Four Rightly Guided Caliphs

Outline the characteristics of the caliphates of all four Rightly Guided Caliphs which make them an example of leadership for Muslim rulers.

<aside> 💡 The best answers will be those which deal with the caliphates of all four caliphs.

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Candidates could say that the Rightly Guided Caliphs are an example of leadership for Muslim rulers as firstly they were chosen by the shura and general consensus of Muslims, which immediately establishes democracy and proves that there is no place for dictatorship in Muslim countries.
Here candidates can quote from the famous speech Abu Bakr delivered at the time of his election.
- Abu Bakr (ra):
  
  “I have been chosen Caliph, though I am not the best of you. If I prove to be good, support me. But if I do wrong set me right. Truth is honesty; and lying is treachery. The weak among you is strong before the law until he is redeemed from oppression and the strong among you is weak before the law until he abstains from oppression. Obey me as long as I obey Allah and His Messenger and if I disobey Allah and His Messenger, you owe me no obedience.”
They could also write about how the other caliphs were elected,
- e.g. Abu Bakr nominated ‘Umar and as there was no opposition to him he was elected.
On his death bed ‘Umar appointed a panel of six to choose the next caliph, ‘Ali too was elected by the Muslims in the mosque of the Prophet (pbuh).
These examples go to show that leadership or caliphate is not a hereditary concept in Islam. And if it wasn’t practised by the Rightly Guided Caliphs, surely there is no place for it in today’s democratic world.
The caliphs always consulted the majlis e shura in the affairs of the state where everyone was free to express their opinion.
Everyone in the caliphate was also free to express their opinion and criticise the caliph.
- Here as an example of this practice it could be written that once a woman asked ‘Umar during his caliphate how he made a shirt from a piece of cloth from the bait ul maal when it was not long enough for others to make a shirt from and he replied to her that his son had given him his share.
The caliphs were available to the people at all times.
The judiciary was independent and nobody was above the law.
The bait ul maal was public property and was so treated by the caliphs.

Write about how the four Rightly Guided Caliphs ruled during their caliphates in accordance with Islamic values.

All four of the Rightly Guided Caliphs endeavoured to emulate the Prophet.