Img 1117

Islamic Caliph Timeline

By Hayden Pope
  • Jun 8, 632

    Death of The Prophet Muhammad

    Founder and Prophet of Islam, Muhammad ibn Abdullah, passes away. In his wake is a new religion and a large empire that spans the entire Arabian peninsula. Eventually both the Islamic Caliphate and Islam itself will spread far and wide and become one of the most dominant forces throughout all of world history. Muhammad to this day is seen as one of the most influential men who ever lived.
  • Jun 8, 632

    Rashidun Caliphate

    The first Islamic Caliphate to succeed the Prophet Muhammad. It was ruled by "The Four Rightly Guided Caliphs" who were all close companions of The Prophet himself.
  • Period: Jun 8, 632 to Aug 22, 634

    1. Abu Bakr

    The first Caliph or "Successor" to The Prophet Muhammad and first overall leader of The Rashidun Caliphate. He was also famous for being Muhammad's father in law and close personal friend. Was elected into the position of Caliph by his fellow Muslims. His election over Muhammad's first cousin, Ali, began the split between Sunni vs Shia Muslims. Today Sunni Muslims give him the honorific "al-Siddiq" or "truthful".
  • Period: Aug 23, 634 to Nov 3, 644

    2. Umar

    The Second Rashidun Caliph, he was also the father in law and close friend of The Prophet. He was famous for his strict adherence to justice and Islamic Law. He led many administrative reforms and greatly expanded the Caliphate in its early years. He was assassinated by a Persian slave in 644 while leading morning Fajr prayers.
  • Period: Nov 11, 644 to Jun 20, 656

    3. Uthman

    The third caliph of the Rashidun Caliphate, he is best remembered for officially codifying the Qur'an into the version that is still used to this day. His rule over the Caliphate saw many accomplishments but also saw many internal challenges which led to his assassination in 656.
  • Period: Jun 20, 656 to Jan 29, 661

    4. Ali

    Fourth and final of the "Rightly Guided Caliphs". He was both the cousin and son in law of The Prophet. He is highly revered by Shia Muslims as they believe who to be the direct successor to Muhammad from divine appointment. While he was known for his great piety, his rule was marked by internal conflict. This included The First Fitna or "tribulation". This led to his assassination and the end of The Rashidun Caliphate.
  • Jan 1, 661

    Umayyad Caliphate

    Mu'awiya I becomes the founder of the Umayyad Caliphate after the First Fitna and the death of Ali as well as his two sons. The Umayyads rapidly expand to the far reaches of the known world at the time.
  • Period: Jan 1, 661 to Aug 1, 661

    5. Hasan ibn Ali

    Although not sometimes not regarded as a Caliph, Hasan the son of Ali and grandson of Muhammad became the de-facto leader of the Caliphate for around seven months before it was taken over by Mu'awiya I.
  • Period: Aug 2, 661 to May 1, 680

    6. Mu'awiya I

    The founder and first Caliph of the Umayyad Caliphate. He came to power after The First Fitna against Ali. He is often remembered for his rapid expansion of the Islamic from from the north of Iberia to the borders of India.
  • Period: May 2, 680 to Nov 11, 683

    7. Yazid I

  • Period: Nov 12, 683 to Jun 1, 684

    8. Mu'awiya II

  • Period: Jun 2, 684 to May 1, 685

    9. Marwan I

  • Period: Apr 12, 685 to Oct 9, 705

    10. Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan

  • Period: Oct 9, 705 to Feb 23, 715

    11. Al-Walid I

  • Period: Feb 24, 715 to Sep 22, 717

    12. Sulayman ibn Abd al-Malik

  • Period: Sep 23, 717 to Feb 1, 720

    13. Umar II

  • Period: Feb 10, 720 to Jan 26, 724

    14. Yazid II

  • Period: Jan 26, 724 to Feb 6, 743

    15. Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik

  • Period: Feb 6, 743 to Apr 17, 744

    16. Al-Walid II

  • Period: Apr 17, 744 to Oct 4, 744

    17. Yazid III

  • Period: Oct 4, 744 to Dec 4, 744

    18. Ibrahim ibn al-Walid

    Shortest reigning Umayyad Caliph at just a few weeks.
  • Period: Dec 4, 744 to Aug 6, 750

