Muslims and their Empire

Chapter 10

Islam Expands

Chapter 10 Section 2

• A companion of Muhammad, named Abu Bakr, took over and became the new caliph.

Caliph means a supreme political and religious leader in a Muslim government.

• As soon as Muhammad died, many Arabs began to abandon Islam. Abu Bakr defeated them in a series of battles known as the Ridda Wars.

• The election of Abu Bakr would lead Islam to its first schism. Two groups arguing this matter would emerge. The Sunni and the Shia.

From:http://islam.about.com/cs/divisions/f/shia_sunni.htm

• The division between Shia and Sunni dates back to the death of the Prophet Muhammad, and the question of who was to take over the leadership of the Muslim nation. 

• Sunni Muslims agree with the position taken by many of the Prophet's companions, that the new leader (Caliph) should be elected from among those capable of the job. This is what was done, and the Prophet Muhammad's close friend and advisor, Abu Bakr, became the first Caliph of the Islamic nation.

From:http://islam.about.com/cs/divisions/f/shia_sunni.htm

• The word "Sunni" in Arabic comes from a word meaning "one who follows the traditions of the Prophet."

From:http://islam.about.com/cs/divisions/f/shia_sunni.htm

• The Shi’a split with the Sunni because they felt that the line of caliphs should have been through Muhammad’s bloodline beginning with his son in law Ali ibn Abi Talib.

• He became the 4th caliph.

• Throughout history, Shia Muslims have not recognized the authority of elected Muslim leaders, choosing instead to follow a line of Imams which they believe have been appointed by the Prophet Muhammad or God Himself. 

• The word "Shia" in Arabic means a group or supportive party of people. The commonly-known term is shortened from the historical "Shia-t-Ali," or "the Party of Ali."

• Ali ibn Abi Talib, the fourth caliph, fought a series of battles with the governor of Syria, Muawiyah.

• They decided to split the Islamic Empire.

• Ali was assassinated however, and Muawiyah took over, beginning the reign of the Umayyads.

• A family known as the Umayyads took control of the Islamic empire after four caliphs. They set up a hereditary system of succession.

• Umayyads also made another important change. The Muslim capital was moved to Damascus, a distant city in the recently conquered province of Syria. This location, away from Mecca, made controlling conquered territories easier.

• By 750 CE, the rest of North Africa, southern Spain, and central Asia fell under Muslim rule.

• In the year 750 C.E., The Umayyads were overthrown by the Abassids. The Abassids ruthlessly murdered the remaining members of the Umayyad family. Some of the Umayyads who escaped and moved their empire to Spain, while the Abassids moved the capital to Baghdad.