The Four Khalifah (Caliphs) Of Islam
A Khalifah was meant to be the successor of the Holy Prophet ﷺ, whose job was to provide Muslims with the most desired leadership according to the commandments of Allah SWT and His Messenger ﷺ. He was not supposed to rule the believers, but only to act as a guiding principle in matters concerning implementation of Islamic rules and regulations leading towards a just and peaceful society.
Now let us discuss the first four righteous Caliphs in Islamic History one by one:
i) Hazrat Abu Bakr (R.A)-As-Siddiq
(June 8, 632-August 23, 634 A.D)
Born in 573 A.D, being almost 2 years younger than the Apostle ﷺ of God, Hazrat Abu Bakr (R.A) belonged to a noble family of Bunu Tamim of Qureyshi tribe in Makkah. His original name was Abdullah ibn Abu Quhafa. He started doing trade as a profession and accompanied Rasulullah ﷺ on some business missions. He (R.A) was the closest companion of Hazrat Muhammad ﷺ and shared great personality characteristics of truthfulness, honesty and integrity with Him.
“Oh Abu Bakr! You will be my companion on the pond of Heaven as you were also my companion in the cave.” (Tirmidhi)
Hazrat Abu Bakr (R.A) was the first one to have accepted Islam and gained the title of “As-Siddiq” (the most truthful and firm believer of faith) by the Holy Prophet ﷺ after he (R.A) believed in His (PBUH) Visit to Sacred Mosque in Jerusalem and Ascension to Heavens in One Night. He (R.A) spent his entire life in the true service of Islam with his wealth by spending it on releasing the enslaved New Muslim Converts from their oppressive owners including one of the most beloved companions of Rasulullah ﷺ and Muizzin (Caller of Prayer to Mosque) Hazrat Bilal (R.A).
“Abu-Bakr has favored me much with his property and company. If I were to take a Khalil (an intimate friend) from mankind I would certainly have taken Abu Bakr.” (Bukhari)
Siddiq e Akbar (R.A) also had the honor of marrying his daughter Hazrat A`isha (R.A) to the Holy Prophet ﷺ who became His (PBUH) most favorite Wife after Hazrat Khatija (R.A). He also fought in almost all the Ghazwaats along with the Messenger ﷺ of Allah. As first Khalifah of Islam, his major contributions were to assemble the scattering Muslims to common Islamic faith and compilation of the Holy Quran in hard copy for the first time. The time of his Caliphate was very short, i.e. 27 months only. Hazrat Abu Bakr (R.A) died on Monday, 23rd August, 634 A.D and is buried next to Rasulullah ﷺ.
ii) Hazrat Umar (R.A)-Al-Farooq
(August 23, 634-November 7, 644 A.D)
Born in 580 A.D, being almost 10 years younger than the Holy Prophet ﷺ, Hazrat Umar ibn Khattab (R.A) belonged to the Adi family of Qureyshi tribe of Makkah. He (R.A) used to graze cattle in his early age and was also among a few educated people of Makkah at that time. In his youth, HE (R.A) was physically strong and was considered to be as a proven wrestler. He (R.A) accepted Islam when he was actually going to kill (God forbid) Hazrat Muhammad ﷺ but after listening to the recitation of Quranic Verses in house of his sister, he acknowledged the Ayats as true and embraced Islam at the hands of Rasulullah ﷺ. Afterwards, he (R.A) rendered great services to the Religion of Peace. Due to his extraordinary ability of fairness, the Apostle ﷺ of God gave him the title of Al-Farooq (the one who distinguishes between right and wrong).
“Indeed, Allah has placed truth upon Umar`s tongue and heart.” (Tirmidhi)
He (R.A) led a very simple life. During his Khilafat, the Islamic faith reached the far off corners of the world including Roman and Persian regions. Being the Second Caliph of Islam, the major contributions of Farooq e Azam (R.A) include implementation of peace and justice in Muslim society, formation of Baitul Maal for maintenance and provision of finances, division of larger regions into smaller provinces, making of present Hijri (Islamic) Calendar etc. Because of great personal characteristics, the Messenger ﷺ of God regarded him very high:
“If there were to be a prophet after me, indeed he would be Umar, son of Khattab.” (Tirmidhi)
Such was the remarkable status of Hazrat Umar (R.A) near Hazrat Muhammad ﷺ that He (PBUH) even compared him (R.A) to the Prophets. Farooq e Azam (R.A) was martyred by a rebel while he (R.A) was praying congregational Salah in the mosque. He died three days after that unfortunate happening, i.e. on 7th November, 644 A.D. Upon his wish, Hazrat A`isha (R.A) gave the permission to bury Hazrat Umar (R.A) alongside Rasulullah ﷺ.
