Level 1: Islamic History: From the Four Caliphs to the Umayyad Period
Time limit: 365 days
10 credits
Full course description
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.