644 Rashidun caliphal elections

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644 Rashidun caliphal election
23 AH / 644 CE
6 members of the Shura Council, 1 absent, remaining 5 votes delegated to 1 member Abd al-Rahman ibn Awf
(Unanimous decision) 5 electoral votes needed to win
  Rashidun Caliph Uthman ibn Affan - عثمان بن عفان ثالث الخلفاء الراشدين.svg Rashidun Caliph Ali ibn Abi Talib - علي بن أبي طالب.svg
Nominee Uthman ibn Affan Ali ibn Abi Talib
Electoral vote 3 2
Percentage 60% 40%
Caliph before election

Omar ibn al-Khattab
Banu Adi

Elected Caliph

Uthman ibn Affan
Banu Umayya

Uthman
The Generous – (Al Ghani)
Umar
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Tombstone of caliph Umar, in the Green Dome in Al-Masjid al-Nabawi, Medina. The first window from the right gives a view of Umar's grave.
The election of Uthman, from Balami's Tarikhnama

644 Rashidun caliphal elections were held in 23 AH (644 CE) to elect the Third Caliph of the Rashidun Caliphate. The elections occurred after the assassination of Omar ibn al-Khattab, who was stabbed by Piruz Nahavandi.

The elections, resulted in Uthman ibn Affan, receiving the most votes and being elected as the Third Caliph by a Shura Council, which was formed by Omar on his deathbed. The elections took place at the Al-Masjid an-Nabawi in Medina.[1] Uthman received three votes whereas Ali ibn Abi Talib received two votes.

Background[]

In 644, the Second Rashidun Caliph, Omar was leading the Fajr prayer in Al-Masjid an-Nabawi.[2] While Omar was praying, he was attacked by a Persian soldier named Piruz Nahavandi.[2] On his deathbed, Omar vacillated on his succession. Omar appointed a committee of six persons to choose a caliph from amongst them which were Abdur Rahman bin Awf, Saad ibn Abi Waqqas, Talha ibn Ubaidullah, Uthman ibn Affan, Ali ibn Abi Talib and Zubayr ibn al-Awwam.[3] Omar said they all should all agree unanimously on the next caliph.[4]

Omar had a policy of not appointing anyone related to him to a position of authority even if they were qualified by his standards.[5] Before his death, Omar called Abu Talha Ansari and ordered him to watch the members of the electoral committee, and not let them disperse without choosing a caliph.[6] Omar also appointed fifty armed soldiers to protect the house where the meeting would proceed.[6] Until the appointment of the next caliph, Omar appointed a notable Sahabi and mawla, Suhayb ar-Rumi (Suhayb the Roman), as a caretaker caliph. The choice of a new ruler for the new Islamic empire fell to five men.[7]

Results[]

Zubayr withdrew his candidature in favor of Ali. Sa'd ibn Abi Waqas withdrew in favor of Uthman.[7] Out of the three remaining candidates Abdur Rahman decided to withdraw, leaving Uthman and Ali. Both Ali and Uthman voted for each other. The decision was with Abdur Rahman, who was appointed as the arbitrator to choose between the remaining two candidates.[8] Abdur Rehman chose Uthman as the new caliph.[7] Ali gave his allegiance to Uthman.[9] However, some Shia deny Ali giving his allegiance to Uthman.[10] The Islamic scholar Al-Suyuti quotes:

When they finished burying him and had returned, that group gathered and 'Abd ar-Rahman ibn 'Auf said, 'Delegate your authority to three among you.' Az-Zubayr said, 'I delegate my authority to 'Ali.' Sa'd said, 'I delegate my authority to 'Abd ar-Rahman.' Talhah said, 'I delegate my authority to 'Uthman.' He continued: so there remained these three. 'Abd ar-Rahman said, 'I don't want it. Which of you two will be quit of this matter and we will entrust it to him (the remaining one)? And Allah is his witness and Islam, let him consider in himself who is the best of them and let him be eager for the benefit of the ummah.' The two Shaykhs, 'Ali and 'Uthman were silent. 'Abd ar-Rahman said, 'Delegate me and, Allah is my witness, I will not fail you in choosing the best of you.' They said, 'Yes.' Then he went apart with 'Ali and said, 'You have that precedence in Islam and kinship with the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, which you know. Allah is your witness; if I give you authority, will you be just, and if I give authority (to 'Uthman) over you, will you hear and obey?' He said, 'Yes.' Then he went apart with the other and said to him the same thing. When he had their agreement, he pledged allegiance to 'Uthman and 'Ali pledged allegiance to him.[11]

— Amr ibn Maimun, quoted by Suyuti

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "Islamic History of Khalifa Uthman bin Affan | The Caliphate of Uthman - Election of Uthman". www.alim.org. Retrieved 2021-09-06.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b "Khalifa Umar bin al-Khattab – Death of Umar". Retrieved 2015-01-19.
  3. ^ "Umar Ibn Al-Khattab : His Life and Times, Volume 2". archive.org.
  4. ^ Muhammad ibn Jarir al-Tabari (1994). "The Account of the Electoral Council". History of the Prophets and Kings. XIV. Translated by Smith, G. Rex. SUNY. pp. 146–147. ISBN 9781438420394.
  5. ^ "Umar Ibn Al-Khattab : His Life and Times, Volume 2". archive.org.
  6. ^ Jump up to: a b "Uthman, the Third Khalifa of the Muslims". Al-Islam.org. 2013-11-10. Retrieved 2021-09-06.
  7. ^ Jump up to: a b c Medlung, Wilferd (1997). The succession to Muhammad. Cambridge University Press. p. 71. ISBN 0521561817. Retrieved June 30, 2014.
  8. ^ Masudul Hasan, Hadrat Ali, Islamic Publications Ltd. Lahore
  9. ^ "The History of the Khalifahs - Umar ibn al-Khattab". www.bogvaerker.dk. Retrieved 2021-09-08.
  10. ^ "Sermon of ash-Shiqshiqiyyah". 2006-03-07. Archived from the original on 2006-03-07. Retrieved 2021-09-08.
  11. ^ History of the Caliphs by Suyuti [1]

Works cited[]

  • Aslan, Reza – No god but God, Random House, 2005.
  • Glubb, Sir John Bagot – The Great Arab Conquests, 1967.
  • Madelung, W. – The Succession to Muhammad, Cambridge University Press, 1997.

External links[]

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