• When Muhammad  died in 632, the Muslim community elected a new leader called a caliph (“successor”)

  • The first 4 caliphs all knew Muhammad & promised to stay true to the Qur'an & Muhammad’s message (relative)

Which of the following is NOT one of the Five Pillars of Islam? 

a) Jihad (Struggle) 

b) Salah (Prayer) 

c) Shahada (Faith) 

d) Zakat (Charitable Giving)

The first 4 Caliphs were relatives of Muhammed

a) True            b) False

  • During the Rightly Guided Caliphates, the Islamic Empire expanded “Dar-al-Islam” (the areas where Islam is practiced) 

  • The caliphs used the Shari'ah (laws of Islam) to govern the empire  

The caliphate never forced non-Muslims to convert, especially “People of the Book” & allowed religious tolerance as long as taxes were paid to the empire

After Ali’s death (the fourth Rashidun caliph) in 661 led to a civil war for control of the empire: 

  • The clan that came to power started the Umayyad Empire

But the rise of the Umayyads led to a division in Islam   

What is the name of the law of Islam, which encompasses religious duties and the legal system? 

a) Talmud 

b) Sunnah 

c) Shari’ah 

d) Hadith

Which Islamic empire rose to power after the death of Ali, marking a significant shift in leadership? 

a) Umayyad Caliphate 

b) Abbasid Caliphate 

c) Fatimid Caliphate 

d) Rashidun Caliphate

Before the Umayyads, caliphs were elected members of Muhammad’s family

  • Shi’a Muslims rejected the Umayyads

  • The Shi’a believe that caliph must come directly from Muhammad’s bloodline

  • Sunni Muslims accepted the rule of the Umayyads

  • The Sunni believe caliphs should follow Muhammad’s example, but don’t have to be relatives

  • The Umayyads expanded the empire which brought wealth & new Islamic converts 

  • In 750, the Umayyad Empire was overthrown by the Abbasids

  • Under the Abbasids, the Islamic Empire grew to its greatest extent

__________accepted the rule of the Umayyad's (Shi’a, Sunni)

___________rejected the Umayyads (Shi’a, Sunni)

____________believe that caliph must come directly from Muhammad’s bloodline  (Shi’a, Sunni)

____________believe caliphs should follow Muhammad’s example, but don’t have to be relatives (Shi’a, Sunni)