This is a translation of the chapters on al-Khulafa’ar-Rashidun from as-Suyuti’s Tarikh al-Khulaaf. Translation lacks the majority of references to the books which the sources of the hadith quoted, because whoever is interested will find the Arabic text easily.
Furthermore the translation stays as close as possible to the original Arabic at the risk of a slight awkwardness in the English. Where necessary I have added within parentheses whatever seemed necessary for an understanding of the book. The history outlined in these pages is further illuminated by a work which is even greater than it, but is itself an exposition that assumes a knowledge of what is in these pages, that is al-Awasimn al-Qawasim (‘Defence Against Disaster’) by Qadi Abu Bakr al-Arabi, may Allah show him mercy Whereas as-Suyuti gives most authentic traditions relating to these khulafahs, Qadi Abu Bakr lays bare the real significance of many of the events which as-Suyuti so expertly relates.