The History of the Khalifahs-al-Suyuti

“The History of the Khalifahs” (Tarikh al-Khulafa) by the encyclopedic scholar Imam Jalal al-Din al-Suyuti (translated by Abdassamad Clarke) is an authoritative and classic historical work chronicling the lives and reigns of the Caliphs who ruled the Muslim world, starting with the Rightly Guided Caliphs (al-Khulafa ar-Rashidun)—Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman, and Ali—and continuing through the Umayyad and Abbasid dynasties. Al-Suyuti rigorously compiled his account from original Islamic sources, offering a comprehensive blend of historical events, biographical details, and moral lessons. This translation serves as an essential, high-quality reference for understanding the political, religious, and social evolution of the early and medieval Islamic state and its leadership history.