The four caliphs: the cards as text

History. Draft written with AI help: awaiting scholar review.

1. Card 1

   The Prophet is gone. Who leads the Muslims now?

2. Card 2

   Abu Bakr holds it together (632 to 634)

   The Prophet had died. The Muslims needed a leader. At a meeting in Madinah they chose his oldest friend, Abu Bakr. He held Arabia together through the Riddah wars, and had the Qur'an gathered into one written collection.

3. Card 3

   Lesson: Under Abu Bakr, the Qur'an was gathered into one copy within two years.

4. Card 4

   'Umar builds a state (634 to 644)

   Under 'Umar ibn al-Khattab, the Muslims expanded hugely: Syria, Iraq, Egypt and Jerusalem. He built the state: salaries, courts, the Islamic calendar dated from the Hijrah. He was killed while leading prayer.

5. Card 5

   Lesson: 'Umar built the institutions of a state: a treasury, salaries and judges.

6. Card 6

   'Uthman and the one Qur'an (644 to 656)

   'Uthman sent standard copies of the Qur'an to the main cities: the text Muslims read today. But complaints about his governors, many from his own clan, grew into a revolt. Rebels killed him in his home.

7. Card 7

   Lesson: The Qur'an Muslims read today goes back to 'Uthman's copies.

8. Card 8

   'Ali and the first civil war (656 to 661)

   'Ali, the Prophet's cousin and son-in-law, became caliph amid the crisis after 'Uthman's murder. He fought the Battle of the Camel, then Siffin against Mu'awiyah, governor of Syria. He was killed in 661. This first civil war shaped the Sunni and Shi'a split.

9. Card 9

   Lesson: The first civil war, the Fitnah, still shapes Muslims today.

10. Card 10

    Reflect: Which caliph sent standard copies of the Qur'an to the main cities?

    Answer: 'Uthman. 'Uthman. Abu Bakr had first gathered it into one collection.

11. Card 11

    The end of The four caliphs.

Read the full sheet or swipe the cards.