Caliph ‘Ali happens to be one of thos3e celebrated personalities of Islam who, after the holy prophet, is held in the highest esteem by all major sects of the Muslims. But, as the author of this book says, he noticed a serious deficiency in the works of Muslim historians and biographers of Caliph ‘Ali. It was surprising to see that no complete biography of Caliph ‘Ali ibn Abu Talib throwing light on his chief characteristics and accomplishments had yet been compiled. A work objectively delineating the different facets of his life, fulfilling the norms of modern analytical research and not depending exclusively on his existing biographies was still needed. But it required breadth of vision and catholicity of views since it is not easy to write anything about a genius and mastermind whose personality has already been beclouded by controversial works of exceeding veneration and is\misjudgements. It was the personality viewed by different schools in light of their own preconceived notions and tenets, thereby truncating his life into a jumble of conflicting abstractions and images as if they were different persons known by the same name. The result was that real personality of Caliph ‘Ali and the brilliance of his character had been lost in the mist of time.

The writer has tried to present the life of Caliph ‘Ali in the background of the times in which he lived and his relations with the first three Caliphs. The narrative throws light on the sincere cooperation Caliph ‘Ali extended to his predecessors as well as the critical or rather highly complex situation obtaining during the period of his caliphate, the precarious state of affairs he had to face, the political and administrative policies he pursued and the moral and Islamic values he always upheld even in the most trying circumstances. This account also presents glimpse of the neat and immaculate personal life of Caliph ‘Ali.

The story also gives a brief account of achievements of some of the saintly persons in the progeny of Caliph ‘Ali which goes to show what a lofty moral these persons had been blessed with by God and how they continued to hold aloft the banner of reforms and regeneration of Islam teachings in the subsequent degenerate Islamic society.

The Life Of Caliph Ali