The Ideal of an Islamic Society

The passing of the Prophet Muhammad in 632 A.D. presented the still young Muslim community with a major crisis because the question of succession was unresolved. The community was at a crossroads between the old Arab tribal tradition and the message of the Islamic fraternity to find an orientation for their community. Because Muhammad himself had left no binding testament, the post-prophetic leadership of the Islamic community was a task for the Sahāba, his closest confidants and disciples, who, however, fell into dispute over it. These disputes caused a great division in the Muslim community that continues to the present day and still stands as a powerful obstacle in front of Muslim unity—a circumstance that is completely contrary to the principles of the Islamic religion.