TSR Wiki > Study Help > Subjects and Revision > Revision Notes > History > Abu Bakr and Ridda wars
- Death Muhammad 632 bought Islamic state intense crisis – question leadership and political unity – opposition formed in many parts of the peninsula some under Islamic domination others outside it.
- Separate groups formed at end Muhammed career – nuhajirun ansar want own chieftain but everyone to remain under Islam – after all Muhammad last prophet.
- Abu Bakr triumph along with friendly with Muhammad, very devote given whole fortune to state treasury.
- Crossed groups trusted by Qurasyh as he was a Meccan and promised them similar privileges. Because of long association with Muhammad trusted by Ansar as well.
- Knowledge and experience of genealogies and tribes very important at time when tribal opposition to Islamic domination sprung up all over peninsula. Subtle kin of diplomacy.
- Opposition: “false prophets” movement by various groups – B. Asad in Najd, Talha b. Khalid - B.Hanifa in al-Yamama. Differing ideologies and people posed as prophets. Other forms of political protest like tax rebellion – like B.Fazara. These secondary oppositions did not oppose Muhammad and Islam outright but they did oppose extension of he Islamic state.
- Islamic sources call these ridda “apostasy” or repudiation (of Islam all equal acts of blasphemy that deserve military suppression.
- Caused a temporary halting of expansion but by time of Abu Bakr’s death new Islamic state had successfully conquered the entire Arabian peninsula.
- Abu Bakr’s aim was simple to extend hegemony over entire population of Arabia and especially over the nomadic groups – put down Ridda with some military force. Abu Bakr also used diplomacy to bring parts of Arabia under Islamic control.
- Abu Bakr and Muhammad continuity – marked by consolidation itself but also in methods employed – Abu Bakr had helped formulate Muhammad’s policies – uses force, diplomacy and amrriage.
Ridda wars formed an extension of Muammad’s career in two ways – firstly in consolidation of state rule over Arabia but in cementing position of elites: Medinese, Hijaz, Meccans and Taqifs remained a united bloc once succession crises had been resolved.
- Three rather clear cut political strata in Arabian society – first as above with Qurasyh taking prominent role. Second layer nonelite tribesmen who had backed Medina during Ridda wars – no part of elite that shaped policy.
- Class of conquered Arabs – B Hanifa etc – administered population of Arbaia and remained in their territories. Paid tributes for external security as well as use of adjudication services.
- Ridda Wars – acumination general process political consolidation begun by M. where Islamic elite established control over tribal population. Culmination of process new state, run by sedentary tribesmen, attained full control over nomadic sector of Arabian population. Symbolised by annual tax paid by Arabian tribes – imposition of which seems instrumental in formation ridda wars.
- Simultaneously beginning of Islamic conquest movement – efforts of Islamic state to extend its domination to all Arb tribal groups – inc. steppes and towns of Iraq and Syria – led to direct clashes between new Islamic state an Byzantine and Sasanian empires. Conquests also develop from subjugation of ridda wars in a more integral way – firm subjugation of nomadic warrior tribesmen of Arabia by Islamic state that put into hands of government means of undertaking expansionist movement. Conquest of regions made possible by Islamic conquest of Arabia.
- Islamic conquest of near east seen as an organic outgrowth of Muhammad’s teachings and their impact on Arabian society., political consolidation, efforts to bring nomads under his control, extension of processes by Abu Bakr. Formed foundations of which Islamic conquests rested.
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