The Patriarchal Caliphs

The more general meaning of Khalifa refers to the successors of Muhammad. The first four Caliphs: Abu Bakr as-Siddiq, Umar ibn al-Khattab, Uthman ibn Affan, and Ali ibn Abi Talib are commonly known by Sunnis, mainly, as the Khulfa-e-Rashideen ("rightly guided successors"), or "patriarchal" Caliphs. Each Caliph was a close companion of Muhammad during his prophethood, and are therefore seen as having a direct succession to Muhammad.