The Khulafa-e-Rashideen (the Rightly Guided Caliphs) were the four closest companions of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) who led the Muslim Ummah, one after another, after his death. In order, they were Hazrat Abu Bakr (RA), Hazrat Umar (RA), Hazrat Uthman (RA), and Hazrat Ali (RA). All four were among the Ashra Mubashshara, the ten companions who were given the glad tidings of Paradise during their lifetime. The other six were Hazrat Talha, Hazrat Zubair, Hazrat Abdur Rahman bin Auf, Hazrat Sa’d bin Abi Waqqas, Hazrat Sa’id bin Zaid, and Hazrat Abu Ubaidah ibn al-Jarrah (RA).
Hazrat Abu Bakr (RA) was the first Khalifa, and his Khilafah lasted about two years (632–634 CE). He is known as “As-Siddiq” (the Truthful) because he immediately believed the Prophet (PBUH) without hesitation. He accompanied the Prophet (PBUH) during the Hijrah to Madinah and stayed with him in the cave of Thawr. After the Prophet’s death, he fought the Riddah Wars against apostasy and false prophets, and he saved the unity of the young Islamic state. After the Battle of Yamama, in which many Huffaz of the Quran were martyred, the Quran was compiled for the first time in a single written volume during his Khilafah.
Hazrat Umar (RA) was the second Khalifa, and he ruled for about ten years (634–644 CE). His title “Al-Farooq” means the one who distinguishes between truth and falsehood. The Islamic (Hijri) calendar was introduced during his Khilafah, and the Hijrah of the Prophet (PBUH) was chosen as its starting point. During his rule, the Islamic state expanded greatly, and the city of Jerusalem was conquered peacefully, as the Khalifa himself travelled there to receive its keys. Hazrat Uthman (RA) was the third Khalifa, and he ruled for about twelve years (644–656 CE). He is known as “Dhun-Nurayn” (Possessor of Two Lights) because he married two daughters of the Prophet (PBUH), Hazrat Ruqayyah and Hazrat Umm Kulthum (RA). To protect the Quran from differences in recitation, he had standardized copies prepared and sent to major cities of the Islamic state.
Hazrat Ali (RA) was the fourth Khalifa (656–661 CE) and the first child (boy) to accept Islam. He married Hazrat Fatimah (RA), the daughter of the Prophet (PBUH), and he is also known by the title “Abu Turab.” During his Khilafah, he made Kufa the capital instead of Madinah. Other important companions include Hazrat Bilal (RA), the first Muezzin (caller to prayer) in Islam, Hazrat Khalid bin Walid (RA), known as “Saifullah” (the Sword of Allah) for his brilliant military leadership, and Hazrat Abu Ubaidah ibn al-Jarrah (RA), who was given the title “Amin al-Ummah” (Trustworthy of the Ummah) by the Prophet (PBUH).