.....about the caliphs? I would like to add that info to my arsenal.
Lissie you can read some on that subject at
this link1- Abu Bakr (632-634):
After Mohammed’s death, the leadership of the Umma (Muslim Community) was taken up by Abu Bakr, who took the title Caliph. This title, which means "successor," indicates that he was the successor to the Prophet of God. This means that he claimed all Mohammed’s political and administrative power, and that he became the religious leader. Arabia is unified under Islam by 634.
2- Umar (634-644):
Umar, the second Caliph, lead the Moslem troops to conquer all of Arabia, and then north into Palestine, Syria, Iraq and Iran, as well as westward into Egypt and North Africa.
He was murdered by a Muslim slave in 644.
3- Uthman (644-656):
The third Caliph, was elected over the strong contesting by Mohammed’s cousin and son-in-law Ali. Uthman finalizes the Quran Although a pious and humble man, he was a weak ruler and too much influenced by his relatives of the Umayyad clan of the Koreish tribe (who had been "late" converts to Islam). Finally, his supporters turned on him and he was killed by a mob of Muslims in 656.
4- Ali (656-661):
Ali became the last Rightly Guided Caliph in 656. Of the four Rightly Guided Caliphs, Ali was the only one who was a close blood relative of Mohammed. From Mohammed’s death, his followers thought that the succession should not be decided by election, but by birth. They thought that the ability to communicate with Allah was passed on in this way.
These followers were known as the "Shia" ("party") of Ali, formed the basis of what later became Shiite Islam. When Ali was elected Caliph, they believed that their views would finally dominate, but after Ali’s assassination, the leadership of the umma moved to the Umayyads.
Ali was assassinated in 661 by Muawiyah, the founder of the Umayyad Dynasty, who took his place as caliph. Muslim loyalties split, but most remained Sunnis, loyal to the Umayyad Dynasty (about 80% of Muslims). Ali's descendant led the splinter group, the Shi'ites (about 10% of Muslims). Islam Religion
well briefly that is where Caliphs of Islam begins with..
Topic: YeeHaw!