Workshop Islam

238 Chapter 10 SETTING THE STAGE When Muhammad died in 632, the community faced a crisis. Muslims, inspired by the message of Allah, believed they had a duty to carry the word of God to the world. However, they lacked a clear way to choose a new leader.... More

238 Chapter 10 SETTING THE STAGE When Muhammad died in 632, the community faced a crisis. Muslims, inspired by the message of Allah, believed they had a duty to carry the word of God to the world. However, they lacked a clear way to choose a new leader. Eventually, the issue of leadership would divide the Muslim world. Muhammad’s Successors Spread Islam Muhammad had not named a successor or instructed his followers how to choose one. Relying on ancient tribal custom, the Muslim community elected as their leader Abu-Bakr, a loyal friend of Muhammad and a man respected for his devotion to Islam. In 632, Abu-Bakr became the first caliph (KAY•lihf), a title that means “successor” or “deputy. ” “Rightly Guided” Caliphs Abu-Bakr and the next three elected caliphs—Umar, Uthman, and Ali—all had known Muhammad and supported his mission. They used the Qur’an and Muhammad’s actions as guides to leadership. For this, they are known as the “rightly guided” caliphs. Their rule was called a c Less