ALI

The son of Abu Talib, and a cousin - gorman to Muhammad who adopted him as his son. He married Fatimah, the daughter of Muhammad, and had by her three sons, Hasan, Hussein, and Muhassin. He was the fourth Khalifah, and reigned from A.H. 25 to A.H. 40. He was struck with a poisoned sword by Ibn Muljam, at al-Kufab, and died after three days aged fifty-nine years. The Shi'ahs hold that, on the death of Muhammad, 'Ali was entitled to the Khalifate, and the respective claims of Abu Bakr, 'Umar, and 'Usman on the one hand, and of 'Ali on the other, gave rise to the Shi'ah schism. 'Ali is surnamed by the Arabs Asadu 'llah, and by the Persians Sher-i- Khuda, i.e. "The Lion of God." {SHI'AH.]