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First Fitna

First major civil war within the early Muslim community over leadership of the caliphate.

Timeline
656-661 CE
Duration
6 years
Region
Early Islamic world
Record
Static archive

Historical overview

Overview adapted from a Wikipedia summary and stored locally on May 11, 2026.

The First Fitna was the first major civil war within the Muslim community. It centered on leadership of the caliphate and ended with the rise of Umayyad power.

Theater countries

IraqSyriaSaudi ArabiaEgypt

Actors

Rashidun factionsAli ibn Abi TalibMuawiya I

Tags

civil-warcaliphatesuccession

Border context

633-750historical border era

Caliphate expansion

Rashidun and Umayyad conquests rapidly transform the Levant, Egypt, Persia, North Africa and Iberia.

Former Byzantine and Sasanian territories move into Islamic imperial systems. Iberia becomes a major western frontier.

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