'Ali ibn Abi Talib
Cousin and son-in-law of the Prophet Muhammad
Fourth Rashidun Caliph
First Shia Imam
b. September 15, 601 (13 Rajab, 21 BH), Ka'ban, Mecca, Hijaz, Arabian Peninsula
d. January 29, 661 (21 Ramadan, 40 AH), Kufa, Mesopotamia, Rashidun Empire
*****
'Ali ibn Abi Talib was the cousin and son-in-law of the Prophet Muhammad. He ruled as the fourth caliph from 656 (35 AH) to 661 (40 AH), but is regarded as the rightful immediate successor to Muhammad as an Imam by Shia Muslims.
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Ali was the first male who accepted Islam and, arguably, the first Muslim. Ali protected Muhammad from an early age and took part in almost all the battles fought by the nascent Muslim community. After migrating to Medina, Ali married Muhammad's daughter Fatima. He was appointed caliph by Muhammad's companions in 656 (35 AH), after Caliph Uthman ibn Affan was assassinated. Ali's reign saw civil wars and, in 661 (40 AH), he was attacked and assassinated by a Kharijite while he was praying in the Great Mosque of Kufa.
*****
Ali is important to both Shias and Sunnis, politically and spiritually. The numerous biographical sources about Ali agree that he was a pious Muslim, devoted to the cause of Islam and a just ruler in accordance with the Qur'an and the Sunnah. While Sunnis consider Ali the fourth and final of the Rashidun (rightly guided) caliphs. Shia Muslims regard Ali as the first Imam after Muhammad. Shia Muslims also believe that Ali and the other Shia imams (all of whom are of the household of Muhammad) are the rightful successors to Muhammad. It was this disagreement that split the umma into Shia and Sunni branches.
*****
Cousin and son-in-law of the Prophet Muhammad
Fourth Rashidun Caliph
First Shia Imam
b. September 15, 601 (13 Rajab, 21 BH), Ka'ban, Mecca, Hijaz, Arabian Peninsula
d. January 29, 661 (21 Ramadan, 40 AH), Kufa, Mesopotamia, Rashidun Empire
*****
'Ali ibn Abi Talib was the cousin and son-in-law of the Prophet Muhammad. He ruled as the fourth caliph from 656 (35 AH) to 661 (40 AH), but is regarded as the rightful immediate successor to Muhammad as an Imam by Shia Muslims.
*****
Ali was the first male who accepted Islam and, arguably, the first Muslim. Ali protected Muhammad from an early age and took part in almost all the battles fought by the nascent Muslim community. After migrating to Medina, Ali married Muhammad's daughter Fatima. He was appointed caliph by Muhammad's companions in 656 (35 AH), after Caliph Uthman ibn Affan was assassinated. Ali's reign saw civil wars and, in 661 (40 AH), he was attacked and assassinated by a Kharijite while he was praying in the Great Mosque of Kufa.
*****
Ali is important to both Shias and Sunnis, politically and spiritually. The numerous biographical sources about Ali agree that he was a pious Muslim, devoted to the cause of Islam and a just ruler in accordance with the Qur'an and the Sunnah. While Sunnis consider Ali the fourth and final of the Rashidun (rightly guided) caliphs. Shia Muslims regard Ali as the first Imam after Muhammad. Shia Muslims also believe that Ali and the other Shia imams (all of whom are of the household of Muhammad) are the rightful successors to Muhammad. It was this disagreement that split the umma into Shia and Sunni branches.
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