94 
sions arose among the believers who should be pla- 
ced on* the vacant throne. This dispute was renewed at 
the death of every one of his successors, who adopted the 
title of Hhalipha, Khaliffe, or lieutenant of the prophet. 
After the first four KhalifFes; viz. Abubekr, Omar, Oth~ 
man, and All, who are looked upon as possessing the real 
universal Khaliffate; this dominion successively passed 
over to various dynasties, amongst which that of Abbassi 
or Abbassides, sheriffs descending from Aboulabbas, uncle 
to the prophet, are most distinguished, from the length 
of their reign, and the protection which some of these 
KhalifFes have conferred on the arts and sciences. It 
was under their reign that Mahometanism was extended 
from the frontiers of China to the streights of Gibraltar, 
and with a rapidity so astonishing, that it cannot be 
compared to the progress of any known religion. 
Notwithstanding this brilliant career, Mahometanism, 
Islamism, experienced in its own bosom, the wounds 
of those schisms which have divided and still divide its 
disciples. The legitimacy of the first three Khaliffes 
was rejected by the Persians, who looked upon them as 
intruders. They admit to the high dignity Ali alone, 
who is considered by them as the real KhalifF, and suc- 
cessor to Mouhhammed. This opinion has caused many 
bloody wars, and has occasioned the Persians to be 
deemed heretics. A prodigious number of false pro- 
phets showed themselves afterwards, with the sword in 
their hand, to overthrow this new religion, and the Anti- 
khaliffs began to interrupt the peace of the believers. 
The ambition of warring adventurers succeeded in tear- 
ing to pieces this colossal empire; a number of chiefs 
made themselves independant, and the Khaliffate disap- 
peared. 
