Portal:Islam/Selected Muslim

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Ali ibn Abu Talib (Approximately: March 17, 599 AD - February 28, 661 AD) was the cousin, son-in-law and one of the Ahl al-Bayt,people of the house, of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, reigning over Rashidun empire from 656 to 661. Shia Muslims glorify Ali as the first infallible Imam and consider him and his descendants as the rightful successors to Muhammad. Sunnis take a different position, revering him as the fourth and final Rashidun (Rightly Guided Caliph). This disagreement resulted in the Muslim community being split into the Sunni and Shi'a branches.

Many sources, especially Shi'ite ones, record that Ali was the only person born in the sanctuary of Kaaba in the city of Mecca. His father was Abu Talib ibn ‘Abd al-Muttalib and his mother was Fatima bint Asad but he was raised in the household of Muhammad. When Muhammad reported receiving a divine revelation, Ali accepted Islam when nine or ten years old, thus becoming the first male Muslim and he dedicated all his life to the cause of Islam.

Ali migrated to Medina shortly after Muhammad. There Muhammad told Ali that he had been ordered by God to give his daughter, Fatimah, to Ali in marriage. For the ten years that Muhammad led the community in Medina, Ali was extremely active in his service, leading parties of warriors on battles, and carrying messages and orders. With the exception of the Battle of Tabuk, Ali took part in all the battles fought for Islam during this time.

Ali was appointed caliph by sahaba (companions of Muhammad) in Medina after the assassination of the third caliph, Uthman Ibn Affan. He encountered defiance and civil war (First Fitna) during his reign. While praying in the mosque of Kufa, Abd-al-Rahman ibn Muljam assassinated Ali by striking him with a poison-coated sword. Ali died on the 21st of Ramadan in the city of Kufa in 661 CE.

Muslims greatly respect Ali for his knowledge, belief, honesty, unbending devotion to Islam, deep loyalty to Muhammad, equal treatment of all Muslims and generosity in forgiving his defeated enemies. In addition, Ali retains his stature as the foremost authority on the tafsir (Qur'anic exegesis), fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence) and religious thought. Ali also holds a high position in almost all Sufi muslim orders (tariqah) which trace their lineage through him to Muhammad. In this way, his influence continued throughout Islamic history.