Which branch of Muslims encompassed both the Umayyad and Abbasid caliphates?

Study for the McDermott Post-Classical-Islamic Caliphate Test. Prepare with multiple choice questions and detailed answers. Master key historical concepts and ace your exam!

Multiple Choice

Which branch of Muslims encompassed both the Umayyad and Abbasid caliphates?

Explanation:
Sunni Islam. After Muhammad’s death, Sunni tradition developed around accepting caliphs as rightful political leaders chosen by the community or its representatives, rather than requiring a prophet’s family line. The Umayyad dynasty (based in Damascus) and the Abbasid dynasty (based in Baghdad) rose and ruled as the major Sunni caliphates for long periods, shaping their states, laws, and institutions within that Sunni framework. While Shia Muslims contested legitimate leadership in various ways and Ibadi and Khawarij groups existed, the long-lasting, broadly accepted political authority of both dynasties lay within Sunni practice and authority.

Sunni Islam. After Muhammad’s death, Sunni tradition developed around accepting caliphs as rightful political leaders chosen by the community or its representatives, rather than requiring a prophet’s family line. The Umayyad dynasty (based in Damascus) and the Abbasid dynasty (based in Baghdad) rose and ruled as the major Sunni caliphates for long periods, shaping their states, laws, and institutions within that Sunni framework. While Shia Muslims contested legitimate leadership in various ways and Ibadi and Khawarij groups existed, the long-lasting, broadly accepted political authority of both dynasties lay within Sunni practice and authority.

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