Ali ibn Abi ?alib (Arabic: ??? ?? ??? ????;; c.598-661 CE). The son of Abu Talib; Ali was also the cousin and son-in-law of the Prophet; Muhammad; ruling over the Islamic Caliphate from 656 to 661; and was the first male convert to Islam.

Sunnis consider Ali the fourth and final of the Rashidun (rightly guided) Caliphs; while Shia regard Ali as the first Imam and 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 Shia branches.