CHAPTER 3: Caliphs of Islam

1. ABU BAKR AS-SIDDIQ Radi Allahu Anhu: First Caliph of Islam

(Abū Bakr as-Ṣiddiq or 'Abdullah bin Abī Quhāfah, 573 CE – 23 August 634/13 AH)

LIFE AT ACCEPTING ISLAM

His birth name was 'Abdullah. His wife Qutaylah bint Abd-al-Uzza did not accept Islam and he divorced her. His other
wife, Um Ruman , became a Muslim. All his children except ‘Abd ar-
son Abd ar-

Hazrat Abu Bakr (RZ) Life as a Companion

1. Birth, tribe, and early life.

2. He was the first one to accept Islam.

He brought others to accept Islam.

He remained loyal to Prophet (PBUH) at all times.

3. He bought slaves who were Muslims.

He expressed belief in Prophet (PBUH)’s night journey.

He accompanied the Prophet (PBUH) on the Hijra.

4. He fought all the battles during the time of Holy Prophet (PBUH)

He made financial contributions to the expedition of Tabuk.

He gave his daughter Aisha (RZ) to be Prophet (PBUH)’s wife.

He demonstrated extraordinary firmness in his faith on Prophet (PBUH) at the time of Treaty of Hudaibiya.

5. He was appointed the first Ameer e Hajj and led the prayer when the Prophet (PBUH) was ill.

Abu Bakr 's Dawah brought many people to Islam. He persuaded his intimate friends to convert to Islam. He
presented Islam to others in such a way that many of his friends opted for Islam. Those who converted to Islam at

• Al-

• Abd ar- idun Empire)

• Abu Ubaidah ibn al-

•
• Hazrat Khalid Bin

• Abu Hudhaifah ibn al-

many slaves accepted Islam. When an ordinary free man accepted Islam, despite opposition, he would enjoy the
protection of his tribe. For slaves however, there was no such protection, and were subjected to persecution. He

ur women.

The men were:

The women were: 2. Al-

4. Harithah bint al-

Highlight Events of Caliphate

1. He steadied the mourning community

2. He was appointed the first Caliph of Islam

3. He fought against the tribes who withheld Zakat.

4. He fought Wars of Apostasy against these tribes who had revolted religiously or politically.

5. He fought against the false prophets:

a) Aswad Ansi b) Musaylima (The Liar) c) Sajjah d) Tulayha

6. He continued the Prophet (PBUH)’s intention of sending expedition to north.

7. Collection of the Qur’an during the Caliphate

8. Administration with a conclusion statement.

between the Makkah immigrants, the Muhajireen, and the Madinan converts, the Ansar, threatened to break out
and split the Ummah. The Ansar, the leaders of the tribes of Madina, met in a hall or house called saqifah, to discuss

Ubaidah ibn al-Jarr

leader, and declared his allegiance to Abu Bak -

the first Muslim Caliph, who was given the title, Khalifa-tul-Rasool (Successor of messenger of Allah), a title only

detailed
Sunni Islam has been extensively embellished by subsequent kings and emperors (Caliphs) making it difficult to
openly criticize him.

address was as follow:

“I have been given the authority over you, and I am not the best of you. If I do well, help me; and if I do wrong, set
me right. Sincere regard for truth is loyalty and disregard for truth is treachery. The weak amongst you shall be
strong with me until I have secured his rights, if God wills; and the strong amongst you shall be weak with me until I
have wrested from h

which he crushed the rebellion of the Arab tribes throughout

Arabia in the successful campaign against Apostasy. He launched campaigns against the Sassanid Empire and the
Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantine Empire) and thus set in motion a historical trajectory that in just a few short
decades would lead to one of the largest empires in history. He had little time to pay attention to the administration
ibn al-

Ridda-
community and state. Several Arabic tribes revolt
the rebels rallied around people who claimed to be prophets, the most prominent among these Musaylima. The

had ended. This was common practice in pre-Islamic Arabia. After the death of a tribal leader the alliance with the
tribe of that leader was regarded as having ended. Thus several tribes acted in accordance to this pre-Islamic

simple human leader but joined the Muslim religious community, of which he was the new head. So, in contrast to
pre-Islamic times, their allegiance was not seen as having ended at all. This was the start of the Ridda wars (Arabic
for the Wars of Apostasy).

