‘Ali ibn Abi Talib (علي بن أبي
طالب) (599 – 661) was an early Islamic leader. He is
revered by
Sunni Muslims as the last of the four Rightly Guided
Caliphs and as a
foremost religious authority on the Qur'an and Islamic
jurisprudence. Shi'a Muslims consider him the First Imam
appointed by the Prophet Muhammad and the first rightful caliph.
Ali was the cousin of Muhammad, and after marriage to
Fatima Zahra,
he also became Muhammad's son-in-law.