Rashidun Caliphate

De **Rashidun Caliphate** (Arabic: الخلافة الرّاشدة, romanized: *al-Khilāfat ar-Rāshidah*) be de early Islamic polity wey de first four successive caliphs (lit. "successors") Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman den Ali lead, dem collectively know as de *[[Rashidun]]*, anaa "Rightly Guided" caliphs. Dese early caliphs lead de Muslim community from de death of de Islamic prophet Muhammad insyd 632 CE to de foundation of de Umayyad Caliphate insyd 661 CE.

De title *Rashidun* dey stem from de doctrine insyd Sunni Islam say de caliphs be "rightly guided". Endowed plus superior piety den wisdom, dema era be regarded insyd Sunni Islam as a "golden age", second only to de lifetime of Muhammad in sanctity den in providing moral den religious guidance. Sunni Muslims consider de "rightly guided" reign of de first four caliphs as a model to be followed den emulated from a religious point of view. De term *Rashidun* no be used by Shia Muslims, wey dey make up 10–15% of de global Muslim population, as dem dey consider Ali per to be a legitimate caliph den reject de first three caliphs as usurpers; while Ibadi Muslims dey regard de first two caliphs, Abu Bakr den Umar per, as rightly-guided caliphs.

De Caliphate ein first 25 years be characterized by rapid military expansion during wich e cam be de most powerful economic den military force insyd West Asia den Northeast Africa. By de 650s, in addition to de Arabian Peninsula, de caliphate subjugate de Levant den parts of Transcaucasia to de north; North Africa from Egypt to de edge of present-day Tunisia insyd de west; den from de Iranian Plateau to parts of Central den South Asia insyd de east. De Caliphate end after 5 years of internal strife. 

Dey follow Muhammad ein death insyd June 632, Muslim leaders debate who for succeed am. Unlike later caliphates wich be ruled by hereditary dynasties, dem either dey choose Rashidun caliphs by a small group of high-ranking companions of Muhammad insyd *shūrā* (lit. 'consultation') anaa dem be appointed by dema predecessor.Dem select Muhammad ein close companion den father-in-law Abu Bakr (r. 632–634), of de Banu Taym, de first caliph insyd Medina wey he preside over de conquest of de Arabian Peninsula. De Rashidun caliph per wey no die by assassination, he be succeeded as caliph by Umar (r. 634–644) from de Banu Adi wey he sanso be a close companion den father-in-law of Muhammad. During Umar ein reign, de caliphate expand at an unprecedented rate, dey conquer more dan two-thirds of de Byzantine Empire den nearly de entire Sasanian Empire.

Dey follow de assassination of Umar, Uthman (r. 644–656) of de Banu Umayya, wey be a senior companion den son-in-law of Muhammad, be elected caliph. Ein reign oversee de completion of de conquest of Persia insyd 651 wey he continue de military campaigns into Byzantine territories. Dem assassinate Uthman insyd June 656 wey Ali (r. 656–661) of de Banu Hashim succeed am, de cousin den son-in-law of Muhammad, wey move de caliphate ein capital to Kufa. Ali ein accession to de caliphate trigger de First Fitna, a civil war wey de refusal of Uthman ein kinsman from de Umayyad clan ignite den de long-time governor of de Levant, Mu'awiya ibn Abi Sufyan (r. 661–680), to recognize Ali ein suzerainty den pledge allegiance to am til dem bring Uthman ein killers to justice.

After de Battle of Siffin between Ali den Iraqi army den Mu'awiya's Syrian forces wich result in a stalemate den inconclusive arbitration, a faction of Ali ein erstwhile supporters dem know as de Kharijites, wey dem oppose to ein arbitration plus Mu'awiya, secede den rebel against both sides. Dey follow Ali ein assassination by a Kharijite dissident insyd 661, Mu'awiya invade Iraq plus ein Syrian army wey he compel Ali ein eldest son den successor Hasan, wey dem choose as caliph insyd Kufa, to abdicate de caliphate to am. Mu'awiya then enter Kufa wey he receive de pledge of allegiance from de Iraqis, plus ein suzerainty being acknowledged throughout de Caliphate, before dem crown am caliph at a ceremony insyd Jerusalem, thus founding de Umayyad Caliphate.
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