GB Writes

The Khulafā’/Islāmic-Rulers of This-Period had Several-Things in common:

a. They were all Companions of Muhammad (May Allah be pleased with them).

b. They were all Members of Qabīlah-Quraysh/the Quraysh-Tribe amongst the Arabs.

c. They were all related directly to Muhammad either via Common/Tribal-Ancestry, Familial-Relation, Marriage, etc.

Author’s Note:

All of what is mentioned in this post is exclusively based upon the classic work, “al-Khulafa’-ur-Rashidun”, from the Larger-Work “Tarikh-ul-Khulafa’”, by the great Muslim scholar & historian, Jalal-ad-Din as-Suyuti. The era of time, in which great Muslim leaders rose to preside over the geo-political/military affairs of the Muslims, after the death of Muhammad (Peace be upon him) are more relevant because of the era that they came from (the Rashidi-Khilafah era), as opposed to whom they were as individuals. And, their administrations are so intertwined with one another’s, that they have actually fed off of one another, in very important ways, religiously, bureaucratically, socially, politically, and militarily. However, since we don’t have the time to go into that much detail, I’ll just simply highlight what I personally deem as the most significant aspects of their tenures, as heads of the Islamic-State, relative to their years of service.

Let’s start with the term “al-Khulafa’-ur-Rashidun”

The word “Khulafa’” is a plural of “Khalifah”, meaning a successor, inheritor, caretaker, custodian, etc., from the verb, “Khalafa”, meaning to succeed, inherit. And, the word Rashidun is from Rashid, meaning one who guides, from the verb “Rashada”, meaning to guide, direct. The actual concept of Khilafah, a caretaker, custodian, etc., actually begins with the Jinn, before the creation of the Human being. Initially, the Jinn were given the honor of the post of the Khilafah. However, they had begun to oppress & kill one another on Earth. So, Allah had decided to take the Khilafah from them, and banished them from normal life on Earth & subjected them to dwell in desolate forests, deserts, and any all other places in which it would be very difficult for Humans to live normally. Upon that, then, Allah created Adam & Eve (peace be upon them) & placed upon them, as well as their descendants, us, the post of Khilafah.(Noble Qur’an: Chpt.2, V.30-36; Qasas-ul-Anbiya’[Stories of the Prophets], ibn-Kathir)

The Rashidi-Period

By far, the most distinct, most relevant & most important of all the Khilafah periods, because the Muslim rulers of this era set governmental precedents, which other Khilafah eras had adopted until the end of the Khilafah, after World War I. These individuals in this Khilafah period are also the most unique of any generation of Khulafa’, by virtue of the fact that all of the Muslim rulers of the Rashidi period were Companions of Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him), and, either knew one another, or knew of one another, personally.

Banū-Hāshim vs. Banū-Umayyah

a. During the Rāshidī-Era there were 2-Factions which held most of the Bureaucratic/Authoritative-Positions within al-Khilāfah: Banū-Hāshim/Children/Family-Of-`Amr/Hāshim & Banū-Umayyah/Children/Family-Of-Umayyah. These 2 Familial-Clans were Bitter-Rivals before & during the Prophetic-Lifetime of Muhammad. The Rivalry between Banī-Hāshim & Banī-Umayyah originally began via the Birth of Muhammad, when `Abdallah & Shaybah/`Abd-al-Muttalib had died. Their Deaths created a Power-Vacuum within Banī-Hāshim which `Imrān/Abū-Tālib had taken helm of.

b. However, unlike their Brother & Father: they never wielded the Same-Prestige as them. As a Result of this: Banū-Umayyah had been able to acquire the Position of Custodians of al-Ka`bah. The Ka`bah (via Makkah) is the Most-Sacred Space on Earth via Human-History. It’s the 1st-Space/Place on Earth where the Human-Worship of Allah was established, as well as the 1st-Masjid/Mosque via Human-History. The Ka`bah was originally an Alter constructed by Adam: the Patriarch-Of-Humanity (Peace be upon them). After the Destruction of the People-Of-Noah (via the Great-Flood) the Original-Alter via the Valley of Bakkah (Part of what’s known as the Hijāz-Region of the Arabian-Peninsula): Abraham&Ishmael (Peace be upon them both) had Father-Son built what we know today as the Ka`bah which was a Muqaddimah/Prelude to al-Masjid-il-Harām/the Sacred-Mosque.

c. As per the Revelation of The Qur’ān: naturally the Khātim/Seal of an-Nubuwwah (Prophecy/Prophethood) meant that Banū-Umayyah felt Some-Type/Kind of Way, being that (prior to the Conquest-Of-Makkah) Banū-Umayyah profitted rather handsomely from Tribal-Prestige as being the Gatekeepers of Makkah as well as acquiring Mass-Revenue via al-Hajj/Pilgrimage to Makkah by the Arab-Tribes, acquiring Tribal/Regional-Tributes from Fellow Pagan-Arabs for housing their Tribal/Regional-Gods with the Ka`bah, etc. ash-Shirk/Association (via Arab-Paganism) had been making the Quraysh-Tribe Astronomically-Affluent&Powerful via the Arab-World for 6-Centuries prior to the Revelation of The Qur’ān. So, it makes Sense how/why Banū-Umayyah would reignite/intensify Intertribal-Tensions between Banī-Umayyah & Banī-Hāshim.

