Early Leadership of Islam After Muhammad’s death, his followers had to choose a new leader. Although, unlike Muhammad, the proceeding leaders were political, not religious leaders. Despite struggles over leadership and a civil war, the first few caliphs (Arabic word for successor, highest leader of Islam) who followed Muhammad greatly expanded Muslim lands. Along with the spread of the Arabic language, the acceptance of the religion of Islam helped unify this vast empire.

Caliph Abu Bakr 632-634 CE The first caliph (the highest leader of Islam) was Abu Bakr, one of Muhammad’s first converts. Abu Bakr led military force against Arab tribes who did not follow Muhammad’s teachings. Through many battles he unified the Arabian Peninsula for the first time as a Muslim state. The new Arab army quickly conquered the eastern Persian and western Byzantine empires. He made treaties with non-Muslims who lived in the captured territories. Non-Muslims often Christians and Jews, were tolerated, but had to follow rules. For example, Christians and Jews were not able to build houses of worship in Muslim cities. In this period there was a split in the Islamic community over the

murder of Hussein, Muhammad’s grandson, who was expected to lead the empire after Abu Bakr. This incident initiated disagreements resulting in today’s Sunni and Shia branches of Islam, since Shia Muslims believe only blood relatives of Muhammad should rule as caliph. Today, Shia Muslims comprise twenty percent of the Muslim population.

Caliph Umar 634-644 CE Caliph Umar further expanded the Muslim empire through military efforts. Under his leadership the empire gained resources and goods while spreading the religion of Islam. Muslim lands included Iraq, Persia, the eastern Mediterranean, and North Africa. He set up governments and tax systems in new provinces. He also continued religious tolerance allowing Jews and Christians to worship. However, they had to pay tribute or religious taxes. Caliph Umar died in 644 C.E. Caliph Uthman (the first Umayyad leader) 644-656 CE He was the first of many members of the Umayyad clan to lead. Uthman created an official edition of the Qur’an which further unified the empire under one holy book. However, when he awarded high posts to his relatives, and provinces started to feel treated unfairly rebellion spread. He was killed in 656 C.E.

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Common Core Literacy

Expansion- first three Caliphs, 632-661

Expansion under Muhammad, 622-632

Expansion -Umayyad Dynasty, 661-750

Present day political boundaries

The Age of Caliphs

Caliph Ali (Muhammad’s cousin and son-in-law) 656-661 CE Ali ibn Abi Talib reluctantly agreed to become the fourth caliph. Some Umayyad clan members challenged his rule creating civil war. When Ali tried to stop the rebellion through negotiation, some Muslims disagreed. Ali was murdered in 661 C.E. A new caliph from the Umayyad claimed leadership.

The Umayyad’s Expand and Create Unity After Ali’s death Umayyad leader Mu’awiyah

became caliph. He effectively put down the revolt of Ali supporters. Although the Sunni (believe any qualified devout Muslim can lead) Muslims accepted Ali, Shia who believe only blood relatives of Muhammad can lead, rejected him. Shia translates to “party” of Ali. The Umayyad Dynasty ruled for the next 750 years under various caliphs.

During this period the Umayyad’s moved the Muslim capitol from Medina to Damascus (in modern Syria) and continued to expand the empire into central Asia and in northern India. They gained control of trade in the eastern Mediterranean and part of North Africa, moving into Spain (Muslims continued to rule parts of Spain for another 700 years.) In 732 CE, Muslims were stopped from further spreading into Europe at the Battle of Tours. After twenty-one years of Umayyad expansions, Frankish King Martel is credited for organizing troops and defeating a massive Muslim army. Muslim accomplishments included building capitals in both the west and east of the vast Muslim lands. The cities of Cordoba, of modern Spain, and Baghdad, of modern Iraq, became centers for culture and learning. Especially in Cordoba, Muslim, Jewish and Christian scholars shared ideas and made much advancement in art, science and technology.

Like Muslim rulers after Muhammad, the Umayyad’s did not force people to worship Islam, however many converted willingly. Islam united the diverse empire with a common religion, and the Arabic language enabled the vast empire to

communicate ideas. Furthermore, the use of a universal Arab coin allowed goods to be traded and bought more efficiently.

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The Mezquita mosque-cathedral in Cordoba, Spain

was originally a church, but when Muslims

conquered Spain in 711 CE, they split it in half for

Muslims and Christians to both use as place of

worship. This lasted until 784 CE.

Arab Coin 650

Tours, France

Baghdad, Iraq

The declaration of

Shiism as the state

religion in Persia.

Tours, Cordoba and Baghdad

Cordoba , Spain

The Spread of Islam Name___________________________ Period_____

1

2

2 3

3

1. According the map key on the Spread of Islam Reading, what do the 1,2 and 3 represent? Write them answers below:

1._________________________________________________2._______________________________________________

3._________________________________________________

2. What is the main idea of the Spread of Islam reading?

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3. Write a direct excerpt from the reading that best summarizes the main idea.

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4. Write three excerpts from text that support the following claim :

The empire of Islam expanded through military conquest.

1.______________________________

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2._____________________________

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3.______________________________

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5. Other than military conquests, what is another similarity between the early leadership ideas of Islam?______________________

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6. What is the difference between Shia and Sunni Muslims? _________________________________________________________

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7. Think about it!: At the Battle of Tours, Muslim expansion was halted. Given that the majority of the population in EARLY

America was of European decent, how could this have affected America if this battle was lost by Europeans?

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Common Core Writing