The Rightly-Guided Caliphs

1
The Rightly-Guided Caliphs

• Abu Bakr (632-634)
• Umar (634-644)
• Uthman (644-656)
• Ali (656-661)

2
Why did so many key Arab families become hostile
to Uthman within 20 years of Muhammads death?
3
What was the consequence for Uthman in 656?
4
The first three rashidun
5
Why was the caliphate of Ali (656 661) so
controversial?
6
Who were the Kharijites? And why did they
reject Ali?
7
What does Shiite mean, and why did the sectarian
conflict linger after Alis assassination?
8
Why is the Battle of Karbala (680) so significant
to Shiites?
9
Alis son Husayn and followers were killed
(martyred) by Umayyads
10
Shiism now based on belief that Alid must be
caliph
11
Challenges to the umma c.680 750?
12
For instance

• Revolutions and rebellions
• Messianic movements (expected mahdi)
• ibn al-Hanafiya claimed by Kufan Mukhtar to be
  rightly guided one
• Ongoing frustration of original Muslims
• Ongoing frustration of new non-Arab Muslims

13
What does imam mean? How does it differ from the
Shiite Imam?
14
What was the significance of Jafar al-Sadiq
(d.765)?
15
Prior to his death, he designated son Ismail
but the son dies first. Problems?
16
SevenersRecognize Ismail and his successors
(Ismailis)
TwelversRecognize Ismails brother Musa
al-Kazim and his successors
17
Who were the Abbasids and how did they overthrow
the Umayyads in 750? What did they promise?
18
What are the distinctive characteristics of
Shiism by 750?

• Imam is the legitimate ruler
• Rejection of imam is rejection of prophet
• Prophets true heirs are sinless/infallible
• The caliph is a usurper
• Sense of martyrdom, minority status