The top of the Kaaba, which is the holiest site in Islam and the center of Mecca, is dominated by a large black stone known as the al-Ḥājj. Muslims believe that this stone was placed at the spot where Abraham was instructed to build an altar to God.
The Arabic word for “stone” is hājj. Over time, this became known as the al-Ḥājj Mālik, or “the Stone of Abraham.”.
In 610 C.E., Muhammad and his followers migrated from Mecca to Medina, and it was during this time that they began to refer to the al-Ḥājj Mālik as the al-Madīnah al-Munawwarah (the Greater Medina Mosque). In 692 C.
, when Muhammad returned from his final pilgrimage to Mecca, he found that his followers had turned the al-Madīnah al-Munawwarah into their mosque. In 715 C., following a series of disputes between Muhammad’s followers and those of his cousin and rival, Abu Bakr, Muhammad appointed Umar as his successor and moved into exile in Medina.
When Umar died in 644 C., Muhammad appointed Uthman as his successor. Uthman reigned until 656 C., when he was murdered by a group of rebels who believed that he had violated Islamic law by appointing governors without consulting with them first. This led to a period of chaos known as the Second Fitna (civil war). In 661 C.
E., Ali ibn Abi Talib—Muhammad’s cousin and son-in-law—was nominated as caliph (leader of all Muslims). Ali was eventually victorious over Muawiyah ibn Abi Sufyan, leader of the opposing faction, and became caliph in 661 C. Ali ruled until 669 C., when he was assassinated by a group of men who believed that he had become too authoritarian.
Following Ali’s death, Muawiyah ibn Abi Sufyan—the leader of the opposing faction—claimed leadership of all Muslims. However, after a series of military campaigns led by Umar ibn al-Khattab (Umar’s successor), Muawiyah was eventually forced into exile in Damascus in 680 C., following another period of civil unrest known as the Third Fitna (war between factions), Uthman ibn Affan was appointed caliph by a group of Muslim elders who believed that he was more qualified than any other candidate.
Uthman reigned until 705 C., when he was murdered by members of his own family who believed that he had become too authoritarian.
In 715 C., following yet another period of civil unrest known as the Ridda Wars (war between factions), Abdur Rahman ibn Awf was appointed caliph by a group of Muslim elders who believed that he was more qualified than any other candidate. Abdur Rahman reigned until 717 C., when he was assassinated by members of his own family who believed that he had become too authoritarian.
In 730 C., following another period of civil unrest known as the Second Fitna (war between factions), Ibrahim ibn Marwan—a relative of Abdur Rahman ibn Awf—was appointed caliph by a group of Muslim elders who believed that he was more qualified than any other candidate. Ibrahim reigned until 740 C .
E . , when he was assassinated by members of his own family who believed that he had become too authoritarian .
In 750 C . E . , following yet another period of civil unrest known as the Third Fitna (war between factions), Abu Bakr ibn Abdur Rahman—a relative of Ibrahim ibn Marwan—was appointed caliph by a group of Muslim elders who believed that he was more qualified than any other candidate . Abu Bakr reigned until 755 C .
In 765 C . , following yet another period of civil unrest known as the Ridda Wars (war between factions), Usama ibn Zaid—a relative of Abu Bakr ibn Abdur Rahman—was appointed caliph by a group of Muslim elders who believed that he was more qualified than any other candidate .
Usama reigned until 774 C . , when he was assassinated by members o f h is own family who believed that h e had become too autocratic.
