The Early Islamic Civil Wars, also known as the First Fitna (656-661 CE) and the Second Fitna (680-692 CE), were significant conflicts that arose after the death of the Prophet Muhammad. These wars primarily involved disputes over leadership and authority within the Muslim community, leading to divisions between different factions, notably the Sunni and Shia. The First Fitna began with the assassination of the third caliph, Uthman, and the subsequent rise of Ali, the fourth caliph. The Second Fitna was marked by the struggle for power between the Umayyad dynasty and supporters of Husayn, the grandson of Muhammad. These conflicts shaped the political landscape of early Islam and had lasting impacts on its development.