Principles from the Lives of the Four Rightly-Guided Caliphs

88 Pages·2010·2.5 MB·English

{
ISTANBUL / 1431 - 2010
Principles
from the Lives of the
Four Rightly-Guided
Caliphs
Osman Nuri Topbaş
ERKAM PUBLISHING
© Erkam Publications 2010 / 1431 H
Erkam Publications
İkitelli Organize Sanayi Bölgesi
Turgut Özal Caddesi No: 117 Kat: 2/C
Başakşehir / Istanbul, Turkey
Tel: [phone] pbx
Fax: [phone]
E-mail:
CONTENTS
Te Rightly-Guided Caliphs .........................................................................................7
Abu Bakr t ....................................................................................................................................11
`Umar t .............................................................................................................................................25
`Uthman t .....................................................................................................................................41
Ali t ........................................................................................................................................................57
On Society and Rulers ......................................................................................................71
5
THE RIGHTLY-GUIDED CALIPHS
Te most exceptional era in human history in terms of virtue,
justice, altruism, and ethics was the era of the golden age of Islam.
It is called a golden age because Prophet Muhammad r, whose
inward spirit many Muslims understand as the original cause of
creation, was alive in the world during that time. Te spiritual
power of the Prophet shaped the era in which he lived. And it was
then possible for great numbers of ordinary people to encounter
him regularly and to get to know him well.
Te people of that honored age emerged out of the darkness
of violent ignorance and made their way to the civilization of
peaceful virtue. Ten they climbed the peaks of knowledge
of Allah. Members of this community are therefore called the
Venerable Companions of the Prophet. Tey were faithful to the
Prophet in all matters.
Tus, the Companions are a unique generation. Tey
witnessed the acts and words of the Prophet and passed indications
from him onward to all the generations that followed.
Among the Companions of the Prophet, the four successive
leaders who guided the community afer him came to be known
7
Principles from the Lives of the Four Rightly-Guided Caliphs
as the Rightly-Guided Caliphs. Tey were pioneers in the
formation of an Islamic identity shaped by the characteristic
virtues of the Prophet. Tey were in love with the Prophet, and so
they internalized his qualities of character and his ethics. In this
way their hearts became sacred places where divine love could be
found. And their acts and words became good examples for all
Muslims.
Prophet Muhammad r said about the value of the era of the
Rightly-Guided Caliphs, “Te age of true caliphate afer me is
1
thirty years.” Te Prophet, by these words, pointed out that the
political life of Muslims would deteriorate afer that time.
Before deterioration began there was a time of peace and
harmony. And the frst caliph, Abu Bakr t, played a great role
in this.
1 Abu Dawud, al-Sunnah 8; Ahmad, V, 50, 220-221.
8
Abu Bakr t
(r. 632-634 CE)
Abu Bakr’s immersion in divine love was so
great that he sacrifced his life. He found himself
only in the presence of the Prophet. At each
meeting with the Prophet he lost more concern
for his own afairs. Te more he met with him, the
more he wanted to be with him.