The Adaptation to the Life After the Death of the Prophet Muhammad and the Style of Life in Muslim Community

Abstract

This article addresses the question of caliphate and apostasy that arose after the death of the Prophet Muhammad and discusess the processs of the Muslim community's adaptation to the post-Prophetic life. While the intertribal rivalry and pre-Islamic tribal fanaticism played a devastating part as to the matter of caliphate, beside religious concerns, economic factors and conflicting interpretations of Islam had a decisive influence on the rise of apostatic movements. Although Muslim community passed through a distressed and difficult process, they managed to solve their problems and adapt themselves to the new life.