Al Jazeera’s ambitious new three-part documentary series, The Caliphate, stitches together a rich history that officially spans 13 centuries. At times, this history has been distorted for brutal purposes, as seen in recent years with the rise of the Islamic State (ISIS) and the resurgence of its self-aggrandizing caliphate. Despite this troubling development, the role of the caliph has long been an integral and sacred part of Islamic culture.
The first part of the film looks at the establishment of this tradition, which began with the death of the Prophet Muhammad in 632. The title caliph literally means the successor or deputy who is chosen to continue the effort to build a strong and prosperous Islamic State. Leading scholars of Islamic history tell how these early leaders spread their new religion to various regions in and around the Arabian Peninsula, building the world’s largest empire in the process.
There is a huge schism in the second part of the movie. The origin of the conflict originally arose in the aftermath of the death of the Prophet Muhammad, when disagreements erupted over his eventual successor. This resulted in two separate religious sects, Sunni and Shia. Tensions between the two sects have spanned history and are still causing great turmoil in the Middle East.
The third part commemorates the decline and official end of the Caliphate. The Ottoman Empire first adopted the Caliphate in the 14th century. But in 1924, when the empire fell, the victorious Turkish Republic abolished that entity and outlawed its most famous and outspoken supporters. With these populations scattered and dispersed in various surrounding areas, the concept of a supreme leader who unified the Islamic community became untenable.
The Caliph takes viewers on a fantastic journey filled with intriguing characters, brutal warfare, and a legacy of faith that is often misunderstood in our current climate of turmoil. Runs for nearly three hours, this impressive film is filled with strong historical insights. It provides a comprehensive insight into a very important subject.
