The Problem of
Succession
nArab victories for a time covered old tribal internal
divisions. The
murder of Uthman, the 3rd caliph, caused a succession struggle.
nMuhammad’s earliest followers supported Ali , but he
was rejected by the
Umayyads.
nIn the ensuing hostilities Ali won the advantage
until at Siffin in
657 he accepted a plea for mediation.
nAli lost the support of his most radical adherents,
and the Umayyads won the
renewed hostilities.
