ʿAlī b. Abū Ṭālib (Arabic: عَلِيُّ بْن أَبِي طَالِب, c. 600–661) was the cousin and son-in-law of Muḥammad ﷺ, and was the fourth Rashidun caliph who ruled from 656 to 66. Born to Abū Ṭālib b. ʿAbd al-Muṭṭalib and Fāṭimah b. Asad, a young Ali was raised by his elder cousin the Prophet ﷺ and was among the first to accept his teachings.
Ali played a pivotal role in the early years of Islam when Muslims were severely persecuted in Mecca. After immigration (hijra) to Medina in 622, the Prophet ﷺ gave his daughter Fāṭimah ﵂ to ʿAlī ﵁ in marriage and swore a pact of brotherhood with him. ʿAlī ﵁ served as the Prophet's ﷺ secretary and deputy in this period and was the flag bearer of his army.