The apostasy of central Arabia was led by self-proclaimed prophet Musaylima of in al-Yamama, while the other
centers were to the south an
accordingly and formed the Muslim army into 11 corps. The strongest corps and this was the main punch of the
Muslim army, was that of Hazrat Khalid Bin Waleed ibn al-Walid
rebel forces. Other corps were given areas of secondary importance in which to bring the less dangerous apostate
rest Madina), then tackle
Malik ibn Nuwayrah, and finally concentrate against the most dangerous enemy Musaylima. After series of
successful campaigns, Hazrat Khalid Bin Waleed ibn al-
in the Battle of Yamama.

The Campaign of the Apostasy was fought and completed during the eleventh year of the Hijrah. The year 12 Hijrah
dawned, on March 18, 633, with Arabia united under the central authority of the Caliph at Madinah. This
phenomenon was later regarded as primarily a religious movement by Arabic historians. However, the early sources
indicate that in reality it was mainly political. After all, the revolting Arabs only refused to pay Zakat (Charity), but
they did not refuse to perform the Salah. This however is disputed and explained by Muslim scholars in that the
dictation of Zakat was one of the five pillars of Islam and its denial or withholding is an act of denial of a cornerstone
of faith, and is therefore an act of apostasy. Bernard Lewis states that the fact that Islamic Historians have regarded
this as a primarily religious movement was due to a later interpretation of events in terms of a theological world-
view. The opponents of the Muslim armies were not only apostates, but also - if not most of them - tribes which
were largely or even completely independent from the Muslim community. However, these revolts also had a
religious aspect: Madinah had become the centre of a social and political system, of which religion was an integral
part; consequently it was inevitable that any reaction against this system should have a religious aspect.
THE QUR'AN – PRESERVATION:
written form. It is said that after the hard-won victory over Musaylima in the Battle of Yamama fought in 632, Umar

Book. After

committee verified the reading by comparing with those who had memorized the Qur'an. After they were satisfied
that they had not missed out any verse or made any mistakes in reading or writing it down, the text was written

of his Sahaba (companions) were still alive, ensuring that the text
would not be corrupted in any form.

- his successor. It remained with him

throughout his tenure as Caliph (

his personal preference of who would be the next

credit for re-

instrumental in the collection or preservation of the Qur'an.

Military Expansion: Once the rebellions had been put down, Abu
he intended a full-out imperial conquest is hard to say; he did, however, set in motion a historical trajectory that in
began with Iraq, the richest
province of Persian Empire. He sent his most brilliant general Hazrat Khalid Bin Waleed ibn al-
Sassanid Empire.

The Battle of Kazima: In March 633 C.E., a Muslim column under Hazrat Khalid Bin Waleed (R.A) marched to Iraq and
started operations in the region of Uballa on the Persian Gulf. The two forces met at kazima, in opening duel, Hazrat
Khalid Bin Waleed Killed the Persian commander Hormuz. The Muslims launched the attack which was withstood by
the chain-linked Persian infantry. The Muslims increased the pressure and the Persians were forced to fall back. The
Persians found their chains to be death trap and as they retreated held together in chains they were slaughtered in
thousands. The battle of chains at Kazima unchained the gate of Iraq for the Muslims.

The Battle of Mazar: The next confrontation with the Persians took place at Mazar on Tigris. The Persians forces
were led by three Generals Qarin, Qabaz and Anushjan. All the three Generals died in fighting against Muslims and
they were defeated badly with a death toll exceeding 30,000.

The Battle of Walaja: The next encounter took place at Walaja. The Persian forces were led by Andarzaghar. The
battle began with the a duel in which Hazrat Khalid (R.A) killed his adversary. The Persians gained some initial
success, but the bulk of their army was annihilated.

The Battle of Ulleis: The nest battle took place at ulleis ten miles from Walaja. It was a bloody battle in which over
70,000 Persians perished. So large were the killings that the river on the bank whereof the battle was fought virtually
became a river of blood.

Conquest of Hirah: From Ulleis the Muslim forces marched to Hirah. There was Persian force to resist Muslims. The
citizerns of Hirah surrendered and agreed to pay “Jizya” to the Muslims.

