The split in the Muslim community after Muhammad's death occurred due to differences in opinion regarding his successor, known as the caliph. The majority of Muslims believed that Abu Bakr, Muhammad's close companion and father-in-law, should be the rightful caliph, while a smaller faction believed that Ali, Muhammad's cousin and son-in-law, should take over. This disagreement led to the first major division in Islam, with Abu Bakr ultimately becoming the first caliph and Ali eventually assuming the position after the deaths of Abu Bakr and the second caliph, Umar. The split between these two factions eventually solidified into the Sunni and Shia branches of Islam, each with their own beliefs, practices, and interpretations of Islamic teachings.