iii) Hazrat Usman (R.A)-Al-Ghani
(November 11, 644-July 17, 656 A.D)
Born in 573 A.D, being almost 2 years younger than the Messenger ﷺ of Allah SWT, Hazrat Usman ibn Affan (R.A) belonged to the Umayyah family of Qureyshi tribe of Makkah. He was among a few knowledgeable people in the entire Makkah at that time. He readily accepted Islam when his close friend Hazrat Abu Bakr (R.A) told him about it. He (R.A) had the great honor of marrying the two righteous Daughters of the Holy Prophet ﷺ, which earned him the title of Dhun Nurain (Bearer of two Lights). He (R.A) was a wealthy man and he spent most of it in the true service of Islam like buying a well from Jew in Madina and making it free for use for all Muslims and acquiring a portion of land in order to enlarge the capacity of Masjid e Nabawi. Due to his generosity, he (R.A) was commonly known as Al-Ghani. At the time of last Ghazwa, i.e. battle of Tabooq, Hazrat Usman (R.A) strengthened one third of Muslim Army (around 10,000 men) through horses, camels and gold coins. Due to his tremendous amount of services to Islam, Hazrat Muhammad ﷺ said:
“From this day on, nothing will harm ‘Uthman regardless of what he does.” (Tirmidhi)
The Apostle ﷺ of God also regarded Ibn Affan (R.A) among Ashra Mubashara (10 Heavenly companions of Rasulullah ﷺ). He also had the reputation of being Kaatib e Wahi (Copier of Quranic Revelations). He (R.A) became third Khalifa of Islam, and during his time, he (R.A) contributed by capturing the far off regions of the world like North Africa, formation of first Muslim Naval Force and beating the Roman realm and the Byzantine Empire of 500 ships. HE (R.A) also gathered Muslims on single Tajweed of Quran by making its common recital process. Due to his great personality, the Messenger ﷺ of Allah regarded him very high.
Every Prophet will have a special companion of Him in the Heaven, and my companion there will be Usman. (Ibn-e-Majah)
Unfortunately, during his Caliphate, the rebellions became very strong because of his merciful nature, and it eventually lead to his (R.A) martyrdom at their hands on 17th of July, 656 A.D. He (R.A) died at the old age of 84 and is buried in Jannatul Baqi (graveyard in Madina).
iv) Hazrat Ali (R.A)-Asadullah
(656-661 A.D)
Born in 600 A.D, being the First Cousin of the Holy Prophet ﷺ and almost 30 years younger than Him (PBUH), Hazrat Ali ibn Abi Talib (R.A) belonged to a highly respected family of Bani Hashim of Qureyshi tribe in Makkah. He was the first one among young ones and one the earliest of all the acceptors of Islam. He (R.A) also risked his life for the Messenger ﷺ of Allah SWT by lying on His bed at night when non believers had already planned to kill (God forbid) Rasulullah ﷺ, successfully returned the entrusted possessions to their original owners the very next day and migrated to Madina. Hazrat Ali (R.A) had the great honor of having married the youngest and the most beloved Daughter of Hazrat Muhammad ﷺ, i.e. Hazrat Fatima (R.A) and being the Father of Hazrat Imam Hussain (R.A), who made greatest sacrifice later for purpose of upholding Islam. He (R.A) fought every battle with huge courage right from the very first clash with infidels, i.e. Ghazwa Badr. At the occasion of Ghazwa e Khaibar, considered to be the toughest of all battles that the Holy Prophet ﷺ fought, Hazrat Ali (R.A) attained the title of Asadullah (Lion of Allah) from Rasulullah ﷺ due to his great valor. He lived a very simple life with gratefulness to the Gracious God. He (R.A) had tremendous amount of respect and admiration near the Messenger ﷺ of Allah.
No doubt, Ali is from Me and I am from Ali, and Ali will be the Saint of every Momin after Me, and will keep a love from him (Momin), no one will be hatred from Him. (Tirmidhi)
He (R.A) had great command on Arabic language especially in the teachings of Quran. Being the fourth Khalifah of Islam, Hazrat Ali ul Murtaza (R.A) tried his best to unite Muslims and make peace, but the resistance from hypocrites had become very strong. He fought them and destroyed most of the Kharijites (rebellion movement), defeating Umayyads in battle of Nahrawan and introduction of reforms in taxes. When he was 63 years of age, Hazrat Ali (R.A) was martyred with a poisoned sword by one of the rebels while he was going to perform Fajar Salah in mosque on 20th of Ramadan, 40 A.H (661 A.D).
In short, the first four Khalifas (Caliphs) in the Islamic history, i.e. the honorable Abu Bakr Siddiq (R.A), Umar Farooq (R.A), Usman Ghani (R.A) and Ali Asadullah (R.A) were the righteous and closest companions of the Holy Prophet ﷺ. There should be no discrimination among them as they all had the strongest faiths in Allah and His Messenger ﷺ and rendered greatest services to elevate name of the Religion of Peace. May Allah SWT give us all the wish and desire to follow the footsteps of these great personalities! Aameen!
