Muhammad’s Accomplishments Until his death Muhammad spread Islam throughout the Arabian Peninsula. While doing so he created a political empire. He united Bedouin tribes and brought order, justice, and hope of heaven to the people of Arabia

Muhammad’s Death Muhammad died in 632 CE after eating a poisoned meal. A Jewish women was seeking revenge for conquering her town.

After Muhammad’s Death Muhammad had not named a successor or told his followers how to choose a leader As a result panic spread across the empire Some clans abandoned Islam Some refused to pay taxes Some individuals declared themselves prophets

Discussion: Why did the death of Muhammad cause wide-spread panic throughout the Islam Empire? How would you choose a new leader if you were a powerful Muslim at the time?

Rightly Guided Caliphs The next four caliphs (successor) - Abu Bakr – father in law/close friend 632-634 – died of illness - Umar - 641-644 - Uthman – friend – 644-656 - Ali – Son in law 656-661 all had known Muhammad and supported his mission to spread Islam As they ruled they held Muhammad’s example and Islam to guide their decisions They became known as the “rightly-guided” caliphs and their rule as a caliphate

Caliphs Expand the Muslim Empire Each of the “rightly-guided” caliphs quadrupled the size of the Muslim empire over the 29 years after Muhammad’s death through military force and treaties Ali expanded the Muslim Empire throughout most of the Arabian Peninsula Umar expanded the empire into Egypt, Syria, and parts of the Persian Empire The next two caliphs completed the conquest of the Persian empire The empire included all of South West Asia and part of North Africa

Expansion of the Muslim Empire

Reasons for Success Muslims were energized by their faith and were willing to fight to spread Islam Great soldiers Byzantine and Persian empires were weakened by years of fighting Muslim conquerors let the Christians and Jews keep their faith because they were “people of the book”

Civil War After Uthman’s (Rightliy guided Caliph) death a civil war broke out between different groups of Islam. One small group of Muslims believed that the caliph should be chosen by the Muslim Community The opposing side believed that the caliph should be chosen by hereditary Ali was appointed as the next caliph, but not accepted by all Muslims

Sunni’s After Ali’s murder the Umayyad’s took power over the Muslim empire and set up a hereditary dynasty. The leader would be chosen by birth right. The Sunnis believed in electing the Caliphs

Shi’ites Ali’s supporters said that Muhammad’s family should succeed him and that he had trained Ali as his successor They didn’t accept that Abu Bakr, Umar, and Uthman had been real caliphs Ali’s supporters were called the Shi’a Ali (part of Ali) or Shi’ites for short They believed that the caliphs should always be a relative of the prophet

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHmaB4s2Sng

Shi’ites vs. Sunni The Shi’ites never regained control of Islam There were many more Sunni Today about 10% of Muslims are Shi’ites They are a powerful minority. They have power in Iran, Pakistan, and Iraq They believe that one day the final successor to Ali called Mahdi, will come to set up the perfect Muslim state