Level 1: Islamic History: From the Four Caliphs to the Umayyad Period

As a registered charity, we charge course fees to cover our running costs. However, we aim to make our education accessible to as many people as possible and are therefore able to offer a 65% fee waiver. To make use of this fee waiver, please use the code AMI65 when purchasing your courses.

Students in need of further financial assistance should contact the education team at education@almahdi.edu to enquire about the possibility of further fee waivers. 

This course is designed as a critical evaluation of the socio-political and religious contributions of the post-Prophetic period characterised by those described as the ‘Righteous Caliphs’ (al-khulafāʾ al-rāshidūn). The course also examines the major dynasties that ruled the Muslim empire for centuries, beginning with the rise and fall of the Umayyad dynasty. On completion of this module, students should be able to understand and critically discuss the socio-political and cultural conditions of the Muslim world during this period.

Lesson Breakdown

Lesson 1      Introduction to course; expedition to Tabūk, sanat al-wufūd, ḥajj al-widāʿ, death of the Prophet 

Lesson 2      Rāshidūn Caliphate: Abū Bakr and the incident of the door 

Lesson 3      Student presentations

Lesson 4      Ridda Wars and death of Abū Bakr 

Lesson 5      Reign of ʿUmar b. al-Khaṭṭāb 

Lesson 6      Death of ʿUmar b. al-Khaṭṭāb and his succession; reign and death of ʿUthmān b. ʿAffān

Lesson 7      Reign of ʿAlī b. Abī Ṭālib I 

Lesson 8      Reign of ʿAlī b. Abī Ṭālib II

Lesson 9      Caliphate of Ḥasan b. ʿAlī

Lesson 10    Caliphate of Muʿāwiya b. Abī Sufyān 

Lesson 11    Caliphate of Yazīd b. Muʿāwiya

Lesson 12    Uprisings amongst early Umayyads

Lesson 13    Caliphate of Muʿāwiya II

Hours of Study

12 hours

Assessment Method

Essay (100%)

Course Instructor

Shaykh Ali Raza Khaki

Shaykh Ali Raza Khaki completed a BEng in Biomedical Engineering and a MSc in Computer Science at the University of Birmingham before beginning his seminary studies at the Al-Mahdi Institute. Upon graduating from AMI, he went on to complete an MA in Islamic Studies at the University of Birmingham in 2020. At AMI, Shaykh Ali Raza is the Lecturer in Islamic History and also teaches courses on legal theory and legal maxims. In addition to his teaching, he is also heavily involved in the running of the Centre for Intra-Muslim Studies and lectures to Muslim communities around the world. His current research interests include legal theory and hermeneutics, and Islamic history.