Quran and those who had memorised some of the verses Thev worked togethe

634. Before his death, he gave his authorised copy of the Quran to Umar (te 2

On 8h August. Abubakar lell sick and never recovered. He died on 23 AuQus

Caliph). This was kept by Umar and served as reference material for the Shaahaa

and put all the

verses into one book in one year

Useful lessons to be learnt from the contributions of Caliph Abubakar

1. Generosity: He was generous.

2. Loyalty He was very much committed or loyal to the course of Islam

3. Truthfulness: He was truthful to the teachings of Islam

4. Steadfastness: He was steadfast in the spreading of Islam

THE SEcOND CALIPH: UMAR IBN AL-KHATTAB- (UMAR FAROOG)

Umar ibn al-Khattab was born in Mecca in 581 CE. His father was Khattab ibn M

of the Banu Adi clan of the Quraysh tribe. He was literate and a popular buSine

man. Umar was a companion of Prophet Muhammad. His caliphate began n

and ended in 644.

He was zealous of the traditional religion of the Quraysh and threatened to kil he

prophet Muhammad. When he realized that his sister had converted to Islam. he be

her up. He went to her house and saw her reciting portions of the Qur'an (Ta-hak

was suprised and asked her to read some more verses to him. He accepłed Islam

that same day.

Umar r was among the first Muslims that migrated to Medina in 622 commonly refemed

to as Hijrah. He later married his daughter Hafsah to Prophet Muhammad in 625

His Contribution to Islam

1. He took part in many of the battles that were fought by the Muslims e.g. Battles d

Badr, Uhud, Khaybar and the raid on Syria.

2. Umar expanded the Islamic Empire from Mesopotamia, to parts of Persia, Egypt

Palestine, Syria, North Africa, and Armenia. This was achieved through wars

battles and conquests, He was part of the army that destroyed the Sassanid Amy
during the Battle of al-Qadisiyyah in 636 CE.

3. He also led the Muslim army to capture Jerusalem in 637 CE. They signed an

agreement with the Jews at the Church of Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. Ths

agreement was called Pact of Umar (Ahd Umar). It sets the rights and obligatios

of the Muslims and Jews. He was invited to pray at the church, but due to hs

respect for Judaism, he prayed away from the church. Fifty five years later, tre

Dome of the Rock Mosque was constructed at the site where he prayed.

4, Umar undertook many administrative reforms in Islam. He came out with polloes

on administration of newly conquered lands and territories. For example.

ordered that periodic censUses were to be conducted to know the population

Muslims worldwide. He also established a garrison to house the Muslim amy

also codified or documented Islamic laws and Practices, and introduced the lsla

calendar.

5. He was responsible for the expulsion of Christians and Jews in cities such as

Najran and Khaybar. He forbade non-Muslims to reside in the Hijaz for more than

three days.

6 Umar organized Muslims to renovate many Mosques that were in bad shape. For

example, he renovated the Grand Mosque in Mecca, and the Mosque of the

Prophet in Medina.

7. In 639 CE Umar decreed that the Islamic calendar should be counted from the year

of the Hijra or 622 CE.

H.S. 1-3

Umar died in 644CE when he was stabbed six times by a non-Muslim slave called

Abu-Luluah. The assassination occurred when he led the dawn prayers in the

Masjid al Nabawi Mosque in Medina. He was buried close to Prophet Muhammad

and Abu Bakr.

THE THIRD CALIPH: UTHMAN IBN AFFAN

Uthman ibn Affan was born in Ta'if in 579 CE. He was born into a wealthy family of

the Banu Umayya clan of the Quraysh tribe of Mecca. He was one of the early
converts to Islam and soon became one of the Shahabas (companions) of Prophet

Muhammad. When his father died, he inherited his business and fortune.

When his friend, Abu Bakr, the first Caliph introduced him to Islam, he quickly

converted to the faith and was sent to the prophet to declare his faith. He was the

fourth male to be converted to Islam. As a result of his conversion to Islam, his wives

deserted him and he subsequently divorced all of them. The prophet then asked him

to marry his daughter Ruquyyah bint Muhammad.

His Contribution to Islam

1. His first contribution to Islam after he became the Caliph was that he issued a

number of directives to officials in the Islamic empire to hold on fast to the laws.

made by his predecessor, Umar.

2. He extended the Islamic territory to Morocco, parts of Pakistan, Northern part of

Armenia, and Azerbaijan.

3. He established the first Islamic naval force.

4. He helped to expand Islam by sending a number of envoys or diplomats to many

countries. The first official Muslim envoy was sent to China in 650 CE. The envoy

to China established the first Chinese mosque in the capital city of Beijing. A

second envoy was also sent to Sri Lanka, now Ceylon.