d. at-Tawhīd/Islāmic-Monotheism was their Opposition in terms of maintaining the Shirk-Bag. Furthermore, as a Result of the Muslim vs. Pagan-Arab Wars via the Lifetime of Muhammad: there were Members of Both-Families (those whom were Muslims & Non-Muslims) had fallen at the Hands of each other via Military-Conflicts between the Muslims & the Pagan-Arabs. Sadly, these Familial-Rivalries never completely died-out & by the End of the Rāshidī-Era their Rivalry became that much more intense.

Now, let’s start off with the Khulafa’ from this period

The Khulafā’ whom were Companions from Banī-Hāshim:

`Alī ibn-`Imrān & al-Hasan ibn-`Alī (Allah be pleased with them both)

The Khulafā’ whom were Companions from Banī-Umayyah:

`Uthmān ibn-`Affān, Mu`āwiyah ibn-Sakhr/Mu`āwiyah I & Marwān ibn-il-Hakam ibn Abil-`Ās/Marwān I (May Allah be pleased with them)…we’ll talk more about Mu`āwiyah later.

1. `Abdullah ibn-`Uthman ibn-`Amir/Abu-Bakr (as-Siddiq/as-Sabbaq):

-Khalifah for 2-Years.

-Initiated Hurub-ar-Riddah (the Wars of Apostacy), a direct result of False-Prophets leading people astray, various communities & Arab tribes refusing to pay az-Zakah/Taxation & refusing to pledge Bay`ah/Allegiance to the Islamic-State, after the death of Muhammad (Peace be upon him).

-Established the basic bureaucratic elements of the Khilafah, which piggy-backed largely off of the Islamic-State which Muhammad (Peace be upon him) had established in al-Madinah, then, in the Hijaz & the rest of the Arabian-Peninsula, after the “Conquest of Makkah”.

-Established the Islamic-State as a significant force in the Mediterranean region.

2. `Umar ibn-ul-Khattab (al-Faruq)/`Umar I:

-Khalifah for 10-Years.

-Initiated the first major wave of geo-political/military expansion, beyond the Arab/Mediterranean-World.

-Established mass bureaucratic adjustments/improvements within the Khilafah, both internally & externally.

-Established mass adjustments/improvements, regarding relations between the Islamic-State & its citizenry.

3. `Uthman ibn-`Affan (Dhun-Nurayn):

-Khalifah for 12-Years.

-Maintained the geo-political/military stability of the Islamic-State.

-Initiated & completed mass educational projects, which included the completion of what would forever be known as the `Uthmani-Script Mushaf.

-Attempted dealing with the Khawarij/Religio-Rebels, in a diplomatic manner, which costed him his life.

4. `Ali ibn-`Imran/Abi-Talib:

-Khalifah for 6-Years.

-Intensified dealing with the Khawarij & switching from the passive/diplomatic approach of `Uthman, to a more active/forceful approach.

-Initiated putting a stop to/crushing the first waves of geo-political/military rebellions, against the Khilafah.

5. al-Hasan ibn-`Ali:

-Took the reigns of the Islamic-State, from `Ali, after his assassination.

-Abdicated his authority of the Khilafah to Mu`awiyah, during the Same-Year of `Ali’s death (known as the “Year-Of-Unity”).

Back to Mu`awiyah

Mu`awiyah ibn-Sakhr (Abi-Sufyan)/Mu`awiyah I:

-Khalifah for 20-Years.

-Refused to resign from his post, as governor of Syria, after the assassination of `Uthman, which became a direct leading cause of the rebellion he led against `Ali.

-Accepted the abdication of al-Hasan, thus becaming a Khalifah himself, during a year after the death of `Ali, known as the “Year of Unity”.

-Became the Last-Khalifah of the Rashidi period & the 1st-Khalifah of the Umayyi period.

Established the precedent of having a relative (preferably a son) of a former Khalifah, to be a succeeding Khalifah.

-Established the first Navy for the Islamic-State, which made the Maritime power of the Khilafah unparalleled in the Mediterranean-World.

