Biography of 'Ali ibn Abi Taalib
22-9-2002 | IslamWeb
Question:
Could you give me some information about Ali Bin Abi Talib (RA)?
Answer:
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad 
is His slave and Messenger.
'Ali 
is the cousin of Prophet Muhammad i.e., the son of his paternal uncle (Abu Taalib). He is 'Ali ibn Abi Taalib ibn 'Abdul-Muttalib ibn Haashim ibn 'Abd-Manaaf, from the tribe of Quraysh. He was the first person to embrace Islam, according to many scholars. He was born 10 years before Muhammad was sent as a Messenger. He received his education at the hands of the Prophet and he never separated from him .
He attended all the battles the Prophet attended except the Battle of Tabook, during which he stayed in Madeenah abiding by an order of the Prophet . He carried the flag in many battles. When the Prophet established brotherhood between every two Companions, he took the hand of 'Ali and said: "You are my brother". He was known to be very courageous and an excellent cavalier who did not know fear or cowardice.
He was one of the six representatives who were chosen by 'Umar at his death to run the affairs of the Ummah (Muslim nation) and choose the next Caliph (ruler). He was a well-educated and a knowledgeable person. He loved Allaah The Almighty and the Prophet very much and Allaah The Almighty and the Prophet loved him as well. The Prophet said about him: "It is only the believers who love him and he is not hated but by a hypocrite."
When speaking of 'Ali people are divided into two groups. One group considers him a divine entity or 'lord', and they spread some wrong beliefs about him. Another group, namely the Khawaarij (Dissenters), fought him, considering him a Kaafir (unbeliever) and an apostate. However, neither of these two groups are regarded as truthful.
The truth about 'Ali is what the Ahlus-Sunnah wal Jamaa'ah think about him. For these righteous people, 'Ali is among the foremost highly ranked Muslims who emigrated with the Prophet . He is one of the ten people to whom the Prophet gave glad tidings that they will be dwellers of Paradise. He is also the fourth Caliph, and was endowed with noble characteristics and high morals.
Many books were written about 'Ali . According to Ibn Hajar 
'Ali died during the night of 17th of Ramadan in the year 40 A.H. He ruled for 4 years 8 months and 15 days.
Allaah Knows best.