The Battle of Anbar: Towards the close of June 633 C.E. Hazrat Khalid marched with his army to Anbar. Here after a
little resistance Persian army surrendered and agreed to Jizya.
The Battle of Ein-at-Tamr: From Anbar the Muslim forces proceeded to Ain-at-Tamr. Here the Christian Arabs led by
their chief Aqqa offered resistance. Aqqa was taken captive, and the citizens of Ein-at-Tamr offered submission on
the usual terms.

The Battle of Daumatul Jandal: When Hazrat Khalid bin Waleed began his operastions in southern Iraq, Hazrat Abu
Bakr Sadeeq (R.A) sent another column under Hazrat Iyaz bin Ghanam to operate in Daumatul Jandal sector. But
Hazrat Iyaz failed to capture ans at the last resort he wrote Hazrat Khalid bin Waleed for help. Then Hazrat Khalid
Marched towards Daumatul Jandal in it fell in August 633 A.D.

The Battle of Firaz: In December 633 A.D., Hazrat Khalid occupied Firaz at the outer most edge of Persian Empire in
the Euphrates valley. By the end of 633 A.D., the Muslims were masters of Euphrates valley in Iraq.

Defeat of Khalid Bin Saeed: During the active operations in Iraq, Hazrat Abu Bakr Sadeeq (R.A) stationed a garrison
at Tayma to the east of Tabuk to protect the borders against any attack by Syrian. But here Hazrat Khalid bin Saeed
suffered with a serious defeat.

Call of Jihad on Syrian Front: In February 634 A.D., Hazrat Abu Bakr Sadeeq (R.A) issued a call for Jihad on the Syrian
front. By March 634, a large force mustered at Madina ready to march to Syria. These warriors were formed into
four corps of 7000 men each and sent to Syria under the command of Hazrat Abu Ubaidah (R.A).

Khalid Bin Waleed’s March from Iraq to Syria: The Byzantine emperor Heraclius planned action on a large scale. He
mustered forces of Ajnadein numbering over lac. The four small Muslim corps that were operating in Syria were no
match for the large concentration of the Byzantine forces. Hazrat Abu Bakr Sadeeq (R.A) ordered Hazrat Khalid bin
Waleed (R.A) to march from Iraq to Syria and over the chief command on Syrian front.

The Battle of Busra: The first encounter of Khalid bin Waleed (R.A) with the Byzantine army took place at Busra in
July 634 C E. It was a hardly contested battle which was ultimately won by the Muslims.

Siege of Damascus: From Busra, Hazrat Khalid bin Waleed marched towards northward to Damascus. The Byzantine
emperor Hercalius garrisoned all forts in Syria and ordered a huge concentration of forces in the south at Ajnadein.
The situation was critical for Muslims. If they pressed the siege of Damascus the danger was that the Byzantine army
from Ajnadein might attack the Muslim army from the rear. The Muslims accordingly raised the siege of Damascus,
and marched to Ajnadein.

The Battle of Ajnadein: The total strength of Muslim forces assembled at Ajnadein was about 40,000, while the
strength of the Byzantine forces was over one lac. It was hardly contested battle in which the Muslims won an
astounding victory. As many as 50,000 Byzantine soldiers were killed while only 450 Muslims were martyred.

Damascus Again: After winning the battle of Ajnadein, the Muslims marched to Damascus of Muslims. There was a
confrontation at Yaqusa on the Yermuk in which the Byzantines were defeated and Muslims pushed forward to
Damasus. There was another confrontation Marjus Saffar, 12 miles from Damascus. Here again the Byzantines were
defeated and the siege of Damasus began on 21st August 634 C.E., and on 23rd August, Hazrat Abu Bakr Sadeeq
(R.A) was dead. Before his death Abu Bakr nominated Hazrat umar at his successor.

