A Brief Biographical Narrative of the Righteous Caliphs (RA)
Having accomplished perfectly the task of prophethood assigned to him, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), when he was approximately 63 years old, left this world on 12 Rabi’ul Awwal 11 AH. After the death of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), for almost 30 years, till the year 40 AH, Abu Bakr Siddique, Umar Farooq, Uthman Ghani and Ali Murtaza (RA) carried out their responsibilities as Caliphs in the best possible way.
In the Islamic history, the period between 11 AH and 40 AH is documented as or referred to as Khilaafate Raashidah (Righteous Caliphate) and these extraordinary companions of Prophet Muhammad (RA) are known as Khulafaae Rashideen (The Righteous Caliphs). With reference to these righteous caliphs only Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) has said, “Stick to my and my righteous caliphs’ Sunnah firmly” (Tirmidhi, Abu Daud).
In the light of several sayings and statements of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), “Caliphate will prevail for thirty years in my Ummah. After that there will be kingship” (Tirmidhi, Musnad Ahmad), “With reference to the beginning of your religion there is prophethood and mercy, then there will be caliphate and mercy, and then there will be kingship and oppression” (Suyuti - RHA). scholars of Hadeeth, thinkers, and historians say that the statement made by Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), “Stick to my and my righteous caliphs’ Sunnah firmly” is in relation to these four caliphs who were from the tribe of Quraish.
During the rule of Ameer Muaawiyah (RA) and after that this caliphate kept getting transformed into kingship and the caliph acquired the status of a king. The approximate duration of seven months before the agreement that took place between Hasan bin Ali (RA) and Ameer Muaawiyah (RA) is also included by historians within the rubric of righteous caliphate because only after including seven months’ caliphate of Hasan bin Ali (RA) thirty years of righteous caliphate get completed.
There are several historians who have included Umar bin Abdul Azeez (RHA) as the fifth righteous caliph because, in the course of discharging his duties as a caliph, he ardently followed the footsteps of all the four righteous caliphs.
Caliphate is the name given to performing guardianship in relation to tasks related to both religion and the worldly life and implementation of the injunctions of Shariah under the overall guidance of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). The plural of Rashidis Rashidoon or Rashideen which means those who follow the straight path, as in the righteous ones or guided ones.
Abu Bakr Siddique (RA) (Caliphate: From 11 AH to 13 AH)
Abu Bakr’s (RA) name was Abdullah bin Abi Quhaafah, his nickname was Abu Bakr (RA) and he was given the title Siddique because he testified the event of Me’raj. On the day Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was made prophet, after Khadeejah (RA) Abu Bakr Siddique (RA) was the first person to embrace Islam. Countless companions of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) embraced Islam because of his preaching. Out of those few of the prominent ones are, Uthmaan Ghani, Zubair bin Awwaam, Abdur Rahmaan bin Auf, Talha bin Ubaidullah and Saad bin Abi Waqqaas (RA). Right from the day he embraced Islam till the day he breathed his last he spent his entire life spreading the word of Allah and protecting Islam.
The wealth Allah had bestowed upon him, was spent by him generously. For instance, he freed countless slaves (bought them and then set them free) and one of those slaves is Prophet Muhammd’s (PBUH) Muaddhin (the one who calls for prayer) Bilal (RA). After the death of Khadeejah (RA), Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) married Abu Bakr Siddique’s (RA) daughter Ayesha (RA). Abu Bakr Siddique (RA) migrated to Madinah with Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). In the verse of the Holy Qur’an, “and he was the second of the two” (Surah Taubah: 40) it is Abu Bakr Siddique (RA) who is referred to. Before the death of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), it was Abu Bakr Siddique (RA) only who led the congregational prayers several times and the companions of the Prophet (RA) offered prayer behind him. On the day Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) died he led the Morning Prayer with Abu Bakr Siddique (RA). After the death of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), as per the advice of companions of Prophet (PBUH), Abu Bakr Siddque (RA) was made the Caliph. Few of the achievements during the duration of his caliphate are:
The army under the commandment of Usama bin Zaid (RA) was dispatched to Syria. The army defeated the armies of the king of Persia and returned without being harmed.