5. Amir al-Mu'minin as he was affectionately called introduced many Muslims to

business in Abyssinia (now Ethiopia), Medina and Mecca. Hitherto, many Muslims

were farmers. The introduction of business made many of them prosperous and

they also assisted in financing many projects and the spreading of the Islamic

aith.

6 In 631, Uthman and many other Muslims migrated to Mecca to perform the Hajj.

After the Hajj, he married Umm Saed Fatima bint Al Walid, a Quraysh lady and

returned to Medina with her.

He set up personal deputies consisting of prominent shahabas (companions) to

all the provinces to examine the conduct of officials and the conditions of the
communities and cities.

water to towns like Kufa and Basra to support agriculture.

faithful. This brought contentment, peace, harmony and tranquility in most Islame

8. During his caliphate, many Muslims donated their wealth to the construction

mosques, buildings, military barracks, wells, seaports and canals for transporting

9. Finally, he divided the Islamic empire into Twelve Provinces namely, Meding

Mecca, Yemen, Kufa, Basra, Jazira, Faris, Azerbaijan, Khorasan, Syria, Egypt

10. These Twelve Provinces were sub-divided into districts and cities for effective and

Efriqya (North Africa).

easy administration and the collection of taxes and levies.

THE FOURTH CALIPH, ALI BIN ABI TALIB (656-661 A.C.)

All's Election

After Uthman's martyrdom, the office of the caliphate remained unfilled for two a

three days. Many people insisted that All should take up the office, but he was

embarrassed by the fact that the people who pressed him hardest were the rebels

and he therefore declined at first.

When the notable Companions of the Prophet (peace be on him) urged him, however,

he finally agreed.

All's Life

Ali bin Abi Talib was the first cousin of the Prophet Muhammad.

He grew up in the Prophet's household, married his youngest daughter, Fatima, and

remained in closest association with him for nearly thirty years.

Ali was ten years old when the Divine Message came to Prophet Muhammad (peace

be on him). One night he saw the Prophet and his wife Khadijah bowing and

prostrating. He asked the Prophet about the meaning of their actions. The Prophet

told him that they were praying to God Most High and that Ali too should accept Islam

Ali said that he would first like to ask his father about it. He spent a sleepless night

and in the morning he went to the Prophet and said, "When God created me He did

not consult my father, so why should I consult my father in order to serve Him?" and
he accepted the truth of Muhammad's message.

When the Divine command came, "And warn thy nearest relatives" [26:214

Muhammad (peace be on him) invited his relatives for à meal. After it was finished.

he addressed them and asked, "Who will join me in the cause of God?" There was

utter silence for a while, and then Ali stood up. "I am the youngest of all present here

he said, "My eyes trouble me because they are sore and my legs are thin and weak

derisive laughter.

but I shall join you and help you in whatever way I can." The assembly broke up!

But during the difficult wars in Mecca, Ali stood by these words and faced all the

hardships to which the Muslims were subjected. He slept in the bed of the Prophe

when the Quraysh (the tribe to which Muhammad belonged) planned to murder

Muhammad. It was he to whom the Prophet entrusted, when he left Mecca, the

valuables which had been given to him for safekeeping, to be returned to their owners. Apart from the
expedition of Tabuk, Ali fought in all the early battles of Islam with great

distinction, particularly in the expedition of Khaybar. It is said that in the Battle of Uhud

he received more than sixteen wounds.

The Prophet (peace be on him) loved Ali dearly and called him by many fond names

Once, the Prophet found him sleeping in the dust. He brushed off Ali's clothes and

said fondly, "Wake up, Abu Turab (Father of Dust)." The Prophet also gave him the

title of 'Asadullah' ('Lion of God').

Ali's humility, austerity, piety, deep knowledge of the Qur'an and his wisdom gave him

great distinction among the Prophet's Companions. Abu Bakr, 'Umar and Uthman

consulted him frequently during their caliphates. Many times 'Umar had made him his

vice-regent at Medina when he was away.

Ali was also a great scholar of Arabic literature and pioneered in the field of grammar

and rhetoric. His speeches, sermons and letters served for generations afterward as

models of literary expression. Many of his wise and epigrammatic sayings have been

preserved. Ali thus had a rich and versatile personality.

In spite of these achievements he remained a modest and humble man. Once during

his caliphate when he was going about the marketplace, a man stood up in respect

and followed him. "Do not do it," said Ali. "Such manners are a temptation for a ruler

and a disgrace for the ruled."

Ali and his household lived extremely simple and strict lives. Sometimes they even

went hungry themselves because of Ali's great generosity, and none who asked for

help was ever turned away from his door. His plain, austere style of living did not

change even when he was ruler over a vast domain.

All's Caliphate

As mentioned previously, Ali accepted the caliphate very reluctantly. Uthman's

murder and the events surrounding it were a symptom, and also became a cause, of

civil strife on a large scale. Ali felt that the tragic situation was mainly due to

incompetent governors. He therefore dismissed all the governors who had been

appointed by Uthman and appointed new ones.

