The Spread of Islam

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The Spread of Islam
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The First Three Caliphs

• After Muhammads death his followers had to
  choose a new leader to preserve the Muslim
  community.
• The first few caliphs who followed Muhammad
  greatly expanded the lands under their rule
  despite struggles over leadership and even civil
  wars.
• Along with the Arabic language, the acceptance of
  Islam helped unify this vast empire.
• The first caliph (the highest leader of Islam)
  was Abu Bakr, one of Muhammads first converts.

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Caliph Abu Bakr632-634

• A political and military leader, but not a
  religious leader.
• Used military campaigns against Arab tribes who
  did not follow Muhammads teachings.
• Through many battles he unified Arabia for the
  first time as a Muslim state.
• The new Arab army quickly conquered the Persian
  and Byzantine empires
• Made Treaties with non-Muslims who lived in the
  captured territories
• Non-Muslims could exist, but only under a list
  of rules
• Created a new idea of religion
• Died in 634 C.E.

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Caliph Umar634-644

• Continued to expand the Muslim empire through
  military efforts
• Included lands in Iraq, Persia, the eastern
  Mediterranean, and North Africa.
• Set up governments and tax systems
• Continued religious tolerance allowing Jews and
  Christians to worship as they liked
• Non-Muslims were required to pay religious taxes
• Died in 644 C.E.

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Caliph Uthman644-656

• Member of the Umayyad clan.
• Moved the Muslim capitol from Medina to Damascus
  and continued to expand the empire
• Took over lands in Central Asia and in northern
  India
• Gained control of trade in the eastern
  Mediterranean and part of North Africa, moving
  into Spain (Muslims continued to rule parts of
  Spain for another 700 years)
• Awarded high posts to his relatives
• Killed in 656 C.E.

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Caliph Ali (Muhammads cousin)

• reluctantly agreed to become the fourth caliph
• Some Umayyad clan members challenged his rule
  creating civil war
• Ali was murdered in 661 C.E.
• New caliph from the Umayyad claimed leadership
• Muslim leadership splits Sunni and Shia

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Sunni - Shia (Shiites)
Sunni Muslims who believed caliphs did not have
to be related to Muhammad Accepted the first four
caliphs Believed everyone has a direct
relationship with God Make up 80 of all Muslims
Shia Muslims who believed only members of
Muhammads family could be caliphs They believed
that Alis should have been chosen over Abu
Bakr They denied the first three caliphs Make up
20 of Muslim population
Both believe in Allah Both believe in
Muhammad Both still exist today Both support the
Quran as word of Allah