1. 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

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

3. 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

4. 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?

5. Rightly Guided Caliphs
The next four caliphs (successor)
- Abu Bakr – father in law/close friend – died of illness
- Umar
- Uthman – friend –
- Ali – Son in law
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

6. 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

7. Expansion of the Muslim Empire

8. 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”

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

13. 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