632 — Muhammad dies, sparking the ongoing controversy about his rightful successor, or caliph. Sunnis believe that the Prophet nominated his close friend, Abu Bakr — father of Aisha, Muhammad’s youngest wife — while the Shia maintain that he appointed his first cousin and son-in-law, Ali.
Shia Islam: a timeline
The key dates in Shia history, from the death of the prophet Muhammad to the modern day.
