The Development of the Caliphate

Paper Summary:

The paper discusses the institution of the caliphate introduced following the death of the prophet Mohammed. The author examines a number of issues regarding the institution of the caliphate: How did it develop? Who were the first four office-holders? What were they called? When did they hold power and what were the important features of each of their rules? The writer supports his answers to his questions with examples from relevant literature.

From the Paper:

"The difficulties in finding one's spiritual answers were cured up by the establishment of the Qur'an. The Qur'an was looked at as definitive and future answers were able to be found. The larger hole that was left was to find answers in succession involving political and military issues, as Mohammad was an individual leader. He was able to be so independent because he had the word of God on his side.
Mohammad was not looked at as divine or immortal by his followers and his death someday was imminent, but there was not a plan in place for society when the day came in 632. The decision to come up with a successor was urgent. There were callings for the Prophet Mohammad's son, Ali. There was disagreement between old followers and new followers as to who would be in control of the military and political stances, but in the end, Mohammad's father in law, Abu Bakr was named khalifa "successor" of Mohammad. Resulting in new political formations and stances called "Caliphate.""

Sample of Sources Used:

• Frederick Mathewson Denny, An Introduction to Islam (Upper Saddle River: Pearson/Prentice Hall, 2006)
• John L. Esposito, Islam, The Strait Path (Oxford University Press, 2005)

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