INVASION OF SASSANID PERSIAN EMPIRE

After the Ridda Wars, a tribal chief of north eastern Arabia, Misnah ibn Haris, raided the Persian towns in Iraq. With
the success of the raids, a considerable amount of booty was collected. Misnah ibn Haris went to Madinah to inform
is success and was appointed commander of his people, after which he begun to raid
deeper into Iraq. Using the mobility of his light cavalry he could easy raid any town near the desert and within
moments could disappear again in to the desert, into which the Sassanid army was unable to chase them. Misnah’s
Persians with a deep, unreasoning fear which ran in the tribal consciousness as a racial complex and was the result of
centuries of Persian power and glory. In return the Persian regarded the Arab with contempt. It was important not to
suffer a defeat, for that would confirm an
decided on two measures; that the invading army would consist entirely of volunteers; and he put in command of
the army his best general Hazrat Khalid Bin Waleed ibn al- er defeating the self-proclaimed prophet
-
orders to invade the Sassanid Empire. Making Al-
reinforcements and ordered the tribal chiefs of north eastern Arabia, Misnah ibn Haris, Mazhur bin Adi, Harmala and

March 633 (first wee -Yamama with an army

ps.

battles: Battle of Chains, fought in April 633 A.D;Battle of River, fought in the 3rd week of April 633 A.D; Battle of
Walaja, fought in May 633 A.D (where he successfully used a double envelopment maneuver), and Battle of Ullais,
fought in the mid of May, 633 A.D.

By now the Persian court already disturbed by the internal problems, was down and out. In the last week of May 633
A.D, Hira capital city of Iraq fell to the Muslims after resistance in the Siege of Hira. After resting his armies, in June

siege of a few weeks in July 633 A.D after the Siege of Al-
south, and conquered the city of Ein ul Tamr after the Battle of Ein ut Tamr in the last week of July, 633 A.D. By now,
almost the whole of Iraq (Euphrates region) was under Islamic control.

-ul-Jandal, where another Muslim Arab

-ul-
jandal and defeated the rebels in the Battle of Daumat-ul-jandal in the last week of August, 633 A.D. Returning from
Arabia, he got news of the assembling of a large Persian army. He decided to defeat them all separately to avoid the
risk of defeat to a large unified Persian army. Four divisions of Persian and Christian Arab auxiliaries were present at

He divided his army in three units, and attacked the Persian forces in brilliantly coordinated attacks from three
different sides at night, starting from the Battle of Muzieh, then the Battle of Sanni, and finally the Battle of Zumail
during November 633 A.D. These devastating defeats ended Persian control over Iraq, and left the Persian capital
Ctesiphon unguarded and vulnerable for Muslims attack, before attacking the Persian Capital Hazrat Khalid Bin
e border
city of Firaz, where he defeated the combined forces of the Sassanid Persians, Byzantine Romans and Christian Arabs
in the Battle of Firaz in December 633 A.D. This was the last battle in his conquest of Iraq. While Hazrat Khalid Bin
on his way to attack Qadisiyah, a key fort in the way to Persian Capital Ctesiphon, he received the

conquer Roman Syria.

INVASION OF EASTERN ROMAN (BYZANTINE) EMPIRE

large army at Zhu Qussai and sent them to Roman Syria, the army was divided in four corps. Each, under its own
commander and target. While these armies where on there March towards there target they received intelligence of

help. Position in Iraq was stable by now,

forces of Iraq to Syria and assume the command of Muslim armies in Syria.
The Byzantine province of Syria in those days consisted of modern day Syria, Jordan, Israel, the Palestinian
territories, Lebanon and southern Turkey. There were two routes towards Syria from Iraq, one was via Daumat-ul-
Jandal and the other was through Mesopotamia passing though Ar Raqqah. Muslim armies in Syria were in need of
urgent reinforcement, Hazrat Kh
because it was a long route and would take weeks to reach Syria, he avoided Mesopotamia’s route because of
presence of Roman garrisons in Northern Syria and Mesopotamia and engaging with them at the time when Muslim

to Syria, an unconventional route passing though Syrian Desert. He boldly marched his armies though desert were it
is recorded that his soldiers marched for two days without a single drop of water, before reaching a pre-decided

flank and acco

perilous march though desert and appearing at the north-eastern front of Byzantines while they were occupied in
tackling Muslim armies in southern Syria, that unhinged the Byzantine defenses in Syria.

