10/6/2022

1 Rightly Guided Caliphs

Abu Bakr

2 Election as a Caliph
Arguments arose b/w Muhajireen & Ansaar
Council Hall in Madina: Saqeefa Banu Sa’d
Ansaars wanted the Office because of their services
Abu Bakr Objected: People of Arabia would not acknowledge a caliph from Ansars as long as the
Quraish lived.
Ansars urged two caliphs; one from Ansars and other from Muhajireen
Abu ‘Ubaidah said: “O Ansar you were the first to uphold Islam, don’t be the first to sow the seed of
dissention in it.”
Ansars withdrew their claim.
Abu Bakr proposed the name of Abu ‘Ubaidah b. al-Jarrah and ‘Umar.

3 Election as a Caliph
‘Umar said: No, but we elect you, for you are our chief and the best amongst us and the most
beloved of all of us to Allah’s Apostle”
‘Umar took Abu Bakr’s hand and gave pledge of allegiance and people too gave the pledge to
Abu Bakr
After Election Abu Bakr addressed:
“O people! I have been elected as your AMEER, although I am not better than you,…”
Help me if I am right ….
Obey me as long as I obey Allah…..
4 Problems Faced by Abu Bakr
Apostasy Movement/ Ridda Wars
There had been some unrest among the tribes of even during Prophet’s life time, but after his
death some of them were in open revolt.
They reneged on their pledge of loyalty to the Prophet and didn’t accept the authority of the
caliphate
This revolt against Islam is known as RIDDA or APOSTASY movement.
It was a major threat to Madina itself, and to the survival of faith and unity of Muslims.
These movement cropped up all around Arabian peninsula
5 Problems Faced by Abu Bakr
Apostasy Movement/ Ridda Wars

Daumat-al-Jandal and Tabuk to the North
Yamama and Hajr to the East
Hadhramaut and Yemen-Najran and San’a to the South
Bahrain and Oman on the East coast
Butah and Buzakha in central Arabia
Dhu Qisa in close proximity to Madina
6 Problems Faced by Abu Bakr
Apostasy Movement/ Ridda Wars

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Abu Bakr called a meeting of his Shura (advisory council) to seek their advice
Many of them dissuaded the caliph from confrontation as it would further weaken the
community
Abu Bakr was determined and firm in his decision to take prompt action against the rebels, lest
the movement should gain strength
Troops were gathered in Madina and sent to the opposing tribes under selected commanders
with clear instructions
Within a year the situation was under control.
7 Problems Faced by Abu Bakr
Refusal to Pay Zakat
Many tribes such as Banu Asad, Banu Ghatafan, Banu Abbas, Banu Murrah and others surrounded
Madinah.
Sent deputation to Abu Bakr with Proposal that they would remain on friendly terms with the
authorities in Madinah provided that they were relieved of the obligation to pay Zakat.
Abu Bakr was firm, he argued that Zakat being a fundamental injunction of Islam, had to be paid.
He said: “If with reference to Zakat, you withhold even as much as a string to tie a camel, as the
Khalifa of the Holy Prophet, it will be my duty to fight for it, whatever the consequences.
8 Problems Faced by Abu Bakr
Refusal to Pay Zakat
These tribes decided to attack Madina when the major Muslim army was away in Syria
One night 632 AD Abu Bakr led the Muslim army and took them by surprise.
Most tribesmen died; the rest fled in confusion
After this battle, many tribes sent their delegation and agreed to pay Zakat.
9 Problems Faced by Abu Bakr
False Prophets
(i) Al-Aswad al ‘Ansi:
He was the leader of the ‘Ans tribe in Yemen. His dark complexion earned him the title al Aswad
i.e. the black man, he was also known as the veiled prophet as he covered his face to create an
aura of mystery about himself. In the later years of the Prophet’s life al-Aswad claimed to receive
divine guidance and used tricks to convince people of his miracles. With a large army he invaded
Narjan and most of Yemen. He was defeated and killed by a Persian Muslim Firuz al Dhalaymi.
After the Prophet’s demise his followers regrouped and revolted under Qais ibn ‘Abd Yaghus but
were again defeated by Firuz.
10 Problems Faced by Abu Bakr
False Prophets
(ii) Tulayha ibn Khuwaylid ibn Nawfal al-Asadi:
He was a wealthy leader of the Bani Asad and Ghatafan tribes in North Arabia. He was a
renowned warrior who after initially opposing Islam embraced the faith in 630 only to rebel and
proclaim himself as a prophet. He was accepted as a prophet by many tribes and he raised a
strong force against the Muslims. Khalid ibn al-Walid was sent by Abu Bakr to quell his revolt and
in the Battle of Buzakha in September 632 Tulayha was defeated. He escaped to Syria and after
the Muslim conquest of that country converted to Islam again and participated in the battles of
Jalula, Qadissiyah and Nihawand.
11 Problems Faced by Abu Bakr

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False Prophets
(iii) Sajah bint-al-Harith:
She was an Arab Christian from the tribe of Taghlib. She had a following as a soothsayer and after
the Prophet’s death when many of her tribesman rejected Islam she declared herself as a prophet.
With a force of 4000 she marched towards Madina, but learning of Tulayhas defeat Sajah
dropped her plans. She then joined forces with another false prophet Musailimah. She went on to
marry him and accept his prophethood. Khalid ibn Walid crushed Sajah’s forces and then moved
to tackle Musailimah who was killed in the battle of Yamama after which Sajah embraced Islam.
12 Problems Faced by Abu Bakr
False Prophets
(iv) Musailimah al-Kadhdhab (The Liar):
He belonged to the large and influential tribe of Banu Hanifa in the Yamama region. He was
wealthy and powerful and used his influence to misguide people and declared himself a prophet
during the Prophet’s lifetime. He parodied the verses of the Qur’an and invented some verses and
even wrote to the Prophet saying he had been given a share in his prophethood. The Prophet
called him an ‘arch- liar’. He abolished the injunctions of the Qur’an and made permissible what
was forbidden and succeeded in gaining a large following.
13 Problems Faced by Abu Bakr
False Prophets
(iv) Musailimah al-Kadhdhab (The Liar):
After the Prophet’s death he challenged the caliphate of Abu Bakr which led to the Battle of
Yamama in 632 and decided his fate. He was in command of 40 000 men. Ikrimah and Shurabil
were sent by Abu Bakr to fight him but both were defeated. A force was then sent under Khalid
ibn Walid which defeated him and he was killed by Wahshi al Harb.
14 Expansion of Islamic Empire
Expedition to Syria