Conquest and division in the time of the rashidun caliphs
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Abu Bakr and the Ridda War 632 – 34

• Experimental nature of Islam goes a long way in explaining confusions and difficulties that occurred.
• Divisions within Umma come to surface after Muhammad’s death.
• Ansar worried that Muhajirun would link with Uraysh from Meccans – naturally see it as an injustice.
• Muhajirun – Umar seized initiative and swore allegiance to Abu Bakr – went to Ansar and asked them to acquiesce with decision.
• Abu Bakr first of four caliphs who led community from 632 – 61 – known as Rashidun or “rightly guided” to distinguish them from Umayyads – great Islamic conquests begun and outlines Muslim state decided.
• Early on Abu Bakr backs Usama’s expedition to Syria – stress commitment to same policy of Muhammad – “expansion of state towards Syria.  Raid was not a great success – showed caliph’s sense of purpose and determination.
• Nature of Muhammad’s authority varied greatly across the peninsula – Hijaz cities were firmly incorporated into Muslim state, Najd and north-east Arabis mostly agreed to pay tax and accept Islam, parts of Tammim further awayfrom Medina paid tax but not willing to accept Islam.
• Banu Hanifa never paid tax nor acknowledged religious nature of Muhammad’s office.
• System of alliances and conversions which had developed during prophet’s last years, disintegrated.
• Hesitant response, except from Abu Bakr – Prophet had punished those who broke alliances and Abu Bakr going to do the same.  New converts, zeal for Islam, provided large numbers for Abu Bakr’s campaigns.
• Known as ridda or apostasy – implies rejection of new faith, but as we know many not the case in many areas.
• After Abu Bakr defeats small number of Najd- entrusts military leadership in hands of Khalid.  Khalid defeats Hanifa
• Other battled smaller scale
• Why win ridda wars?  Continuing loyalty of people of Hijaz, Quraysh and Thaqif – united, opponents were not – tribal feuds and splits do not help the cause.  Powerful ideological factor, as opposed o opposition to taxation etc, no point does Christian element unite against Islam.  Consequence of breakdown of Persian empire in Bahrayn, Uman and Yaman, Muslim power based on those who had previously looked to Persian Kings and lakhmid vassals for leadership and support.  Collapse of Persian empire under assaults of Heraclius – groups looked for new allies and naturally found them in expanding umma.  Many men joined Muslim community because of opportunities seen to provide – Ridda wars were first stage of Arab conquests and expeditions to Syria took place at same time as these campaigns – opportunity for those who wished to abandon old Bedouin life and seek new and exciting destinies within Islamic community – many left tribal homelands to join up.

Other Notes in this Category

1. army – its size and effectiveness for the defense of the eastern borders
2. Birth of the Islamic State
3. Byzantine authority and the nomads – divergent views
4. Byzantine reliance on arab military resistance
5. Byzantium and the early islamic conquests
6. Caliphate of ali – 656 – 661
7. Conquest and division in the time of the rashidun caliphs
8. Difficulty in devising defence for Syria
9. Elements of Failure and Endurance
10. End of the Ancient Economy
11. Foundation of the marwand caliphate and the achievemnet of ‘abd al-malik
12. Islamic conquests
13. Limitations defense-in-depth strategy
14. Military leadership of heraclius
15. relevance of recent war with persia
16. Richard n. frye – arab conquests in iran
17. State of strategy and warfare
18. The matric of the muslim world:
19. The umayyad caliphate
20. Umar and the early islamic conquests – 634 – 644
21. Whittow – making of byzantium

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