The Arab Caliphate

A famous German scholar, author of many works on theology, a professor at the University of Göttingen, presented the history of the Arab Caliphate - once a vast and powerful empire. Noting the inseparable connection between political, religious, and administrative... authority of the Arab Caliphate, the author analyzes the history of the emergence of Islam, its development, characteristics, and commonality with other major world religions. He tells how rulers came to power and died; when governors of the most important provinces took office and retired; whom the caliphs appointed each year to lead the Hajj and how the conquest campaigns were conducted. In his research, Wellhausen relied on original sources - specimens of the earliest Arab historical literature, Kufa and Medina traditions. Among the cited authors are authorities such as Abu Mikhnaf, At-Tabari, Ibn Ishaq, Abu Mashar, and al-Waqidi.