From: Gene McAloon 

On Fri, 09 Jul 2004 12:36:52 +0100, Adam Flinton
 wrote:

>ROLFMAO. Ummmm Tell me Gene why is it that the Caliphs were descendants
>of the prophet? Odd that, given that according to you it has nothing to
>do with religion. My what a coincidence.

You prattle on about these things when it is so obvious you, as usual of course,
haven't the slightest idea of what you are talking about.

Caliph means simply "successor." The caliphate designates that
period immediately following Mohammed's death. None of those successors was
related to Mohammad, not a one. That fact is what caused the split between
Sunni and Shiite, the latter lead by the son-in-law of Mohammad who
preached that only relatives of Mohammad should be caliphs. He lost. In
fact, got assassinated for his troubles.

The only people who still believe that are the Shiites and OBL is not a
Shiite. If he wants a return to a caliphate, it would be a reference to
that period after Mohammad's death when the successors represented a
combination of political and religious unity and that had nothing
whatsoever to do with being a
descendent of Mohammad. Of course that unity fell apart in time as the political
and religion split into separate and often warring parts.

As I have said so often, do learn something about the Arabs and Muslims. At
least take time to read a dictionary. Even its limited approach would teach
you more than you know now.

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