- Khulafa-e-Rashideen - Pious Caliphs

1) After the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) his true Caliphs and related Imam is 'Abu Bakr Siddique (may Allah be pleased with him). After him it is 'Umar Farooque (may Allah be pleased with him). Then it is 'Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him). After him it is 'Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) and then Imam Hasan (may Allah be pleased with him). These leader's Khilafah is known as Raashida (Pious) because these great companions gave true representation of the Prophet.

2) The length of Khilafat Raashida
The true pious Khilafah as per the traditions of the Prophet lasted thirty years. Meaning it finished after six months of true Khilafah performed by Imam Hasan (may Allah be pleased with him). Then the leader of Muslims 'Umar Bin 'Abdul Aziz performed the pious Khilafah, and Imam Mehdi (may Allah be pleased with him) will perform true Khilafah in the final era. Amir Mu'awiya was the first king in Islam. [Takmeelul Iman, Wa Kamal Ibne Hamam] 

  

Who is the most virtuous of Caliphs?
After the Prophets, and out of all of Allah (The Exalted)'s creations including Jinn, Humans, Angels, the most virtuous is 'Abu Bakr Siddique, then 'Umar Farooque, then 'Uthman Ghani, then 'Ali (may Allah be pleased with them). Whoever believes that 'Ali is more virtuous than 'Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) or 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) is a misguided person and from a bad sect.