Upon the death of Muhammad, his father-in-law Abu Bakr became the first caliph and united the Arab people under one leader. As caliph, Abu Bakr led the conquest of much of the Byzantine Empire and all of the Persian Empire. There emerged two sects of Islam, the Shiites who believe leadership should pass directly through Muhammad's descendants, and the Sunnis who believe any pious Muslim male could lead. Sufism emerged as a mystical branch of Islam where followers dedicate their lives to studying Islam through practices like whirling dances intended as a form of prayer.

1. Ch. 10, sec. 2

2.  Death of Muhammad
 Abu Bakr (his father in
law) became the first
caliph (new leader of
Islam)
 United all Arabs under
one leader and conquered
the much of the Byzantine
Empire and all of the
Persian Empire.

3.  Shiites-
• leader can only be direct descendants of
Muhammad
 Sunnis-
• Leader can be any “good” male Muslim
• Most Muslims are Sunni

4.  Dedicates life to God and
studying Islam
 Similar to a Christian monk
 Some travel the world and
preach Islam
 Whirling Dervish- dancing
sufi as form of prayer