What were the main issues confronting the rightly guided caliphs during the period 632-661 CE? B) To what extent were the caliphs successful

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A)   What were the main issues confronting the rightly guided caliphs during the period 632-661 CE?                                                                        

B)   To what extent were the caliphs successful dealing with these issues and securing the future of Islam?

 A)  The death of Muhammad in 632 created confusion in the nascent Muslim community, for Muhammad and had left no details as to who should succeed him. Indications were made for Abu bakr to be the first caliph as the prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said

‘If I were to take a friend other than my lord, I would take Abu bakr as a friend’ (hadith).

After a heated discussion by the senior members of the community, Abu bakr was selected as the first caliph. However, the confusion did not end with Abu bakr’s accession. Tribes all around Arabia broke out in open revolt, while they continued to acknowledge Muhammad as a prophet, they refuse to send taxes to medina now that Muhammad was dead. Known as ‘Wars of Apostasy’ in Muslim chronicles, the rebellions were not subdued until the end of 633. At the same time a number of impostors claimed that the prophethood had passed on to them after Muhammad. Despite these internal problems, Abu bakr pursued Muhammad’s expansionist policy and sent Muslim forces into Syria and Iraq, initiating their eventual conquest. The prophet had sent an army out before he died which had not gone far. After the death of the prophet the question raised whether the army should carry on or called for the defence of medina. Abu bakr should determination and said  

“I shall send usama’s army on its way as ordered by the prophet, even if I am left alone

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Khalid was chosen by Abu bakr to lead the army as he had a reputation and led his troops from one victory to another. Abu bakr also collected and completed all the verses of the Qur’an

On his deathbed in 634 AC, Abu bakr appointed Umar b al-khattab as his successor.

'Umar was born into a respected Quraish family. When he grew up, Umar was proficient in this branch of knowledge as well as in swordsmanship, wrestling and the art of speaking. The most notable feature of umar’s caliphate was the vast expansion of Islam. Apart from Arabia, ...

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