Expansion of Muslim Culture
A Milestone Documents E-text
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Expansion of Muslim Culture
https://doi.org/10.3735/9781961844568.book.part.057

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Abstract

After the Prophet Muhammad’s death in 632, Muslim culture spread with great speed out of Arabia into Mesopotamia and across North Africa, reaching into Europe. Muhammad’s death without a named successor, however, left many unanswered questions. The main issue centered on who should assume leadership over the Islamic community, and the role fell to companions of the Prophet. A caliph is the religious and political leader of the Islamic community, or umma, and the first four caliphs after Muhammad were all his companions.

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