What Is a Caliphate?

By jamie

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5. The First Caliph

The first caliph was appointed shortly after the prophet Muhammed died. Islam needed a leader to help guide the Muslim community and Muslim elders wasted little time in appointing a successor. Mohammads father-in-law, Ab Bakr, was appointed to the position by the elders of the time.

When Mohammed was still alive, Bakr was his closest adviser and companion. Bakr was the father of Mohammeds third and favorite wife: ishah. During his reign, Bakr was credited for quelling political uprisings and also for beginning the Muslim conquests of Syria and Iraq. His daughter, ishah is considered by many to be the most important woman of Islam.

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