Ali was the cousin and son-in-law of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, and ruled over the Islamic Caliphate from 656 to 661. Sunni Muslims consider Ali the fourth and final of the Rightly Guided Caliphs, Shia Muslims regard Ali as the first Imam. Shi'as consider him and his descendants the rightful successors to Muhammad, all of which are members of the 'Ahl al-Bayt', the household of Muhammad. This disagreement split the Ummah (Muslim community) into the Sunni and Shi'a branches.

Most records do indicate that during Muhammad's time, Ali was the only person born in the Kaaba sanctuary in Mecca, the holiest place in Islam. 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, who himself was raised by Abu Talib, Muhammad's uncle. When Muhammad reported receiving a divine revelation, Ali was the first youngest male to accept his message, dedicating his life to the cause of Islam and to his prophet.

Ali migrated to Medina shortly after Muhammad did. Once there Muhammad told Ali that God had ordered him 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. Ali took part in the early raids against caravans from Mecca and later in almost all the battles fought by the early Muslim community.

Ali was appointed caliph by the Sahaba (Muhammad's companions) in Medina after the assassination of the third caliph, Uthman ibn Affan. He encountered defiance and civil war from hypocrisy during his reign. In 661, Ali was attacked from behind while praying in the mosque of Kufa, dying as a martyr a few days later.

In Muslim culture, Ali is respected for his great physical and spiritual courage, bravery, vast knowledge, belief, honesty, unbending devotion to Islam, deep loyalty to Muhammad, equal treatment of all Muslims and generosity in forgiving his defeated enemies, and therefore is central to mystical traditions in Islam such as Sufism. Ali retains his stature as an authority on Qur'anic exegesis, Ahadees nabawi, Islamic jurisprudence and religious thoughts. Ali holds a high position in almost all Sufi orders which trace their lineage through him to our holly prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Ali's influence has thus continued throughout Islamic history.

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Ali dilahirkan di Mekkah, daerah Hejaz, Jazirah Arab, pada tanggal 13 Rajab. Menurut sejarawan, Ali dilahirkan 10 tahun sebelum dimulainya kenabian Muhammad, sekitar tahun 599 Masehi. Muslim Syi’ah percaya bahwa Ali dilahirkan di dalam Ka’bah. Usia Ali terhadap Nabi Muhammad masih diperselisihkan hingga kini, sebagian riwayat menyebut berbeda 25 tahun, ada yang berbeda 27 tahun, ada yang 30 tahun bahkan 32 tahun.

Beliau bernama asli Haydar bin Abu Thalib, paman Nabi Muhammad SAW. Haydar yang berarti Singa adalah harapan keluarga Abu Thalib untuk mempunyai penerus yang dapat menjadi tokoh pemberani dan disegani diantara kalangan Quraisy Mekkah.Setelah mengetahui sepupu yang baru lahir diberi nama Haydar, Nabi SAW memanggil dengan Ali yang berarti Tinggi (derajat di sisi Allah).

Ali dilahirkan dari ibu yang bernama Fatimah binti Asad, dimana Asad merupakan anak dari Hasyim, sehingga menjadikan Ali, merupakan keturunan Hasyim dari sisi bapak dan ibu.

Kelahiran Ali bin Abi Thalib banyak memberi hiburan bagi Nabi SAW karena beliau tidak punya anak laki-laki. Uzur dan faqir nya keluarga Abu Thalib memberi kesempatan bagi Nabi SAW bersama istri beliau Khadijah untuk mengasuh Ali dan menjadikannya putra angkat. Hal ini sekaligus untuk membalas jasa kepada Abu Thalib yang telah mengasuh Nabi sejak beliau kecil hingga dewasa, sehingga sedari kecil Ali sudah bersama dengan Muhammad.

Ali bin Abi Thalib, seseorang yang memiliki kecakapan dalam bidang militer dan strategi perang, mengalami kesulitan dalam administrasi negara karena kekacauan luar biasa yang ditinggalkan pemerintahan sebelumya. Ia meninggal di usia 63 tahun karena pembunuhan oleh Abdrrahman bin Muljam, seseorang yang berasal dari golongan Khawarij (pembangkang) saat mengimami shalat subuh di masjid Kufah, pada tanggal 19 Ramadhan, dan Ali menghembuskan nafas terakhirnya pada tanggal 21 Ramadhan tahun 40 Hijriyah. Ali dikuburkan secara rahasia di Najaf, bahkan ada beberapa riwayat yang menyatakan bahwa ia dikubur di tempat lain.

-------------------- Alī ibn Abī Ṭālib (Arabic: علي بن أﺑﻲ طالب; Transliteration: ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ali --------------------

• Wilaadat: 27th Rajjab 24 BH (c. 4th November 598 AD)
• Wafaat: 21st Ramzaan-ul-Kareem 40 AH (30th January 661 AD)

Source 1: Sahifa

Source 2: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ali