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The precise meaning of Khalifa is " representative ".

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 Khulafā ’ ur-Rāshideen (" rightly guided successors ") Caliphs.

Each Caliph was a close companion of Muhammad during his prophethood.