The Four Caliphates(May God(Allah) be pleased with them)

How many years did the Caliphate last after Prophet
Muhammad (peace be upon him)?

A— Narrated Abu Dawud and others on the authority of Sa’id Ibn Jamhan
after Safinah as saying: Allah’s Messenger (Peace be upon him) says:
“The Caliphate after Prophethood will last for thirty years, then Allah
grants kingship to whom He wills.” (At-Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud, Ahmed and
Al-Hakim)
This implies the period lasted by Abu Bakr, ‘Umar, ‘Uthman and `Ali, may
Allah be pleased with them all. Abu Bakr stayed for two years and three
months, ‘Umar for ten years and six months, ‘Uthman for twelve years,
`Ali for four years and nine months, and in completion of the thirty years
comes the Bai’ah (Pledge of allegiance) given for Al-Hasan Ibn ‘Ali, that is
six months.
The first Muslim king was Mu’awiyah (May Allah be pleased with him) who
was the best among them all. Then, followed a severe and unjust
kingship, up till the time when `Umar Ibn ‘Abdel’Aziz came. Indeed, the
Sunni Muslim scholars regarded him as the fifth Caliph as he followed
their (the previous four ones) very steps.
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What is the general proof of their (the four Caliphs’) right
to the Caliphate?

A— The proofs are numerous: counting its period with thirty years which
is the period of their leadership, preferring them to all other companions
of the Prophet (Peace be upon him), and what has been narrated by
Samura Ibn Jundub saying: that a man said: “O Allah’s Messenger! I saw
as if a bucket descended from the sky. Then came Abu Bakr and took it
and he drank very few thereof Then, came ‘Umar who took it and drank
till he got satisfied. Then, came `Uthman who took it and drank till he got
satisfied. Then, came `Ali who took it and it was drawn from him and
something thereof was spelt over him.” (Abu Dawud and Ahmed)
In addition, the Ummah has agreed on their Caliphate and none contests
against this but who went astray and adopted Innovations.
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What is the detailed proof that the first three Caliphs have
a right to the Caliphate?

A— Abu Bakr (May Allah be pleased with him) narrated the Prophet
(Peace be upon him) as saying: “‘Who did see a vision from amongst
you?’ A man said: ‘I have seen as if a balance descended from the sky.
You (the Prophet) weighed with Abu Bakr and you overweighed Abu Bakr,
and Abu Bakr and `Umar got weighed, and Abu Bakr overweighed ‘Umar,
and’ Umar and’ Uthman got weighed, and ‘Umar overweighed `Uthman,
then the balance was raised up (to the sky again). ‘” (Abu Dawud and Al-
Hakim)
Allah’s Messenger (Peace be upon him) says: “Tonight, a pious man was
made to see a vision that Abu Bakr was entrusted by Allah’s Messenger
(Peace be upon him), ‘Umar was entrusted by Abu Bakr, and ‘Uthman
was entrusted by ‘Umar.” (Abu Dawud, Al-Hakim and Ahmed)
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What is the proof of the Caliphate of Abu Bakr and `Umar?

A— Narrated Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him): I heard
Allah’s Messenger (Peace be upon him) saying, “While I was sleeping, I
saw myself standing at a well, on it there was a bucket. I drew water
from the well as much as Allah wished. Then Ibn Abu Quhafa (i.e. Abu
Bakr) took the bucket from me and brought out one or two buckets (of
water) and there was weakness in his drawing the water. May Allah
forgive his weakness for him. Then the bucket turned into a very big one
and Ibn Al-Khattab took it over and I had never seen such a mighty
person amongst the people as him in performing such hard work, till the
people drank to their satisfaction and watered their camels that knelt
down there.” (Bukhari and Muslim)
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What is the proof that Abu Bakr (May Allah be pleased with
him) has the right to the Caliphate and being a successor to
Allah’s Messenger?

