The development of Islam after the death of Muhammad under the
leadership of the Four Rightly Guided Caliphs and the emergence of the
Sunni and the Shiite
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The
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First Caliph, Abu Bakr (632-634 A.C.)
Second Caliph, 'Umar (634-644 A.C.)
Third Caliph, Uthman (644-656 A.C.)
Fourth Caliph, Ali (656-661 A.C.)
Caliph- is the English form of the Arabic word 'Khalifa,' which is short for
Khalifatu Rasulil-lah; meaning Successor to the Messenger of God, the Holy
Prophet Muhammad. The mission of Prophet Muhammad, like that of the earlier
messengers of God, was to call people to the worship of and submission to the One
True God.
As successor to the Prophet, the Caliph was the head of the Muslim community and
his primary responsibility was to continue in the path of the Prophet i.e. the caliph
became the one who had two functions, Commander of the Faithful and the Imam
(prayer leader) of the Muslims.
The first four caliphs are known as the “rightly guided” to distinguish them from the
unelected monarchs who later established dynasties. During the 30 years of the
‘rightly guided caliphs’, Islam spread across the known world. During Ali’s time half
the known world was under Muslim rule. The murders of Uthman and Ali sowed the
seeds for dissension.
The first of the rightly guided caliph was Abu Bakr was the father of Aisha (one of
Muhammad’s wives) Abu Bakr was a long time friend and associate of Muhammad's.
He was the only person allowed to accompany Muhammad during the Hijra. He was a
compassionate and honest leader. During the two years of his caliphate, Abu Bakr
established Muslim domination in Arabia.
On his deathbed Abu Bakr nominated Umar Al Khattab as his successor. Umar was
a good administrator and, astute political leader and military general. Umar’s
caliphate was spent in warfare, with Jerusalem falling in 638. Umar and the Muslim
army conquered Syria and part of Egypt and Mesopotamia. No one was forced to
convert to Islam, though those who did convert lived tax-free.
After Umar’s death followers of Ali bin Talib, the Prophet’s cousin and the husband
of the Prophet’s daughter Fatimah, expected him to become the new caliph. Uthman
bin Affan, a member of the Meccan Umayyads and who had been the husband of two
of the Prophet’s daughters, however was chosen by a group of six people. Uthman
was a generous, gentle, and enterprising leader, but he also was charged with
nepotism (favouring relatives in giving jobs). He was murdered by a group of Ali’s
followers.
Ali ibn Abi Talib became the fourth of the rightly guided caliphs after the death of
Uthman. He was known for his bravery and humility. He faced powerful enemies
including Aisha and Muawiyah, the Umayyad governor of Syria. While Aisha’s
armies were unsuccessful in the Battle of Camel in 656, Muawiyah’s armies faced
Ali’s armies at the Battle of Siffin. Muawiyah ordered his army to place pages of the
Qur’an on the end of their spears, and Ali’s troops refused to strike them. Thus Ali
agreed to arbitration. Ali’s own supporters were shocked and formed a group called
the Kharijites. Ali was struck down by one of their members in 661.
Muawiyah, the caliph, founded the Umayyad Dynasty of Damascus (661-750) which
became the Muslim centre instead of Medina. On his deathbed Muawiyah nominated
his son Yazid as successor, instead of Ali’s son Hussain. The Kharijites never
accepted Yazid and formed the Shi’at Ali (Party of Ali and his descendents). The
Shiite revolt culminated with the Battle of Karbala in 680, in which Hussain was
slaughtered, and which split the Muslim community into two groups: the Sunni and
the Shiite.
