Sa'd ibn Ubadah
After uniting the Arabian tribes into a single Muslim religious polity in the last years of his life, Muhammad's death in 632 signalled disagreement over who would succeed him as leader of the Muslim communityand a sudden panic overcame the many tribes within the Arabian Peninsula. The question of succession as to who would receive the caliphate arose. Though it was well known through many traditions related by Muhammad and in the Quran as to who was to succeed Muhammad ("Ali"), a small number of prominent companions took to the "Saqifah Banu Sa'ida" or Saqifah, a roofed building used by the tribe of Sa'ida, in the city of Medina, to decide amongst themselves as to who was going to lead the Muslims. Such companions as Abu Bakr, Umar ibn al-Khattab, and Sa'd ibn Ubadah, who was killed later, were present. The small secret band of companions exchanged arguments until the majority gave their bay'at "(allegiance)" to Abu Bakr.