Britannica Sources used in this answer

How did the first caliphs continue Muhammad’s work after his death?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Medina, Saudi Arabia: Prophet's Mosque — Muhammad The Prophet's Mosque, showing the green dome built above the tomb of Muhammad, Medina, Saudi Arabia.

After the death of the Prophet Muhammad in 632 CE, the first four caliphs—known as the Rashidun or "Rightly Guided" caliphs—assumed leadership of the Muslim community. They took on all of Muhammad’s duties except for the prophetic role, serving as imams who led prayers, khaṭībs who delivered sermons, and "commanders of the faithful" who led the military.1

Their efforts to continue Muhammad’s work included:

Consolidation and Governance: Abū Bakr suppressed the riddah (tribal uprisings) to maintain the unity of the Islamic state in Arabia. The caliphs established the administrative and judicial foundations of the community.23
Expansion: They directed the conquest of new territories, extending Islamic rule into Iraq, Syria, Palestine, Egypt, Iran, and Armenia.21
Preservation of Scripture: To ensure the integrity of the Qurʾān, the caliphs oversaw its compilation. Abū Bakr initiated the first written collection, and ʿUthmān later standardized the text to prevent regional variations.34
Institutionalization: They adopted the Islamic calendar, dating from the Hijrah.1