By means of waging a war against apostates, those who denied giving obligatory charity, and those who made claims of prophethood, Abu Bakr Siddique (RA) removed all the sources of evil that had emerged right after the death of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
in the course of wiping out the aforementioned problems countless Huffaz of the Holy Qur’an (those who memorise the whole of Quran by heart) got martyred. Consequently, Abu Bakr Siddique (RA) got the whole of the Holy Qur’an collected at one place (in the written form).
Abu Bakr Siddique (RA) died in 13 A.H. He was buried in Ayesha’s (RA) room right next to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). He was almost 63 years old and the duration of his caliphate was two years three months and ten days.
Umar Farooq (RA) (Caliphate: From 13 AH to 23 AH)
Umar Farooq’s (RA) name was Umar bin Khattaab, his nick name was Abul Hafs and his title was Farooq (the one who clears truth of untruth). Umar Farooq (RA) embraced Islam in the sixth year of prophethood when he was 33 years old. Before him 39 men had embraced Islam. When Umar Farooq (RA) embraced Islam the Muslims expressed Allah’s greatness loudly.
Umar Farooq’s (RA) entry into the folds of Islam was a source of tremendous assurance for the erstwhile Muslim community. In the battles he remained right next to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Although the Holy Quran was collected in one place during the caliphate of Abu Bakr Siddique (RA), the advice to do the same came from none other save Umar Farooq (RA) and on his insistence only Abu Bakr Siddique (RA) agreed to undertake the task. When he migrated to Madinah Munawwarah, he did not do it secretly. Instead, he announced his plans of migration in public and then set out for Madinah Munawwarah.
On his death bed Abu Bakr (RA), after consulting the companions of Prophet Muhammad (RA), made Umar Farooq (RA) as the caliph of the Muslims. Later, he was addressed with the title Ameerul Mumineen (Leader of the Believers).
During the Caliphate of Umar Farooq (RA) Iraq, Persia, Syria and Egypt were conquered, Islamic calendar was started, the cities of Kufah and Basrah were inhabited, the practice of offering Taraaweeh prayer in congregation in the holy month of Ramadan got initiated, and Baitul Maal (treasury) was established in order to keep a record of the amount of money received through obligatory charity (Zakaat).
On the morning of 23 Dhul Hijjah in 23 AH, Umar Farooq (RA) was leading the morning Salah’s congregation. A Zoroastrian slave named Firoze wounded him with a knife. After four days of this incident Umar Farooq (RA) died on the first day of Muharramul Haraam in 24 AH. He was buried next to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and Abu Bakr Siddique (RA). The duration of Umar Farooq’s (RA) Caliphate was 10 years, six months and four days.
Uthman Ghani (RA) (Caliphate from 24 AH to 35 AH)
Uthman Ghani’s (RA) name was Uthman bin Affaan, his nickname was Abu Abdullah and Abu Amr. Two daughters of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), Ruqaiyya (RA) and Umme Kulthoom (RA), were married to him one after the other which is why he came to be known as Zun Noorain. Twice he migrated to Ethiopia and then from Ethiopia he migrated to Madinah Munawwarah.
Uthman Ghani (RA) spent loads of wealth in the name of Allah. For the preparation of Battle of Tabook he gave a huge chunk of wealth and articles. Other than the Battle of Badr, Uthman Ghani (RA) accompanied Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in all the battles. After Umar’s (RA) martyrdom Uthman Ghani (RA) became the Caliph. In the year 35 AH, at the age of 82 Uthman Ghani (RA) was martyred while he was reciting the Holy Qur’an. He is buried inJannatul Baqi. The duration of Uthman Ghani’s (RA) Caliphate was 11 years, 11 months and 13 days. During his Caliphate Tunisia was conquered. As a result of series of victories, the Islamic empire expanded greatly.
