Information: - A caliphate ("khilfa") is an area containing an Islamic steward known as a caliph ("" )a person considered a religious successor to the Islamic prophet, Muhammad (Muhammad ibn Abdullh), and a leader of the entire Muslim community. The Rashidun caliphs, who directly succeeded Muhammad as leaders of the Muslim community, were chosen through "shura, "a process of community consultation that some consider to be an early form of Islamic democracy. During the history of Islam after the Rashidun period, many Muslim states, almost all of them hereditary monarchies, have claimed to be caliphates. - Democracy ("" literally "rule of the commoners"), in modern usage, is a system of government in which the citizens exercise power directly or elect representatives from among themselves to form a governing body, such as a parliament. Democracy is sometimes referred to as "rule of the majority". Democracy was originally conceived in Classical Greece, where political representatives were chosen by a jury from amongst the male citizens: rich and poor. - The Rashidun" Caliphs (Rightly Guided Caliphs; '), often simply called, collectively, ""'the "Rashidun", is a term used in Sunni Islam to refer to the 30-year reign of the first four caliphs (successors) following the death of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, namely: Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman ibn Affan, and Ali of the Rashidun Caliphate, the first caliphate. The concept of "Rightly Guided Caliphs" originated with the later Abbasid Caliphate based in Baghdad. It is a reference to the Sunni imperative "Hold firmly to my example ("sunnah") and that of the Rightly Guided Caliphs" (Ibn Majah, Abu Dawood). - Ali ibn Abi Talib ( / li , li / ; Arabic : , translit . Al bin Ab lib , Arabic pronunciation : ( ali bn abi talb ) ; 13 Rajab , 21 BH -- 21 Ramadan , 40 AH ; 15 September 601 -- 29 January 661 ) was the cousin and son - in - law of the Islamic prophet Muhammad , ruling over the Islamic caliphate from 656 to 661 . Born to Abu Talib and Fatima bint Asad , Ali was the only person born in the sacred sanctuary of the Kaaba in Mecca , the holiest place in Islam , as many sources , especially Shia ones say . Ali was the first young male who accepted Islam . After migrating to Medina , he married Muhammad 's daughter Fatimah . Ali took part in the early caravan raids from Mecca and later in almost all the battles fought by the nascent Muslim community . He was appointed caliph by Muhammad 's Companions ( Sahaba ) in 656 , after caliph Uthman ibn Affan was assassinated . Ali 's reign saw civil unrest and in 661 , he was attacked and assassinated by a Kharijite while praying in the Great Mosque of Kufa , dying two days later . Ali is important to various Sunni and Shia denominations politically , legislatively and spiritually . The numerous biographical sources about Ali are often biased due to sectarianism , but they agree that he was a pious Muslim , devoted to the cause of Islam and a just ruler in accordance with the Qur'an and the Sunnah . While Sunnis consider Ali the fourth and final of the Rashidun ( rightly guided ) caliphs , Shias regard Ali as the first Imam after Muhammad due to their interpretation of the events at Ghadir Khumm . Shias also believe that Ali and the other Shia Imams ( all of whom are members of the Ahl al - Bayt , Muhammad 's household ) are the rightful successors to Muhammad . This disagreement split the Ummah ( Muslim community ) into the Sunni and Shi'i branches . What is the relationship between 'ali' and 'rashidun caliphate'?
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country of citizenship