Shia view of Ali

Ali
‘Alī ibn Abī Tālib
Imam Ali Mosque in Najaf, Iraq, where Ali is buried.
Other names	Kunya: Abu al-Hasan Imam of Mosque
Personal
Born	13th Rajab 16 BH ≈ Jul. 17, 607 C.E. Kaaba (Mecca, Arabia)
Died	21st Ramadan 40 AH ≈ Jan. 27, 661 C.E.
Resting place	Imam Ali Mosque (Najaf, Iraq)
Spouse	Fatimah Umamah bint Zainab Umm ul-Banin Khawlah bint Ja'far
Children	See descendants of Ali ibn Abi Talib
Parents	Abu Talib ibn ‘Abd al-Muttalib (Father) Fatimah bint Asad (Mother)
Senior posting
Title	Amir al-Mu'minin (Arabic: Commander of the Faithful) Bab-e-Madinatul-ilm (Arabic: The door to the city of Knowledge) al-Murtazā (Arabic: The One who is favourite to Allah) an-Naba'ul ‘Adhīm (Arabic: The Great News) Mushkil-Kushā (Urdu: The Solver of Problems) Imāmul Muttaqīn (Arabic: Leader of the God-conscious) al-Wasī (Arabic:The Successor) Haydar (Arabic: Lion) as-Sādiq (Arabic: The Truthful) Asadullah (Arabic: Lion of Allah) Safdar (Arabic: Piercing Lines/Warrior)
Period in office	Imāmate: 29 years (11–40 AH)

Ali was the cousin and son-in-law of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, and a member of the Ahl al-Bayt. Ali is regarded as the first Imam and is considered, along with his descendants, to be one of the divinely appointed successors of Muhammad who are considered the only legitimate religious and political leaders of the Muslim community. Although Ali was regarded, during the lifetime of Muhammad, as his initial successor, it would be 25 years before he was recognized with the title of Caliph (successor). Like the rest of his household, Ali is considered infallible and sinless and is one of The Fourteen Infallibles of the household of Muhammed.

Tradition states that Ali was born inside the Kaaba in Mecca, and was a member of the Quraysh tribe. Ali's father and Muhammad's uncle, Abu Talib ibn ‘Abd al-Muttalib, was custodian of the Kaaba and a sheikh of the Banu Hashim; an important branch of the powerful tribe of the Quraysh. His mother, Fatimah bint Asad, was also from the Banu Hashim. In Arab culture it was a great honor for Ali that both of his parents belonged to the Banu Hashim. Ali was also one of descendants of Ishmael (Isma'il) the son of Abraham (Ibrahim).

During his childhood, Ali spent his first six years under his father's roof. Then, as a result of famine in and around Mecca, Muhammad asked his uncle, Abu Talib, to allow Ali to come and live in the house of his cousin. It would be another four years until Muhammad would announce his Prophethood. When the divine command came for Muhammad to begin to preach, Ali, only a child of ten years, was the first male to publicly announce his support for his cousin. Over the coming years, Ali stood firmly in his support of Muhammad during the persecution of Muslims by the Meccans.