Title: The Biography of Ali ibn Abi Talib

Author: Ali al-Sallabi (Libyan)

Translator: Wang Yongfang

Publisher: Sino-Culture Press

Edition: 1st Edition, January 2016

Printing: 4th Printing, August 2022

Format: 16 - mo Binding: Hardcover

Printed Sheets: 26.5 Word Count: 320,000 characters

ISBN: 9787507544855

Price: 68.00 CNY

After the death of the Prophet Muhammad of Islam in 632 AD, within the next 30 years, the Arab Muslim community organization had four "Caliphs" (Khalifah) who successively held the religious and political power of the Arab - Islamic state. "Caliph" means "the successor of the Messenger of Allah". This marked the beginning of the early historical stage of Islam, known as the period of the Four Caliphs, also called the era of the Rightly - Guided Caliphs.

The first four Caliphs were elected by the Muslim community. They were Abu Bakr (reigned from 632 - 634 AD), Umar ibn al - Khattab (reigned from 634 - 644 AD), Uthman ibn Affan (reigned from 644 - 656 AD), and Ali ibn Abi Talib (reigned from 656 - 661 AD) in sequence. During the period of the Four Caliphs, Medina was originally the capital. When Ali was in power, the capital was moved to Kufa, Iraq.

During this period, with large - scale foreign military expansion, Islam began to spread to vast areas outside the Arabian Peninsula, which is historically known as "the era of Arab expansion".

Ali was born into the Hashim clan of the Quraysh tribe in Mecca. His father, Abu Talib, was the uncle of Muhammad. In September 622 AD, to prevent the Meccan nobles from conspiring to persecute Muhammad and to ensure his safe migration to Medina, Ali risked his life by sleeping in Muhammad's bed as a substitute. In all the major battles led by Muhammad, Ali charged into the fray and repeatedly made outstanding military achievements, being honored as "the Lion of Allah". After the assassination of Uthman in June 656 AD, Ali was elected as the fourth Caliph.

Ali Muhammad al-Sarabi is a renowned Libyan writer, scholar, and politician. His main works include The Life of Muhammad, The Biography of Abu Bakr, The Biography of Uthman, The Biography of Ali, The Biography of Saladin, The History of the Fatimid Dynasty, The History of the Seljuk Dynasty, The History of the Zengid Dynasty, The History of the Ottoman Empire, etc.

Wang Yongfang (1946 - 2012) was a journalist, editor, and associate senior translator at China Today magazine. He was a senior Arabic translator at the China Foreign Languages Publishing Administration. In 2011, the Translators Association of China specially awarded him the honorary title of Senior Translator. His main translated works include The Life of Muhammad, The Biography of Abu Bakr, The Biography of Umar, The Biography of Uthman, The Biography of Ali, The Moderate Islamic Civilization, The Years of Suffering, etc.

Chapter 1: Ali ibn Abi Talib

Section 1: His Name, Aliases, Honorific Titles, Characteristics, and Family

Section 2: His Conversion and Important Work in Mecca before the Migration

Section 3: Ali's Growth under the Influence of the Quran and the Profound Impact of the Quran on Ali

Section 4: Accompanying the Messenger of Allah

Section 5: The Important Work Ali Did from the Migration to the Day of the Confederates

Section 6: The Important Work Ali Did from the Day of the Confederates to the Death of the Prophet

Chapter 2: Ali in the Era of the Rightly - Guided Caliphs

Section 1: Ali in the Era of Abu Bakr

Section 2: Ali in the Era of Umar

Section 3: Ali in the Era of Uthman

Chapter 3: The Allegiance Sworn to Ali and Ali's Most Important Characteristics and His Social Life

Section 1: The Allegiance Sworn to Ali

Section 2: Ali's Virtues, Most Important Characteristics, and the Foundation of His Management System

Section 3: Ali's Social Life and His Emphasis on Enjoining Good and Forbidding Evil

Chapter 4: The Financial, Political, and Legal Institutions in Ali's Era and Some Examples of Qiyas in the Prophetic Practice Conducted by Ali

Section 1: The Financial Institution

Section 2: The Political and Legal Institution

Section 3: Some of Ali's Jurisprudential Views

Section 4: The Authority of the Words of the Companions of the Prophet and the Rightly - Guided Caliphs

Chapter 5: The Administrative Institutions in Ali's Era

Section 1: The Administrative Regions of the State

Section 2: The Appointment of Local Governors in Ali's Era

Chapter 6: The Battle of the Camel, the Battle of Siffin, and the Arbitration after the Wars

Section 1: The Events Preceding the Battle of the Camel

Section 2: The Battle of Siffin

Section 3: Mediation and Adjudication

Chapter 7: Ali's Stance towards the Kharijites and the Shiite Muslims

Section 1: The Kharijite Muslims

Section 2: Ali and the Shiite Ideological System

Section 3: The Final Years of Ali's Life and His Martyrdom