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Aim:
How did Muhammad
Successors Spread Islam?
The First Caliph
Muhammad did not make a
successor or instructed his
followers how to choose one

Muslim community elects a
leader

632 CE- Abu-Bakr becomes first
Caliph


Means Successor or deputy
Invoke Jihad
 After Muhammad death, tribes
abandon Islam

Abu-Bakr invokes Jihad
Means striving and struggle against
evil
 Word in Quran- Armed struggle
against unbelievers
 Justified expansion of Islam

Next two Caliphs after Abu-Bakr
continue to expand Muslim territory

Treatment of Conquered People
Qur’an restricts forced
conversions

Muslims allowed people to
follow their own religions

Christian and Jews get special
consideration

Internal Conflict

Problem:


Muhammad didn’t appoint successor
Result:
Muslim community has difficulty
maintaining unified rule

Muslim Community splits
(Sunni/Shia)

Sunni (83%)- First 4 Caliphs rightly
guided

Shia (26%)- Ali ( Muhammad’s Son
in law) should have succeeded him
