Head Imam
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After the death of Muhammed influential Muslim leaders were left to choose a successor of the Islamic faith, to lead the Ummah (Islamic Community).
They chose a close companion of Muhammed, Abu Bakr as the first khalifah (caliph) over the ummah (Islamic community). During his reign from 632-634 CE, Abu Bakr consolidated his rule over the Arabian peninsula. He also sent armies to conquer Iraq and Syria.
There were 4 'rightly guided' caliphs (Rashidun). Apart from Abu Bakr, they include
- Umar ibn al-Khattab who was nominated for the position by Abu Bakr himself. He reigned for a decade and was crucial in spreading Islam into Mesopotamia (Iraq), Egypt, Syria, Palestine, Persia (Iran), Azerbaijan, Armenia and parts of Turkey. He was the first Muslim leader to assume the title of 'Supreme commander of the faithful'.
- Uthman ibn Affan, a wealthy merchant who was among the first to convert to Islam. He was married to Muhammed's daughter Ruyqayya and after her death, he married her sister Umm Kulthum.
- Ali ibn Abi Talib who was the cousin and son-in law of Muhammed and was also the first to convert to Islam after Khadijah. He was raised by Muhammed himself, and married his daughter Fatimah Zahra. She had two sons, Hasan ibn Ali and Husayn ibn Ali. Shi'ah's believe that because of Ali's piety and steadfastness, that he was the one to be the 'head' of the church as the first Head Imam. The first schism of Islam is dependent on this belief by Shi'ah's and has not been resolved to this day.
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