After the Assassination of `Alī & the Abdication of al-Hasan: Mu`āwiyah in turn became the Founder/Progenitor of the Umayyī-Period. Subsequent-Members of Banī-Umayyah ruled the Islāmic-World, for nearly 2-Centuries (at it’s Peak), from Mordern-Day Portugal to Modern-Day Pakistan:

Mu`āwiyah I left behind a Religio-Political Legacy which sadly has been marred in Controversy from the Time they decided to war against `Alī till the Present-Day. And, because Mu`āwiyah had achieved Khilāfah the Manner which they did, it has emboldened a Particular-Hizb/Sect amongst Muslims to attempt legitimizing Muslim-Governments whom don’t rule via ash-Sharī`ah/Islāmic-Law. The Way this is done is by extracting a Mistranslation/Misinterpretation of a Statement from Mu`āwiyah…their Statement is as follows:

“أنا أوَّل الملوك”

“I’m the 1st of the Rulers.”

(at-Tabarī, as-Suyūtī, ibn-Kathīr)

Let’s examine the Word/Term “Mālik”

According to the Arabic-Language, both “Mālik” & “Malik” both mean “Ruler”. Yet, at the Same-Time, they could apply to anyone whom possesses al-Wilāyah/Authority anywhere over anyone/anything & presides over a Mulk (Dominion/Domain). Also, equally, “Mālik” could mean either “Ruler” or “Monarch”.

(Lisān-ul-`Arab: Lexicon of the Arabic-Language, ibn-Manzhūr)

“Mālik/Ruler” vs. “Mālik/Monarch”

Now, for those whom’re attempting to paint Mu`āwiyah as a “Monarch/King”:

a. Mu`āwiyah never pontificated/claimed to be a Mālik as in a “Monarch/King”.

b. Mu`āwiyah never ruled the Islāmic-World as a “Mālik/King”, rather they actually ruled it as a Khalīfah.

c. Even via the Aforementioned-Hadīth/Narration…nowhere does it state “Mamlakah”. Rather, it states “Mulk (Dominion/Domain)”. Mulk & Mamlakah/Kingdom are most definitely Mutually-Exclusive, just like there’s a Difference between a Kingdom & an Empire.

d. All of the Rulers of the Umayyī-Period ruled the Islāmic-World as Khulafā’.

e. Mu`āwiyah stating that they’re the “1st of the Rulers” was exclusively due to the Fact that their Khilāfah was highly-influenced via the Bureaucratic-Structure of the Roman-Empire/Byzantium. Mu`āwiyah’s Political-Career started-off as being an Envoy of the Khilāfah to Byzantium during the Times of `Abdillah ibn-`Uthmān ibn-`Āmir/Abī-Bakr & `Umar ibn-il-Khattāb/`Umar I (May Allah be pleased with them both). Mu`āwiyah in no Way meant that they were a Monarch/King.

This Mistranslated/Misinterpreted-Statement of Mu`āwiyah is also backed via Mistranslations/Misinterpretations of Several-Ahādīth/Narrations of Muhammad…this being one of them:

Honorable-Mention

Marwan ibn-ul-Hakam ibn Abil-Ās/Marwan I:

An Umayyad-Period Khalifah…the Last-Companion to have ever been a Khalifah. Prior to being a Khalifah, they were once most known for killing a Fellow-Companion by the Name of Talhah ibn-`Ubaydillah via the Battle of the Camel, during the Civil-War of `Ali ibn-`Imran vs. `Ā’ishah bint-`Abdillah & Mu`awiyah ibn Sakhr, known titularly as the “1st-Fitnah/Conflict”. Marwan basically picked-up directly where Mu`awiyah left-off. They reestablished much-needed Religio-Political Stability after Geo-Political Conflicts (during the Reigns of Yazid ibn-Mu`awiyah/Yazid I) which caused the Death of al-Husayn ibn-`Ali. Also, they reset a Religio-Political Trend initiated via Mu`awiyah, which the Khalifah was appointed within Family-Ties (essentially mimicking a Mamlakah/Monarchy). And, Marwan predicated the most influential/powerful Stretch within the Entirety of the History of al-Khilafah/Islamic-Governance. One of their Sons, six of their Grandsons, three of their Great-Grandsons, became Khulafa’. Marwan & their Descendants ruled the Islāmic-World at its Height:

1. `Abdul-Malik ibn-Marwan

2. al-Walīd ibn`Abd-il-Malik/Walid I

3. Sulayman ibn `Abd-il-Malik

4. `Umar ibn `Abd-il-`Aziz ibn-Marwan/`Umar II

5. Yazid ibn `Abd-il-Malik/Yazid II

6. Hisham ibn `Abd-il-Malik

7. Yazid ibn-ul-Walid ibn `Abd-il-Malik ibn-Marwan/Yazid III

8. Ibrahim ibn-ul-Walid ibn `Abd-il-Malik ibn-Marwan

9. al-Walid ibn-Yazid ibn `Abd-il-Malik ibn-Marwan/Walid II

10. Marwan ibn-Muhammad ibn-Marwan/Marwan II

For More-Info. about Muslim-Politics of the Khilafah-Eras and Post-Khilafah State of the Muslim-World:

Islāmophobia via the Ugliness of Muslim-Politics

Gareth Bryant