Rashidun Empire facts for kids

Rashidun Caliphate الخلافة الراشدية
632–661
Flag
Capital	Medina, Kufa
Common languages	Arabic, Aramaic, Armenian, Berber languages, Georgian, Greek, Hebrew, Middle Persian
Religion	Islam
Amir al-Mu'minin¹
• 632–634	Abu Bakr
• 634–644	Umar
• 644–656	Uthman
• 656–661	Ali
History
• Muhammad's death	632
• Ali's death	661
Area
9,000,000 km2 (3,500,000 sq mi)
Population
•	40300000
Currency	Dinar, Dirham
Preceded by Succeeded by Medina Umayyad
¹ Amir al-Mu'minin (أمير المؤمنين), Caliph (خليف)

Rashidun Empire, Islamic Empire (Arabic: الامبراطورية الاسلامية) or Rashidun Caliphate (Arabic: الخلافة الراشدية) are the terms used to describe the empire that was controlled by the first four successors of Muhammad (the "Rightly Guided" caliphs). The empire was founded after Muhammad's death in 632 and lasted until 'Ali's death in 661. At its height, the power of the Rashidun Caliphs extended throughout North Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, and the Iranian highlands.

Origin

After Muhammad's death in 632, the Medinan Ansar were debating who -among them- should succeed prophet Muhammad in running the affairs of the Muslims. They chose Abu Bakr. So he became the first Khalifa Rasul Allah (Successor of the Messenger of God), and started a campaigns to for the Muslim Religion. At first he subdued the Arabian tribes which had left the Islamic community. As a Khalifa or Caliph he was not a monarch and never claimed such a title. His three successors also never claimed a title as monarch.

The first general of the empire was Khalid ibn Walid. During his campaign against the Persian Empire(Iraq 633 - 634) and Byzantine Empire (Syria 634 - 638) Khalid developed brilliant tactics. The Caliph Abu Bakr's way was to give his generals their mission, the geographical area in which that mission would be carried out, and the resources that, could be made available for that purpose. He would then leave it to his generals to accomplish their mission in whatever manner they chose, on the other hand Caliph Umar in later part of his Caliphate used to direct his generals as to where they would stay and when to move to the next target and who will be commanding the left and right wing of the army in the particular battle, this made the phase of conquest comparatively slower but provided well organized campaigns. Caliph Uthman used the same method as of Abu Bakr, he would give missions to his generals and then leave it to them how they accomplish it. Caliph Ali also followed the same method.

Religion

The state religion was Islam. The non-Muslim people were allowed to practice any religion they want to follow. But the Sharia Law was practiced in the state. Islam was the guiding force of the Caliphate. Any act of state was first to be approved by the Q'ran and the Traditions of the Prophet Muhammed. If there were no such guide lines available then wisdom or Hikmat was used, after which if the act would go against the established principals, norms,system etc. it was not carried on with.

Images for kids

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  ‘A’ishah leading the Battle of the Camel against the armies of the fourth Rashid Caliph of Islam, ‘Ali.

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  Combat between the forces of ‘Ali and Mu‘awiyah during the Battle of Siffin, from the Tarikhnama.

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  Map detailing the route of Khalid ibn Walid's conquest of Iraq.

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  Al-Masjid al-Mu‘azzam in Kufah, Mesopotamia, 2016.

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  Masjid Jami‘ Isfahan, Iran, 2015.

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  Map detailing the Rashidun Caliphate's invasion of the Levant.

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  Map detailing the route of Khalid ibn Walid's invasion of Syria.

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  Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa in Al-Haram Ash-Sharif, Old City of Jerusalem, Ash-Sham, 1982.

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  Byzantine temple in Idlib, Syria, the Levant.

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  Map detailing the route of the Muslim invasion of central Syria.

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  Map detailing the route of the Muslim invasion of northern Syria.

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  Map detailing the route of Khalid ibn al-Walid's invasion of Eastern Anatolia and Armenia.

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  The Kocatepe Cami in Ankara, Anatolia, 2009.

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  Map detailing the route of the Muslim invasion of Egypt.

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  Jami‘ Al-Azhar in Cairo, Egypt, 2013.

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  The Roman ruins of Sbeitla (Sufetula).

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  Pyramids of the Kushite rulers at Meroë, Sudan.

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  The Grand Masjid of Khartoum, Sudan, 2013.

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  The gymnasium, Salamis, Cyprus.

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  Cami Arablar in Nicosia, Cyprus, 2007.

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  The Masjid-turned-Cathedral of Córdoba, in what used to be Al-Andalus, 2003.

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  Al-Masjid an-Nabawi at Medinah, the empire's first capital, in the Hijaz, Arabian Peninsula, 2008.

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  Al-Masjid Al-Mu‘azzam at Kufah, the empire's second capital, in Iraq, 2016.

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  Mount Damavand, which is located in the range of Alborz, and is the tallest mountain of Iran.

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  Moving sand dunes in Tadrart Acacus, Libya, North Africa.

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  The coins were of Persian origin, and had an image of the last Persian emperor. Muslims added the sentence Bismillah to it.

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  A Muslim elite soldier equipped for infantry warfare. Wearing an Iron-bronze helmet, as armor he is wearing a hauberk, and lamellar leather armor. His sword is hung from a baldric, and he carried a leather shield.