Politics and Religion in the First Arab Emirates

When are the ‘Rashidun’? What does this mean

632-661. Rightly guided Caliphs

Rashidun Caliphs based in…

Hijaz, Medina

First ‘Fitna’ (Civil War)

656-661

Umayyad Dynasty based in Syria

661-750

Contemporary Caliph title was what? What does it mean?

amir al-mu’minin. Commander of the Faithful

What was Muhammad’s cousin called?

Abi b. Abi Talib

Shi’is believed who was illegitimate?

Rashidun Caliphs

Sunnis believed legitimate rulers were…

Qualified leaders chosen from the community

Basis of Shi’i vs Sunni legitimacy ideas

Familial proximity vs concensus

Abu Bakr (632-634) does what?

Defeats apostates and leads to dominance of Islam in Arabia

Under who are virtually all Sasanian territories absorbed into Arab rule?

Umar (634-644)

Who and when is the First Umayyad Caliph? What is notable?

Mu’awiya I, 661-680. Longest reigning Caliph until this point.

Under Mu’awiya I where is the centre of the Islamic Empire?

Syria

When is the Second Fitna?

c.680-692

Mu’awiya is succeeded by Yazid, who is then opposed by…

Zubayr

When do the Umayyads lose major power and land?

680s

Several different Umayyads occuy the throne after losing land and power until who becomes Caliph? What does he does?

Abd al-Malik in 685. Asserts control and captures Mecca in 692.

What language becomes the more exclusive language of bureaucracy?

Arabic

Abd al-Malik said to have done what two things?

Build the Dome of the Rock and codify the Qur’an.

Third Fitna, or the Abbasid revolution, brings who to power?

Prophet’s uncle Abbas

Third Fitna led by…

Abu Muslims from Khurasan