WAEC Islamic Religious Studies (IRS) 2023 Theory — Question 5

Model answer

Caliph Abū-Bakr b. Abī Quḥāfah (632-634 CE) was the first of the rightly-guided Caliphs. His contributions include: (i) He dispatched Usāmah's expedition earlier planned by the Prophet against the Byzantines. (ii) He fought those who laid false claims to prophethood (Riddah wars). (iii) He enforced collection of Zakāt from those who threatened to withhold it. (iv) He expanded the frontiers of Islam. (v) He avenged the murder of the Prophet's emissary to the Ghassanid prince of Basrah. (vi) He personally supervised state officials, including the army. (vii) He actively participated in battles fought during the Prophet's time. (viii) He ordered the collection and compilation of the Qur'ān into book form. (ix) He provided the able leadership that kept the Muslims united. (x) He resolved the initial differences that threatened to divide the Anṣār and the Muhājirūn.