Very soon you are going to start hearing these kinds of words : Kalipha - Caliphate - pronounced
[kah LEE fit ] When Islamic newspapers start using these words, you will know the Jihad has
started!

The earliest caliphs were relatives and followers of Muhammad himself. Under these four caliphs,
the political, social, and religious institutions of Islam would be solidified, including the
definitive edition of the Qur'an . The world of Islam would expand far beyond the borders of the
Arabian peninsula during their tenure—east into the Persian empire, north into Byzantine territory,
and west across the face of northern Africa.

Because of their foundational status and the fact that they were direct followers of Muhammad,
these first four caliphs are called the patriarchs or patriarchal caliphs of Islam. For many
Muslims, this was the golden age of Islamic government when a true Islamic polity was in existence;
from some Muslims, such as Shi'ite Muslims, this was the only period when there was legitimate
Islamic government. In this view, the founding of the Umayyad dynasty ushered in more than a
millenium of illegitmate government.

Click for more information: http://www.wsu.edu:8080/~dee/ISLAM/CALIPH.HTM