After the death of the Prophet Muhammad IOTL one of his close followers, Abu Bakr, was chosen by a small group of leading Muslims to succeed Muhammad as the political leader of the Muslim Community. Muhammad's cousin Ali, however, was also favored by many to succeed the Prophet. Despite this, however, the decision to appoint Abu Bakr was made without Ali's input. This dispute was the origin of the Sunni and Shia denominations of Islam we have today.
Whether or not Ali accepted Abu Bakr's ascension is disputed, but what is certain is that he didn't engage in violent resistance to Abu Bakr. So what I'm wondering is, what would have happened if Ali had decided to take up arms against Abu Bakr and his supporters? What might the outcome be? How might this impact Islam theologically, philosophically, or politically? Does this conflict permanently prevent the Arab Conquests, or does it simply delay them?
Here are a few thoughts I have on the matter;
Medina had been the center of power during Muhammad's reign, and it would therefore definitely be fought over. Which ever of the two failed to gain control of the city initially would force the other to set up a power base in Mecca. Assuming something like this happens, we probably get two forms of Islam, one being centered around Medina, and one being centered around Mecca, with each form minimizing the importance of the other.
I can also see at least 2 different Qurans coming out of it. There were attempts to put together a Quran IOTL during the reigns of Abu Bakr and Omar, with the version that Muslims today are familiar with today being completed during the reign of Uthman. In such a conflict codifying the words and teachings of the Prophet would be of the utmost importance. IOTL Ali is said to have completed a version of the Quran himself, with the only difference between it and the final version we are familiar with being the order of the books. In this hypothetical conflict I could see each version of Islam adopting a different Quran.
Another wildcard thrown into this conflict would be the Apostate Wars. IOTL after Muhammad died a bunch of Arab tribes that had sworn allegiance or made an alliance with Muhammad did not continue any form of loyalty to Abu Bakr. These tribes had justified their breaking of ties with Abu Bakr on their alliance of allegiance being with Muhammad, and not with his political apparatus in Medina. Some of these tribes that broke with Medina had converted to Islam, and some had not. Abu Bakr, with backing of advisers, declared those politically breaking with Medina as also engaging in Apostasy, whom you could justly kill, unlike a faithful Muslim. So in this conflict not only do you have Ali going to war with Abu Bakr, you also have Nomadic Arab tribes breaking with Abu Bakr, creating a multi-polar civil war.
Whether or not Ali accepted Abu Bakr's ascension is disputed, but what is certain is that he didn't engage in violent resistance to Abu Bakr. So what I'm wondering is, what would have happened if Ali had decided to take up arms against Abu Bakr and his supporters? What might the outcome be? How might this impact Islam theologically, philosophically, or politically? Does this conflict permanently prevent the Arab Conquests, or does it simply delay them?
Here are a few thoughts I have on the matter;
Medina had been the center of power during Muhammad's reign, and it would therefore definitely be fought over. Which ever of the two failed to gain control of the city initially would force the other to set up a power base in Mecca. Assuming something like this happens, we probably get two forms of Islam, one being centered around Medina, and one being centered around Mecca, with each form minimizing the importance of the other.
I can also see at least 2 different Qurans coming out of it. There were attempts to put together a Quran IOTL during the reigns of Abu Bakr and Omar, with the version that Muslims today are familiar with today being completed during the reign of Uthman. In such a conflict codifying the words and teachings of the Prophet would be of the utmost importance. IOTL Ali is said to have completed a version of the Quran himself, with the only difference between it and the final version we are familiar with being the order of the books. In this hypothetical conflict I could see each version of Islam adopting a different Quran.
Another wildcard thrown into this conflict would be the Apostate Wars. IOTL after Muhammad died a bunch of Arab tribes that had sworn allegiance or made an alliance with Muhammad did not continue any form of loyalty to Abu Bakr. These tribes had justified their breaking of ties with Abu Bakr on their alliance of allegiance being with Muhammad, and not with his political apparatus in Medina. Some of these tribes that broke with Medina had converted to Islam, and some had not. Abu Bakr, with backing of advisers, declared those politically breaking with Medina as also engaging in Apostasy, whom you could justly kill, unlike a faithful Muslim. So in this conflict not only do you have Ali going to war with Abu Bakr, you also have Nomadic Arab tribes breaking with Abu Bakr, creating a multi-polar civil war.