    19. Marwan II

    14th and last Umayyad Caliph. His reign was marred by civil war and rebellion. He reigned until his assassination in 750, when the Abbasids officially took power to create the Abbasid Caliphate.
  • Jan 25, 750

    Abbasid Caliphate

    After taking control of the Caliphate from the Umayyads, the Abbasid Caliphate became the center of the Islamic World. This would be pivotal as The Islamic World would enter its Golden Age, where science, art, philosophy, and literature would reach unparalleled development.
  • Period: Jan 25, 750 to Jun 10, 754

    20. Al-Saffah

    The first Abbasid Calipha and one of the most important in Islamic history. His name was actually a nickname meaning "The Blood Shedder", as he was known for his ruthless tactics in battle and to instill fear into any opposition.
  • Period: Jun 10, 754 to Oct 6, 775

    21. Al-Mansur

  • Period: Oct 6, 775 to Aug 4, 785

    22. Al-Mahdi

  • Period: Jul 25, 785 to Sep 14, 786

    23. Al-Hadi

  • Period: Sep 14, 786 to Mar 24, 809

    24. Al-Rashid

  • Period: Mar 24, 809 to Sep 27, 813

    25. Al-Amin

  • Period: Sep 27, 813 to Aug 7, 833

    26. Al-Ma'mun

  • Period: Aug 9, 833 to Jan 5, 842

    27. Al-Mu'tasim

  • Period: Jan 5, 842 to Aug 10, 847

    28. Al-Wathiq

  • Period: Aug 10, 847 to Dec 11, 861

    29. Al-Mutawakkil

  • Period: Dec 11, 861 to Jun 7, 862

    30. Al-Muntasir

  • Period: Jun 8, 862 to Oct 17, 866

    31. Al-Musta'in

  • Period: Jan 25, 866 to Jul 13, 869

    32. Al-Mu'tazz

  • Period: Jul 22, 869 to Jun 21, 870

    33. Al-Muhtadi

  • Period: Jun 16, 870 to Oct 14, 892

    34. Al-Mu'tamid

  • Period: Oct 15, 892 to Apr 5, 902

    35. Al-Mu'tadid

  • Period: Apr 5, 902 to Aug 13, 908

    36. Al-Muktafi

  • Period: Aug 13, 908 to Feb 28, 929

    37. Al-Muqtadir

  • Period: Mar 1, 929 to Mar 2, 929

    38. Al-Qahir

    Launched a coup against his predecessor, the first time was unsuccessful and only reigned for a couple of days, the second time was more successful.
  • Period: Mar 2, 929 to Oct 31, 932

    37. Al-Muqtaqil (2)

  • Period: Oct 31, 932 to Apr 24, 934

    38. Al-Qahir (2)

    Launched a coup against his predecessor, the first time was unsuccessful and he only reigned for a couple of days, the second time was more successful, reigning for around two years.
  • Period: Apr 24, 934 to Dec 12, 940

    39. Al-Radi

  • Period: Dec 15, 940 to Aug 26, 944

    40. Al-Muttaqi

  • Period: Sep 1, 944 to Jan 29, 946

    41. Al-Mustakfi

  • Period: Jan 30, 946 to Aug 5, 974

    42. Al-Muti'

  • Period: Aug 5, 974 to Nov 22, 991

    43. Al-Ta'i'

  • Period: Nov 22, 991 to Nov 29, 1031

    44. Al-Qadir

  • Period: Nov 29, 1031 to Apr 2, 1075

    45. Al-Qa'im

  • Period: Apr 2, 1075 to Feb 3, 1094

    46. Al-Muqtadi

  • Period: Feb 3, 1094 to Jun 6, 1118

    47. Al-Mustazhir

  • Period: Aug 6, 1118 to Aug 29, 1135

    48. Al-Mustarshid

  • Period: Aug 29, 1135 to Aug 17, 1136

    49. Al-Rashid Billah

  • Period: Sep 17, 1136 to Mar 12, 1160

    50. Al-Muqtafi