammad's father-in-law, Abu Bakr, was named the khalifa or "Successor" of Muhammad. A new religion and a new circumstance had formed a new, untried political formation: the caliphate. Troubles emerged soon after Abu Bakr's succession, threatening the unity and stability of the new community and state. Apostasy had begun in the lifetime of Muhammad, and the first major action of the apostasy was fought and concluded while Muhammad still lived. The first major event of the apostasy occurred in Yemen and is known as the Incident of Aswad Al Ansi, who was killed on 30 May 632 (the 6th of Rabi-ul-Awwal, 11 Hijri) by a Persian Muslim governor of Yemen named Firoz. The news of his assassination reached Medina shortly after the death of Muhammad. Most of the tribes that had taken to Islam converted in the ninth and tenth years of the Hijra. The apostasy had become so general that it affected every tribe in Arabia with the exception of the people in Mecca and Medina, the tribe of Thaqeef in Taif, and the Azd of Oman. In some cases the entire tribe apostatised. Some withheld the zakāt, the alms tax, though they did not otherwise challenge Islam. Many tribal leaders made claims to prophethood; some, including Musaylima, made it during the lifetime of Muhammad. The tribes claimed that they had submitted to Muhammad and that with Muhammad's death, their allegiance was ended. Abu Bakr insisted that they had not just submitted to a leader but joined the Muslim community, of which he was the new head. Apostasy is a capital offense under traditional interpretations of Islamic law, and Abu Bakr declared war] on the rebels.