Uthman Ghani (RA) feared that because of different geographies had embraced Islam the correct reading of the Holy Qur’an might not be adhered to and multiple readings might come into being. Therefore, he got the Holy Qur’an compiled in one single volume (Mushafe Uthmani) and he sent out copies of that Mushaf in all the Islamic provinces. This is how the entire Muslim nation agreed on one reading of the Holy Qur’an (Mushafe Uthmani).
Ali Murtaza (RA) (Caliphate from 35 AH to 40 AH)
Ali Murtaza’s (RA) name was Ali bin Abi Talib, his nickname was Abu Hasan and Abu Turab. Ali Murtaza (RA) was Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) first cousin (paternal uncle’s son) and son-in-law. He was married to Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) youngest daughter Fatima (RA). Even in his childhood Ali Murtaza (RA) never practiced idol worship. He embraced Islam even before he was 13 years old. Among the children, Ali Murtaza (RA) was the first one to embrace Islam. On the night of migration, making his life at stake he slept in Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) bed. Ali Murtaza (RA) is one of those few companions of Prophet Muhammad (RA) who used to pen down the revealed verses. On the occasion of Battle of Tabook Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) left him in Madinah Munawwarah as his (PBUH) Caliph. Other than this battle Ali Murtaza (RA) accompanied Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in all the battles.
Stories of Ali Murtaza’s (RA) bravery and courage are quite famous. His stature as a knowledgeable person remained uncontested. In fact at one point Umar Farooq (RA) said, “Ali Murtaza (RA) is a better Qazi than all of us (his capability to judge is better than ours).” After Uthman Ghani (RA) was martyred, on the basis of the advice of the companions of Prophet Muhammad (RA), Ali Murtaza (RA) was made the caliph. Because of several reasons he shifted the capital from Madinah Munawwarah to Kufah, a city in Iraq. Ali Murtaza (RA) created the department of police. In 36 AH, the Battle of Jamal took place and in 37 AH, the Battle of Siffeen was fought.
On the morning of 17 Ramadanul Mubarak in 40 AH, Ali Murtaza (RA) was martyred by a person named Ibne Muljim and was buried in Kufah. The age of Ali Murtaza (RA) at the time of his death was about 63 years and the duration of his Caliphate was four years and seven months.
Hasan bin Ali (RA):
Hasan’s (RA) name was Hasan bin Ali. His mother was Fatima (RA) who was Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) daughter. He was born in the month of Ramadan in the third year of Hijrah. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) loved his grandsons Hassan and Hussain (RA) a lot. After Ali Murtaza (RA) was martyred, on the insistence of Muslims of Iraq, Hasan bin Ali (RA) took the pledge of allegiance of Caliphate. On the other hand, in Syria people pledged on the hand of Ameer Muaawiyya (RA). There was a strong likelihood of another major fight between Muslims on these two sides but Hasan bin Ali (RA) was an extremely pious and Allah-fearing person.
On the basis of his farsightedness he saved Muslims from a severe bloodshed by signing an agreement with Ameer Muaawiyyah (RA) and withdrawing his claim from the Caliphate. In 50 AH, at the age of 47, Hasan bin Ali (RA) died in Madinah Munawwarah and was buried in Jannatul Baqi.
Righteous Caliphate (Khilaafate Raashida): From 11 AH to 41 AH (632-662)
Banu Umayyah Caliphate (Khilaafate Banu Umayyah): From 41 AH to 132 AH (662-750)
Banu Abbasiyah Caliphate (Khilaafate Banu Abbasiyah): From 132 AH to 656 AH (750-1258)
Uthmaniyah Caliphate (Khilaafate Uthmaniyah):From 698 AH to 1342 AH (1299-1924)
As it can be seen, after a span of as many as 1350 years, in the year 1924 Muslims lost their caliphate or rule.
Source From : Mohammad Najeeb Qasmi (www.najeebqasmi.com)
