Calligraphy names of Rashidun Caliphs

Introduction

Abu Bakar R.A, Umar R.A, Uthman R.A and Ali R.A were the first four caliphs of the Muslim Empire. These first four caliphs of the Islamic state are referred to as Rightly Guided (Rashidun) Caliphs (632-661 AD) of the Ummah. Rashidun Caliphate started with the death of Prophet Muhammad PBUH in 632 CE and Abu Bakar R.A became the first Caliph of Islam. The Caliphate of Abu Bakar R.A was not the continuation of prophethood however, these rightly guided Caliphs were Successors of Prophet Muhammad PBUH. The Rashidun Caliphate started with the death of Muhammad PBUH and ended with the death of Ali R.A in 661 CE.

Rashidun Caliphs, during their reign, united the people of the Arabian Peninsula under the slogan of Islam and conquered the entire Sasanian Empire (224-651CE) and many parts of the Byzantine Empire (330-1453). During the period of the last Rashidun Caliph Ali R.A., these rapid and perpetual conquests came to a halt because of civil wars. This civil war became the reason for sectarianism in Muslim Ummah. Shia Muslim group emerged to support Ali R.A. Ali R.A. was considered the only legitimate successor of Prophet Muhammad by Shia Muslims. The Rightly Guided Caliphs introduced a revolutionary administrative system in the history of the world. 

Abu Bakar R.A. (R.632-634 CE)                                                 

In the Year of 632 CE, the death of Prophet Muhammad PBUH was a great loss for the Muslim Ummah. It was such a tragedy that many people even refused to believe that he was gone. The most serious issue was about the succession of Prophet Muhammad. Prophet had not appointed anyone to his position nor did he have a son of his own for succession. Since he was gone, his followers had no access to divine revelation. Soon after his death, many tribes of Arabia declared that their agreement was with Muhammad and they are no more obliged to Islam. This is called apostasy Rida in Arabic. In addition, many other people started to claim the title of prophet.  In his life, Prophet Muhammad PBUH clarified that he was the final prophet of Allah SWT. That’s the reason, Muslims declared that these people are imposters. Abu Bakar R.A(573-634 CE) had the support of a majority of the companions of the Prophet because he was a close companion of Prophet Muhammad and the first male convert. He received the title of Siddique from Prophet which means” Trustworthy”. He chose the title of Khalifa meaning Successor of Prophet. Although his succession was challenged by a group who considered Ali R.A the legitimate heir to Prophet Muhammad however, the authority of Abu Bakar prevailed.

False prophets and apostates were a great threat to the vary existence of Islam. Musaylimah (d.632 CE) was the most prominent and strongest of them. Muslims called him the “Arch Liar”  kazzaab in Arabic. Once again the Arabian peninsula was divided and Makkah and Madinah would have been put to an end if these parties were to join hands against Muslims. 

Abu Bakar called for jihad (holy war) and all faithful men joined his army against these false prophets. He had natural abilities of leadership and he knew that his enemies are parted and this is the time to crush them in their cradle. He sent his multiple corps to different areas of the Arabian Peninsula to vanquish the false prophets. Muslims called these wars as Ridda wars(632-633 CE). Khalid Bin Waleed was the most noteworthy commander of the Ridda Wars, who win against the outnumbered army of Musaylimah in the battle of Yamama (632CE) and killed Musaylimah as well.

A British historian John Joseph Saunders referred to Abu Bakar as the “Second Founder of Islam” because he united the whole Arabian Peninsula under the banner of Islam. By the end of Ridda wars Abu Bakar R.A decided to go further in the lands of Iraq and Syria. Iraq was under the Sassanian rule and Syria was under the Byzantine Empire. Both of these great empires exhausted themselves fighting each other. This was the perfect time to attack and Abu Bakar R.A knew it.

The Arabian tribes of these provinces were aggrieved, because of high taxes. That was the reason Abu Bakar sent his armies to both of these provinces and claimed his ascendancy over Arabian tribes. The expedition to Iraq was very successful under the leadership of Khalid bin Walid. Meanwhile, Heraclius (R.610-641) the emperor of the Byzantine Empire ordered his brother Theodor to prepare his armies for a counterattack. Abu Bakar R.A. ordered his commander Khalid bin Walid to depart from Iraq and proceed to Syria.

Khalid bin Walid was a military genius, he took his best soldiers and travelled to Syria through a waterless desert. When he entered Syria he started his campaign by conquering small territories of the Byzantine Empire. The other Muslim Generals joined Khalid and they defeated the Byzantine Empire in the battle of Ajanadayn (634 CE).

Although, Abu Bakar could not enjoy success because he died when his armies were giving a hard time to the superpowers of that time. 

Caliph Umar R.A (R.634-644)

Umar bin Khatab R.A was one of the influential men of the Muslim state and he supported the succession of Abu Bakar R.A after the death of Prophet Muhammad PBUH. Umar R.A was a close and senior companion of Prophet Muhammad PBUH. He was famous for his justice and administration of state affairs. After Abu Bakar R.A., he became the next Caliph of the Muslim ummah. He adopted the title of “Ameer al- Mo’mineen” which means “commander of believers”

Umar R.A. extended the campaigns of Abu Bakar without interruption. In the year of 636 CE, Caliphate got two great victories under the leadership of Sa’ad bin Abi Waqas who defeated the Sasanian Empire in the battle of Qaddissiya and Khalid bin Walid defeated the Byzantine Empire in the battle of Yarmouk. Abu Ubaidah R.A(583-639) was the commander of the Yarmouk army but Khalid bin Walid’s expertise was the reason for victory. The Levant was now under the rule of the Rashidun Caliphate.