Sukhnah. Qaryatayn and Hawarin were captured after the Qaryatayn and the Hawarin. After dealing with all these

Sanita-al-
away from Damascus, towards Basra, the capital of Ghassanid Arab kingdom, a vassal of Eastern Roman empire. He
had ordered other Muslim commaders to concentrate their armies at Busra, which were still near the Syrian-Arabia
border. At Maraj-al-Rahab, Hazrat Khalid Bin Wa
Battle of Marj-al-Rahit. Meanwhile Abu Ubaida ibn al-
had ordered Shurhabil ibn Hasana to attack Basra.

The later laid siege of Basra with his small army of 4000 men. Roman and Ghassanid Arab garrison, noticing that this
might be the advance guard of the larger Muslim army to come, decided to attack and destroy Shurhabil’s army.
They came out of the fortified city and attacked Shurhabil, surrounding him from all sides; Hazrat Khalid Bin Waleed

rendered some time in mid

July 634. Thus effectively ending the Ghassanid Dynasty.

instructions of Caliph. The massive Byzantine armies were concentrating at Ajnadayn to push the invading armies
back to desert, early Muslim sources, have mentioned its size to be 90,000, while most of the modern historians
doubt the figures, but consider this battle to be the key to broke the Byzantine power in Syria. According to the

battle against Byzantine on 30 July 634.

Defeat at the Battle of Ajnadayn, left Syria vulnerable to the Muslim invaders. H
capture Damascus, the Byzantine stronghold. At Damascus Thomas, son in law of Emperor Heraculis, was in charge.
ces of
Damascus. He wrote to Emperor Heraculis for reinforcement, who was at Emesa that time. Moreover Thomas, in
order to get more time for preparation of a siege, sent the armies to delay or if possible halt Hazrat Khalid Bin
, one such army was defeated at Battle of Yaqusa in mid-August 634 near Lake
Tiberias 90 miles from Damascus, another army that halted the Muslim advance to Damascus was defeated in Battle
of Maraj as Saffer on 19 August 634. These engagements delayed Hazr
Thomas enough time to prepare for siege, meanwhile Heraculis’s reinforcement at reached the city, which he had
dispatched after the bad news of Ajnadyn. Before Heraculis’s another regiment could reach Damascus, Hazrat Khalid

south on the road to Palestine and in north at Damascus-Emesa route, and several other smaller detachments on
routes towards Damascus. Heraculis’s reinforcement was intercepted and routed at Battle of Sanita-al-Uqab 20 miles
es withstood three Roman sallies that tried to break the siege,

according to some sources siege lasted for four or six months. Heraculis having receives the news of fall of
Damascus, left for Antioch from Emesa. The citizens were given peace on the terms of annual tribute; the Byzantine
army was given a three day peace to go as far as they could. After the three days deadline was over, the Muslim
ca
unknown shortcut, at the Battle of Maraj-al-
aliph. He dismissed his cousin Hazrat Khalid Bin Waleed ibn al-
the command and appointed Abu Ubaidah ibn al-
Ubaidah got the letter of his appointment and Hazrat Khalid Bin Walee
the announcement until the city was conquered.

LEGACY

caliphate covers only two years, two months and fifteen days, it included successful invasions of the two most
powerful empires of the time: the Sassanid Empire and Byzantine Empire.

te

successor. He was the only Caliph in the history of Islam who refunded to the state treasury at the time of his death
the entire amount of the allowance that he had drawn during the period of his caliphate.

He was the first Muslim ruler to establish Bayt al-mal. He was the first Muslim ruler to establish crown pasture. He
was the first Muslim ruler to establish 'Ijtihad'. He has the distinction of purchasing the land for Al-Masjid al-Nabawi.

st genealogist

DEATH

account is that about a year before, along with some other companions, Harith bin Kaladah, and Attab bin Usaid, he

fever, and was confined to bed. His illness was prolonged, and when his condition worsened, he felt that his end was
near.

should not be a cause of dissension among the Muslims after his death, though there was already controversy over

last hour of the world, and the first of the next; an hour in which the infidel must believe, the wicked be convinced of

right, confirm his actions. My intentions are good, but I cannot see the future results. However, those who do ill shall
render themselves liable to severe account hereafter. Fare you well. May you be ever attended by the Divine favor
of blessing.
-Masjid al- Nabawi