Author Description

There have been far too few books on the First Four Rightly Guided Caliphs: Abu Bakr (Caliph 632-634), Omar (Umar) ibn al Khattab (634-644), 'Uthman (644-656), and Ali (656-661). The few works that exist in languages other than Arabic by non Muslims are simply dire (one or two exceptions aside). This work is an attempt at rectifying the picture.This work first shows the scant output in respect to this subject, and how whatever exists is of poor quality in general. Then, it addresses some essential but little understood issues of the Early Caliphate. Following this, it looks at the lives and deeds of the first caliphs, and how their contribution was essential in setting the foundations for the power and civilisation that Islam was to become, and to lead for centuries.