June 8, 632: the Prophet dies in Medina

On this day in 632, the Prophet Muhammad died. The tribes of Arabia, which he had united under the banner of Islam, quickly broke into two factions over the identity of his successor.

One group, who came to call themselves Sunnis, believed the best man should become the leader. They supported the Prophet’s friend and father-in-law, Abu Bakr, who became the first Caliph.

The other group, who came to call themselves Shi’a, thought leadership should be inherited. They named Muhammad’s son-in-law Ali as the first Imam.

Abu Bakr won the initial debate, and began a rapid expansion of Muslim territory, called the Rashidun Empire (Rashidun means “rightly guided”). Ali would later become the fourth and final Caliph.

632 is one of those years every Jeopardy! player should know by heart. The others with respect to the Prophet are:

620 – Isra and Mi’raj, when Muhammad ascended to heaven to speak with God
622 – Hiraj, Muhammad’s flight from Mecca to Medina

In the Isra, the angel Gabriel took Muhammad on a winged steed to Jerusalem; the spot where he ascended to heaven (Mi’raj) is now covered by The Dome of the Rock.

For more on Muhammad’s death and burial, visit al-Islam.

Image: Muhammad entering Mecca and destroying idols (1808), Bibliotheque nationale de France via Wikimedia Commons