A caliphate ( "khilāfa") is a territory under the leadership of an Islamic steward known as a caliph, a person considered a religious successor to the Islamic prophet Muhammad (Muhammad ibn ʿAbdullāh) and a leader of the entire Muslim community. Historically, the caliphates were polities based in Islam which developed into multi-ethnic trans-national empires. During the medieval period, three major caliphates existed: the Rashidun Caliphate (632–661), the Umayyad Caliphate (661–750) and the Abbasid Caliphate (750–1258). The fourth major caliphate, the Ottoman Caliphate, established by the Ottoman Empire in 1517, was a manifestation whereby the Ottoman rulers claimed caliphal authority. During the history of Islam, several other Muslim states, almost all of them hereditary monarchies, have claimed to be caliphates. 

Prior to the rise of Muhammad and the unification of the Arab tribes of the Arabian Peninsula under Islam, the tribes of Arabia followed a pre-Islamic Arab polytheism, lived as self-governing sedentary and nomadic communities and often raided their neighbouring tribes. Following the conquests under Muhammad of the Arabian Peninsula, the region became unified and most of the tribes adopted Islam. The first caliphate, the Rashidun Caliphate, was established immediately after Muhammad's death in 632. The four Rashidun caliphs, who directly succeeded Muhammad as leaders of the Muslim community, were chosen through "shura, "a process of community consultation that some consider to be an early form of Islamic democracy. The fourth caliph, Ali, who, unlike the prior three, was from the same clan as Muhammad (Banu Hashim), is considered by Shia Muslims to be the first rightful caliph and Imam after Muhammad. Ali reigned during the First Fitna (656–661), a civil war between supporters of Ali and supporters of the assassinated previous caliph, Uthman, from Banu Umayya, as well as rebels in Egypt; the war led to the establishment of the Umayyad Caliphate under Muawiyah I in 661. QUESTIONS:

Q1:
1. Who led Muslims after Muhammed?
2. Who was Muhammed's successor?
3. What was the successor to Muhammed?
Q2:
1. What was the year of Muhammed's passing?
2. In what year ddi Muhammed pass away?
3. What was the year when Muhammed died?
Q3:
1. What does a caliphate mean?
2. Define a caliphate.
3. What is the definition of a caliphate?
Q4:
1. How can a caliph be described?
2. What's the definition of a caliph?
3. Who is a caliph?
Q5:
1. Which caliphate came first?
2. What was the original caliphate?
3. What caliphate preceded all others?
Q6:
1. What was the second caliphate?
2. Which caliphate came second?
3. What caliphate succeeded the Rashidun Caliphate?
Q7:
1. When was the Umayyad Caliphate active?
2. What were the years when the Umayyad Caliphate ruled?
3. During what years was the Umayyad Caliphate active?
Q8:
1. What caliphate followed the Umayyad Caliphate?
2. What was the third caliphate?
3. Which caliphate came third?
Q9:
1. When was the Abbasid Caliphate active?
2. During what years was the Abbasid Caliphate active?
3. What were the years when the Abbasid Caliphate ruled?
Q10:
1. Which caliphate followed the Abbasid Caliphate?
2. What was the fourth caliphate?
3. Which caliphate came fourth?
Q11:
1. What religion were caliphates associated with?
2. What religious belief served as the basis of caliphates?
3. Which belief system used caliphates?
Q12:
1. What made the Ottoman Caliph unique?
2. What distinguished the Ottoman Caliph from the others?
3. What important distinction did the Ottoman Caliph have?
Q13:
1. Who was the Caliph of Ottoman?
2. What Caliph was from the same clan as Muhammed?
3. What was the Ottoman Caliph's name?
Q14:
1. Which clan did Ali belong to?
2. What was the name of Ali's clan?
3. What clan was Ali a part of?