The people of Jerusalem surrendered peacefully to caliph Umar R.A. He visited Jerusalem in 638 and managed some domestic affairs of the region. Meanwhile, Umar R.A. removed Khalid bin Walid from his post of general. There are many debates among historians on his removal.

Umar R.A. is referred to as the real founder of the Islamic empire. He was the most famous caliph of the Rashidun Caliphate. He sustained a tight grip over his empire and introduced many reforms to manage the administrative system. Umar R.A built garrison cities for his armies such as Fustat, Kufa and Basra. He introduced the Department of Police, Parliament, Islamic Hijrah calendar, courts and the Department of Diwan (responsible for salaries and pensions of soldiers)

Among all of his distinguished attributes, Justice is praised much more and he earned the title of Farooq because of his love for justice. A famous story associated with Umar Farooq by many historians is that his son was accused by a woman of adultery. Umar R.A whipped his own son but he could not survive. Later on, the innocence of the poor lad was proven. Umar R.A. was crushed by aggravation but didn’t seek vengeance for his son.

After the death of Abu Ubbaidah in the plague he appointed Muawiya R.A as the governor of Syria. In the year 644 Caliph Umar was assassinated by Abu Lu’lu Feroz (a Persian slave) as an act of vengeance.

Caliph Uthman R.A (R. 644-656 CE)

In his last time, Umar R.A. set a panel of six people (shura – in Arabic) to choose the next caliph of the Muslim state. Uthman ibn Affan R.A (l. 579-656 CE) and Ali R.A (l. 601-661 CE) were two candidates for the caliph. Ultimately, they chose Uthman as a new caliph.  Uthman R.A belonged to the wealthy and famous tribe of Umayya (Umayyads). Two of the Prophet’s daughters were married to Uthman R.A. He was famous for his charitable works and received the title of Ghani, “the generous”.

The period of Uthman also extended the Muslim Empire. The whole of Egypt and Persia was brought under Muslim rule during this time. Byzantine Empire tried to retake their territories but failed because the Monophysites Christians supported Muslims and rejected their former masters.

Despite all of these successes, Uthman R.A faced a severe civil war which divided the Muslim Ummah till the end of the day. Uthman R.A. was accused of supporting his own tribe (Bani Umayya) to important official positions. He was also blamed for blasphemy which was proven wrong after his death. Rebellion arose against him and civil war started in the capital of Madinah. Many devoted companions asked for military use against the rebels but he refused because he did not want bloodshed in the city of Prophet Muhammad PBUH. Ultimately, this rebellion led him to his death.

In 656 CE, Caliph Uthman was murdered by rebels in his own house. These rebels were from the garrison city of Fustat. When the assassins attacked him, he was reading Holy Quran. His wife Naila attempted to save him with bare hands and got her fingers cut. He was a gentleman but politically weak. Muawiya R.A. offered him protection in Syria but he refused to leave the city of his Prophet Muhammad.

Caliph Ali R.a  (R. 656-661 CE)

Ali R.A was the advisor of all of three Caliphs and now it was his turn to lead the Caliphate. But, the Muslim Ummah was divided and their unity died with Caliph Uthman. There was destabilization and unrest in the whole of the Muslim Empire. Muawiya R.A demanded justice from Caliph Ali for his cousin Uthman but Caliph Ali failed because there were many rebels at the time of Uthman’s death and the only eye witness was his wife Naila who could not recognize their faces. Ali R.A tried to restore order in the caliphate but Muawiya R.A and many other prominent Muslims declared open rebellion. The first civil war (656-661) or the first fitna started in the Muslim empire.

In 656 CE, Aisha R.A(wife of Prophet Muhammad) declared war against Caliph Ali for justice. This battle is known as the Battle of Camel. Although Ali R.A was victorious his reputation was badly damaged in the eyes of many Muslims. Caliph Ali was blamed for the bloodshed of Muslims.

Muawiya R.A was the governor of Syria at that time and had the support of Egypt, Levant and Syria. After the battle of the camel, Caliph Ali marched to Syria to face Muawiya. This battle is known as the Battle of Siffin. The Battle of Siffin ended with a settlement but this settlement created a group named Khawarij which refused to accept the authority of any Caliph or Governor over them. Caliph Ali decided to move the capital from Madinah to Kufa. This was a controversial decision and many companions of Prophet Muhammad tried to convince Ali otherwise. Civil war amongst Muslims halted the expansion of the Empire. When Ali R.A. was ruling from Kufa Muawiya R.A. declared his caliphate from the city of Jerusalem. There were two caliphs in Muslim Empire. Meanwhile, Ali R.A was murdered by a Kharjite (Khawrij) In 661 CE, he assassinated Ali R.A when he was praying. Ali R.A. got the title of Asad Ullah (the lion of God) because of his bravery on the battlefield. Both Sunni and Shia sects agreed that Ali R.A. was a brave and pious Muslim.

The Consequences

The Kharjites also attempted to murder Muawiya but failed. He survived because he had a minor injury. Muawiya R.A. established the Umayyad Dynasty in Syria and ultimately gained control of all of the empire. Umayyads initiated the dynastic system in Muslim Empire with the name of Caliphate.

Rashidun Caliphs are still considered the best Caliphs of the Muslim Empire. Because they were the founding fathers of the Islamic Caliphate which would last for centuries.

References:

Saunders, J.J. A History Medieval Islam. Routledge, 1978.

Sonn, T. A Brief History of Islam. Wiley-Blackwell,2009.