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There was a bit of a power struggle. Abu Bakr, the Prophet's chief financial backer and father-in-law, became the khalifa, or deputy in his stead, over the objections of those who felt the mantle should have gone to Ali, the Prophet's son-in-law. The division between Sunni and Shiia dates from this time.

Eventually Ali did become the khalifa, (the fourth one), but there was bad blood among the factions and he was murdered, as had been the second and third khalifas before him.

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13y ago

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