All the governors except Muawiya, the governor of Syria, submitted to his orders.

Muawiya declined to obey until Uthman's blood was avenged. The Prophet's widow

Aisha also took the position that Ali should first bring the murderers to trial. Due to the

chaotic conditions during the last days of Uthman it was very difficult to establish the

identity of the murderers, and Ali refused to punish anyone whose guilt was not

lawfully proved. Thus a battle between the army of Ali and the supporters of Aisha

took place. Aisha later realized her error of judgment and never forgave herself for it.

The situation in Hijaz (the part of Arabia in which Mecca and Medina are located)

became so troubled that Ali moved his capital to Iraq. Muawiya now openly rebelled

against All and a fierce battle was fought between their armies. This battle was

Inconclusive, and Ali had to accept the de facto government of Muawiya in Syria

However, even though the era of All's caliphate was marred by civil strife, he

nevertheless introduced a number of reforms, particularly in the levying and collecting

of revenues.

It was the fortieth year of Hijra. A fanatical group called Kharijites, consisting of people
who had broken away from All due to his compromise with Muawiya, claimed that

neither All, the Caliph, nor Muawiya, the ruler of Syria, nor Amr bin al-Aas, the ruler

of Egypt, were worthy to rule. In fact, they went on to say that the true caliphate came

to an end with 'Umar and that Muslims should live without any ruler over them except

God. They vowed to kill all three rulers, and assassins were dispatched in three

directions.

The assassins who were contracted to kill Muawiya and Amr did not succeed and

were captured and executed, but Ibn-e-Muljim, the assassin who was commissioned

to kill Ali, accomplished his task. One morning when Ali was absorbed in prayer in a

mosque, Ibn-e-Muljim stabbed him with a poisoned sword. On the 20th of Ramadan,

40 A.H., Ali died.

With the death of Ali, the first and most notable phase in the history of Muslim people

came to an end. All through this period it had been the Book of God and the practices

of His Messenger - that is, the Qur'an and the Sunnah - which had guided the leaders

set the standards of their moral conduct and inspired their actions. It was the time

when the ruler and the ruled, the rich and the poor, the powerful and the weak, were

uniformly subject to the Divine Law. It was an epoch of freedom and equality, of

God-consciousness and humility, of social justice which recognized no privileges, and

of an impartial law which accepted no pressure groups or vested interests.

After Ali, Muawiya assumed the caliphate and thereafter the caliphate became

hereditary, passing from one king to another.

USEFUL LESSONS TO BE LEARNT FROM THE LIFE OF THE CALIPHS

The Prophet Muhammad said that Muslims must have one Caliph at a time. He said

that. "Whosoever comes to you while your affairs have been united under one man,

and intending to break your strength or dissolve your unity, kill him." Therefore,

Caliphs should have lifestyles that will unite Muslims. This is a key virtue that caliphs

must possess.

1. All caliphs are to understand the importance of authority entrusted to them

In authority, there are blessings to those who exercise it well and righteously
But those who fail to use power to the benefit of the people shall incur the torment

and unhappiness from Allah. Followers should also support their Caliphs.

2. Caliphs are to meet devoted religious scholars and seek their advice

This indicates that every individual must seek counsel and advice from those with

knowledge and skill. Knowledge is power! We must seek it at all times.

3. Caliphs are not to covet the wives of other men, be dishonest, unjust or be

self-centered. In short, they should be content. This is a virtue every individual

should have if he or she wants to live in peace with his or her neighbours.

4. Caliphs should not be dominated by pride. Pride leads to anger, greed,

ungratefulness and evil thoughts. Anger also leads to vengeance. When a caliph

becomes angry, he must ask Allah for forgiveness.

5. Caliphs should ensure that they serve the people with humility and faithfully

since they are the source of authority. They should not sanction anything that

they would not sanction for themselves. Faithful should support their leaders to

enable them administer their duties effectively.

6. Caliphs are to attend to all petitions and complaints so they do not

degenerate into conflicts. As individuals, we must also learn to solve our

differences peacefully.

7. Caliphs are to dress decently and eat more sumptuously to maintain good

health.

8. Caliphs should be content with the little material things or possessions.

Individuals should also be content with what they have. God will add to your

blessings when you appreciate what he has done for you no matter how little it

may seem.

9. Caliphs must ensure that faithful are content and pleased with their

leadership. They should not lead the people astray by the praises they get from

them. Self-contentment is a danger to humankind. Be careful when everybody

praise you for your achievements.

10. Caliphs should not give favour or satisfy some personalities when it is
against the word or teachings of Allah. One must obey God's commandments

rather than the teachings and principles of men.