The Sunni branch believes that the first four caliphs--Mohammed's successors-rightfully took his place as the leaders of Muslims. They recognize the heirs of the
four caliphs as legitimate religious leaders. These heirs ruled continuously in the Arab
world until the break-up of the Ottoman Empire following the end of the First World
War. Sunni Muslims believe that the leader should be chosen from among the tribe of
Muhammad but that it does not have to be one of Muhammad's direct descendents
Shiites, in contrast, believe that only the heirs of the fourth caliph, Ali, are the
legitimate successors of Mohammed. The Shiites are called the Twelvers, that is,
those who recognise 12 Imams. Ali the fourth caliph was the first Imam. Other Imams
were his sons and grandsons. These Imams are free from error and sin, and are 12 in
number. In 939 the Twelfth Imam disappeared. Shiites believe that, for various
reasons, God concealed the twelfth and current Shi'a Imam, Muhammad al-Mahdi,
from humankind until a time decided by God, when the Mahdi will reappear to bring
absolute justice to the world. Shiites have become the largest Islamic group in the
countries of Iran, Bahrain and Palestine.
The Shi’a school of Islam is highly organised and structured religion whereas the
Sunni school of Islam totally rejects notions of an organised clergy. In general the
Sunnis are more liberal in their interpretation of the Qur’am and its laws while the
Shiites are more orthodox.
Questions:
1) explain the role of the caliph
2) list 4 events that lead to the division of the Muslim community
3) Find three differences between the Sunnis and Shiites
Sunnis
Shiites
Today
Sunni Nations
Afghanistan Sunni
80% Sunni, 19% Shi'a.
Egypt
Sunni
Muslim (mostly Sunni) 90%, Coptic Christian
and other 10% 20
Jordan
Sunni
95% Sunni population 13
Kuwait
Sunni
70% of native Kuwaitis are Sunni Muslims,
30% are Shi'a Muslims 25
Pakistan
Sunni
77% Sunni Muslims, 20% are Shi'a Muslims
Qatar
Sunni
The Qataris are mainly Sunni Muslims. Islam is
the official religion. 24
Saudi
Arabia
Sunni
85% Sunni, most adhering to Wahhabi tenets,
7% Shiite, 3.7% Catholic 11
Syria
Sunni
74% Sunni, 13-15 Alawi (moderate Sunni),
10% Christian, 1% Shiite 10, 15
Turkey
Sunni
75% Sunni, 25% Alevi (very small percentage
of Christians and Jews) 23
Baath Party Sunni
21
Thus the old Iraq was Sunni oriented and thus
the conflict with Iran was as much as a religious
war as a nationalistic driven war.
Shiite Nations
Iran
Shiite
Chief Cleric is the Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, a
Shiite cleric
89% belong to the Shi'a branch of Islam, the
official state religion, and about 9% belong to
the Sunni branch 22
Iraq
Shiite
In the Interim Government, 15 seats to Shiite, 5
to Sunni. After the election [which the Sunni's
boycotted and thus have no say] the Executive
Branch of the Government is made up of Shiite
ministers. 12
Shiites constitute about 55-60 percent and
Sunnis represent 35-40 percent. The Sunnis are
divided among Arab, Kurdish, and Turkman
ethnic groups. 8
Lebanon
Christian/Shiite/Sunni A Parliament equally divided between Christian
and Muslim with the following:
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The President is required to be a
Maronite Christian;
The Prime Minister, a Sunni Muslim,
and
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The Speaker of the Parliament, a Shi'a
Muslim 18
Lebanon's population consists of 27 percent
Sunnis (see Glossary), 41 percent Shias, 7
percent Druzes, 16 percent Maronites, 5 percent
Greek Orthodox, and 3 percent Greek Catholics.
19
Oman
Ibadite
75% Ibadite Muslim (followers of the Imam
Allah ibn Ibad) a division of the eighth century
Kharijite sect of Shia 35
Yemen
Shiite/Sunni
Islam is the official religion (53 percent Shi'ite,
47 percent Sunni). 26
Using the map mark in one colour the countries that are Sunni and the countries that are Shi’ite.
Look at the two maps below.
1) Which period saw the most significant spread of Islam?
Map 1
635- Syria, Palestine, Mesopotamia, 638- Jerusalem, Antioch and Basra, 637-650 Persia, 639-642- Egypt, 661-750- Afghanistan, much of North
Africa, and Spain
2) List three ways that Islam has spread
3) Which way is the most significant today?
4) Look at map 1 and 2. Why would it be suggested that the spread was through conquest?
Map 2