The first four Sunni Caliphs and the Sunnah
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The Sunnah, the customs and practices of Muhammad, is a key source of Islamic law and morality. After Muhammad's death, controversies arose as to what constituted the Sunnah, and whether his successors were truly implementing the Sunnah. The first four caliphs, the rashidun, are particularly significant to modern intra-Islamic debates: for Sunnis, they are models of righteous rule, while for Shias, three of the four were usurpers. The question's importance is increased by the fact that bid'a, innovation in beliefs or worship contradicting Prophetic practice, is condemned in Islamic tradition; however, the possibility of praiseworthy innovation that does not contradict Prophetic practice is also recognized in Sunni tradition[1].
In some cases, a hadith (oral tradition) records dispute among the sahaba, Muhammad's companions, as to whether a given action was sunnah or not; in others, a hadith states simply that a given action was an innovation; in yet other cases, a given group's tradition unambiguously condemns the action as contrary to the sunna.
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[edit] Abu Bakr
[edit] Sunni view
- First of the Rightly Guided Caliphs, Khulafa al-Rashidun of the Prophet.
- Considered as the most respected personality after Prophets in Islam.
- The first of the male adults to embrace Islam on the call of Prophet Muhammad.
- Honored as Al-Siddiq ("the truthful") for his support of Prophet Muhammad.
- Supported and remained with the Prophet Muhammad in the worst of times, as during Hijrah.
- Prophet Muhammd had not designated anyone in his life to be the next leader of Muslims.
- Fought against those hypocrites who left Islam by refusing to pay the zakaah (the 3rd pillar of Islam) just because the Messenger of Allah was not there any longer. It is legitimate to fight these people (Qur'an 9:5, 9;29)
- Allah sent "His peace" on Abu Bakr (Qur'an 9:40).
[edit] Shia view
- Abrogated Ali's leadership.
- Abu Bakr payed the Prophets debts in spite of him telling that only Ali was allowed to do that Muslim.
- Killed Muslims only because they didn't recognise his leadership and didn't want to give him Taxes Bukhari.
[edit] Umar
[edit] Sunni view
- Second of the Rightly Guided Caliphs, Khulafa al-Rashidun of the Prophet.
- Embraced Islam by the virtue of an explicit suplication of Prophet Muhammad about him.
- His views in some matters were confirmed by subsequent revelations of Qur'an.
- During his Reign Islamic empire grew at an unprecedented rate.
- First Muslim ruler to establish a Public Treasury, a welfare system, organize a census, strike coins and many more reforms.
- Ali married his daughter to Umar during Umar's rule.
- Give governorship of Madina (the capital of the Islamic lands) to Ali, when he left for Palestine.
[edit] Shia view
- Changed the Fajr adhan Muwatta. Sunni answer
- Umar took the solitary prayer of the month of ramadhan and changed it to a congretional prayer, Tarawih. Muslim, Bukhari.
- Forbade Nikah Mut'ah.
(Shia believe that Ali, Abu Dharr, Ibn Abbas and other's have been used in fabricated hadith aimed at taking of some blame from Umar's actions.)
[edit] Uthman
[edit] Sunni view
- Third of the Rightly Guided Caliphs, Khulafa al-Rashidun of the Prophet.
- Named Dhu al-Naûrayn (Possessor of two lights) a reference to his marriage with two daughters of the Prophet.
- Ali bin Abi Talib once said: "Uthman was one of those, about who Qur'an says: 5.93
- Considered as generous as he was wealthy among the Sahaba.
- He has been credited for compiling Qur'an into its current form.
[edit] Shia view
- Annulled the two rak'ah journey prayer Sahih Muslim 4.1477, 4.1483 Sahih Bukhari 20.196, 20.188, 20.206.
- Exiled Abu Dharr Ghifari, causing his death.
- Ended the Exile of Marwan ibn al-Hakam.
[edit] Ali
[edit] Sunni view
- Fourth and Last of the Rightly Guided Caliphs khulafa al Rashidun of the Prophet.
- Nephew and Dearest Son in Law of Prophet.
- First among the non adults to embrace Islam on the call of Prophet.
- Has the privilege of being the bravest companion of Prophet.
- Tried to unify the Ummah for the last time during his caliphate
[edit] Shia view
- Restored all the above to the default: "I will not leave the tradition of the Prophet on the saying of somebody." Bukhari .
