Rashidun

Encyclopedia : R : RA : RAS : Rashidun

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The Four Rightly Guided Caliphs (Arabic: الخلفاء الراشدون‎ transliterated: al-Khulafā’ur-Rāshidūn) is a term used in Sunni Islam and in general around the world to refer to the first four caliphs who are seen as being model leaders. They were all close companions of Muhammad, and their succession was not hereditary, something that would become the custom for later Muslim rulers. In order, they are:

The Rashidun made significant conquests, and brought large areas under the fold of Islam.

A small minority include Hasan ibn Ali as a fifth righteously guided Caliph, however most do not consider him to have been caliph at all. In the Ibadhi tradition, only Abu Bakr and Umar are considered to be the Two Rightly Guided Caliphs. Sections of the Uthman and Ali eras are considered righteous. Urdu speaking Sunnis occasionally refer to the Four Rightly Guided Caliphs as the Four Friends (چار یار, chaar yaar)

According to Shi'a Islam, the first caliph should have been Ali followed by the Imams, as they believe Allah (God) directed Muhammad to select Ali.