Final answer:
Muhammad did not name a successor when he died. His father-in-law, Abu Bakr, was appointed as the first Caliph. This decision contributed to the eventual split between Sunni and Shia Islam.
Step-by-step explanation:
When the Prophet Muhammad died in 632 CE, he did not name a successor. Following his death, the Muslim community faced immediate problems, as Muhammad had been their definitive leader. After a period of deliberation, Muhammad's father-in-law, Abu Bakr, was appointed as the first Caliph, a role that combined both spiritual and political authority within the Muslim community.
The issue of succession led to significant historical developments. After Abu Bakr's term, the community was led by Umar, Uthman, and Ali - the four "Rightly Guided Caliphs." The decision to choose Abu Bakr over Ali, who was related by blood to Muhammad, had long-term implications for the ummah and eventually contributed to the division between the Sunni and Shia branches of Islam.
The question of succession remained contentious, with leadership often being decided amongst the community's elders and not necessarily following a hereditary line. This opened the door for political maneuvering and set a precedent for future governance of the community. Over time, the Umayyads established the first hereditary dynasty in Islamic history, shifting the capital from Medina to Damascus and marking their own era of rule.