A— Narrated Jubair Ibn Mut’im (May Allah be pleased with him): A
woman came to the Prophet (Peace be upon him), he ordered her to
come back to him later. She said: “What if I came and did not find you?”
as if she wanted to say, “If I found you dead?” The Prophet said: “If you
should not find me, go to Abu Bakr.” (Bukhari and Muslim)

‘A’ishah (May Allah be pleased with her) narrated: Allah’s Messenger
(Peace be upon him) said to me: “Call unto me your father and brother, I
want to get something written, for I fear someone to wish for it (the
Caliphate), or someone else says: I deserve it (more than anyone else),
but Allah and the Believers wish no one but Abu Bakr.” (Sahih Bukhari)

Abu Musa (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: When the Messenger
of Allah (Peace be upon him) became ill and his illness became serious he
ordered Abu Bakr to lead the people in prayer… “. “So, Abu Bakr led the
prayer (during this period of illness) in the life of the Messenger of Allah
(Peace be upon him).”(Bukhari and Muslim)
Besides, all companions of the Prophet (Peace be upon him) from among
the Muhajirun and the Ansar paid homage to Abu Bakr and none
contested thereto.
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What is the proof that `Umar (May Allah be pleased with
him) has the right to the Caliphate and being a successor to Abu
Bakr?

A— Allah’s Messenger (Peace be upon him) says: “I do not know when
will I be dead, so follow the two who come after me.” He pointed to Abu
Bakr and ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with them). (AtTirmidhi, Ibn
Majah, Ahmed and AI-Hakim)
Narrated Hudhaifah (May Allah be pleased with him): “… ‘Umar said: ‘I
did not mean that but I asked about that affliction which will spread like
the waves of the sea.’ I (Hudhaifah) said: ‘O leader of the faithful
believers! You need not be afraid of it as there is a closed door between
you and it.’ ‘Umar asked, ‘Will the door be broken or opened?’I replied, ‘It will be broken.’ ‘Umar said: ‘Then it will never be closed
again.’ (Sahih Bukhari)

The whole Ummah unanimously agreed on his right to be the successor of
Abu Bakr (May Allah be pleased with them).
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What is the proof that `Uthman (May Allah be pleased with
him) has the right to the Caliphate and being a successor to Abu
Bakr and `Umar?

A— Narrated `A’ishah (May Allah be pleased with her) Allah’s Messenger
(Peace be upon him) saying: “O ‘Uthman! /fone day Allah gave you this
issue (the Caliphate) and the hypocrites wanted you to take off the shirt
(Caliphate) Allah bestowed on you, do not take it off” He said it thrice.
(Ibn Majah, At- Tirmidhi, Ibn Hibban and AI-Hakim)
The People of Shura (Consultation) agreed on him, then all the Prophet’s
companions. The first to pay him homage was `Ali Ibn Abu Talib after
‘Abdur-Rahman Ibn ‘Auf, then the rest of the people.
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What is the proof that ‘Ali (May Allah be pleased with him)
has the right to the Caliphate and being a successor to Abu Bakr,
`Umar and `Uthman?

A— The Prophet (Peace be upon him) passed by ‘Ammar and removed
the dust off his head and said: “May Allah be Merciful to ‘Ammar. He will
be killed by a rebellious aggressive group. ‘Ammar will invite them to
(obey) Allah and they will invite him to the (Hell) fire.” (Bukhari and
Muslim) Thus, ‘Ammar was on the side of ‘ Ali (May Allah be pleased with
him) and he was killed by the people of Sham (Syria) while he was
inviting them to obey Allah, the Prophetic Sunnah, Jama’ah (Community),
and the true Imam: `Ali (May Allah be pleased with him). This Hadith is
Authentic. Abu Sa’id Al-Khudri (May Allah be pleased with him) reported that Allah’s
Messenger (Peace be upon him) says: “A group would secede itself (from
the Ummah) when there would be dissension among the Muslims. Out of
the two groups who would be nearer the truth would kill them.” (Sahih
Muslim) The Khawarij seceded itself from the Ummah and they were
killed by ‘Ali on the Day of Nahrawan. Thus, he is the nearer to the truth
as agreed upon by the People of Sunni Islam.

{200 FAQ on Muslim belief by Shiekh Hafiz Ibn Ahmed al Hakami, PDF link on www.islambasics.com}

–>And as Shaikul Islam Ibn Taymiyyah said “who ever denies or has doubt on any of the four Caliphates is more lost than an ass(donkey).”