The
Rashidun Caliphs (meaning "Rightly Guided", "Righteously Guided", "Righteous" Caliphs; ), often simply called,
collectively, "
the Rashidun", is a term used in
Sunni Islam to refer to the 30-year reign of the first four caliphs (successors) following the death of the
Islamic prophet Muhammad, namely:
Abu Bakr,
Umar,
Uthman ibn Affan and
Ali of the
Rashidun Caliphate, the first
caliphate. The concept of "Rightly Guided Caliphs" originated with the later
Abbasid Caliphate based in
Baghdad. It is a reference to the Sunni imperative "Hold firmly to my example (
sunnah) and that of the Rightly Guided Caliphs" (
Ibn Majah,
Abu Dawood).