The Four Righteously Guided Caliphs

According to Sunni Muslim tradition, the Four Righteously Guided Caliphs were the first four leaders of Islam. They were seen as closely following Muhammad’s path. The first of these four caliphs was Abu Bakr. Despite the objection of Shiites who supported Ali, Abu Bakr seized the caliphate shortly after Muhammad died. He was Muhammad’s close ally and father-in-law and often led prayer in Muhammad’s absence. Abu Bakr was the caliph from 632 to 634 AD. His caliphate was brief, but given the conflict with Ali and his followers, significant for centuries to come. Shortly before Abu Bakr died—some say he was poisoned—he suggested his successor should be Umar ibn al-Khattab. Umar became Islam’s second caliph in 634 and reigned until 644. As he was chosen, Shiites still claimed, to no avail, that the true caliph should be Ali. Thus, Shiits view Umar as another usurper. Sunnis, however, look upon Umar as a great leader. They praise him for resisting the establishment of a dynasty by refusing to allow his son to succeed him. Instead, Umar appointed six men, including Ali, to choose a caliph from among themselves. When Umar was assassinated by a man who held a personal grudge against him, this group chose Uthman ibn Affan, who reigned from 644 60 656. Ithman is perhaps best known for standardizing the Quran. He also greatly expanded the Islamic empire and began the practice of appointing family members to rule his vast lands. This practice caused unrest throughout the kingdom of Islam, especially in North Africa. Soldiers eventually led masses of angry Muslims to storm the caliph’s home and kill him. After Uthman’s death, Ali, who was also known as Ali ibn Talib, finally became the caliph of Islam. By this time, however, the Islamic territories had descended into chaos. In order to avoid the many Sunnis who opposed his rule, Ali moved his capital to what is now Iraq. Ali ruled until 661 when he, too, was assassinated by dissidents. Ali’s death marked the end of the period of the Four Righteously Guided Caliphs. His successor, Muawiyah I, began a hereditary dynasty.

ADDITIONAL FACTS

1. All three assassinated caliphs, Umar, Uthman, and Ali, are said to have been killed while performing holy rites. Umar was leading prayer in a mosque, Uthman was reading the Quran, and Ali was performing morning prayer. 2. The caliphs lasted until the twentieth century and World War I (1914-1918). The last caliph, Abdüimecid II, died in Paris in 1944.