The History of the Four Rightly Guided Caliphs

History of the first four rightly guided Caliphs

Period: Jan 1, 632 to Dec 31, 661

Death of Muhammad

Jun 8, 632

The death of the prophet Muhammad started the leadership of the Caliph, who wanted to continue on the tradition of Islam.

Abu Bakr Becomes the First Caliph

Jun 9, 632

Abu Bakr became the first Caliph after Muhammad's death. Muhammad was about to launch an attack against the Roman Empire, but died before he could do so. Abu Bakr was chosen to continue this attack, as well as the tradition of Islam.

Ridda Wars

Jan 1, 633

The year 633 is actually the ending date of the Ridda Wars, which started in 632 when Abu Bakr was appointed. These were the wars against some of the tribes around Medina that did not feel as if they owed allegiance to the Caliph, only to Muhammad. The tribal uprisings were defeated by Abu Bakr.

Death of Abu Bakr

Aug 23, 634

Abu Bakr only reigned as Caliph for two years, before he was died from an illness. He was known as a man of holiness and piety, supremely devoted to the religion of Islam, even if he made some political mistakes.

Umar Becomes the Second Caliph

Aug 24, 634

Umar became the Second Caliph. He follwed the example of Abu Bakr, and created a strong sense of religion to center the Islamic state around.

Muslims Capture Jerusalem

Apr 1, 637

The history of this capture started in 614 when the Persians captured Jerusalem. Because this was a holy place to Jews, Christians and Muslims, Jerusalem became part of the Eastern War of Conquest started by Abu Bakr. However, Abu Bakr died before Jerusalem could be taken, so Umar had to conquer it instead.

Death of Umar

Nov 3, 644

Umar, in the height of his reign was assassinated by the Persians. He is considered by the Sunnis to be the most successful of the rightly guided Caliphs for the many administrative practices and institutions he established.

Uthman Becomes the Third Caliph

Nov 4, 644

Uthman became the third Caliph the same way as the other Caliphs. His reign was marked by the wealth that came in from the conquest, as well as nepotism as he gave high ranked positions to those in his family.

First Definitive Written Edition of Qur'an

Jan 1, 650

Although Uthman's time as the caliph had some problems, he was also the first put the whole of the Qur'an into writing. This helped the religion of Islam to spread across the whole, and become the major religion that it is today.

Death of Uthman

Jun 17, 656

The opposition eventually grew so strong tthat the son of Abu Bakr, Muhammad ibn Abu Bakr, assassinated Uthman. This death would lay the ground work for the eventual rift in Islam that still exist to this day.

Ali Becomes the Fourth Caliph

Jun 18, 656

After the death of Uthman, Ali became the next Caliph. Almost immediately, Uthman's nephew Mu'awiyah moved against him.

Movement of Capital to Kufa

Jan 1, 657

Caliph Ali moved the capital of Islam to Kufa, Iraq, and forever cemented the political and cultural center outside Arabia forever.

Battle of Siffin

Jul 1, 657

This battle took place between Ali and Mu'awiyah, who at the time was the governor of Syria. Ali was victorious in this fight, but Mu'awiyah proposed arbitration by carrying the Qur'an on his soldiers' lances. Ali accepted this, and lost political gain to the astute representatives of Mu'awiyah's court. Those who followed Ali eventually became the Shi'a, while those who followed Mu'awiyah became the Sunni. Thus, the Battle of Siffin cemented the divide in the Islamic world.

Death of Ali

Feb 28, 661

A member of a third group of Muslims called Kharijites killed Ali when he returned to Kufa after the Battle of Siffin. This group believed that both the Shi'a and the Sunni had strayed from the Islamic way.