Alids

Quick Facts: Who was Alids?

Subject:

Alids

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The lineage tracing descent from Ali ibn Abi Talib, revered by all Muslims.

Verified Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

Alids (Arabic: العلويين, romanized: al-ʿAlawiyyīn) are the descendants of Ali, the cousin and son-in-law of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, the fourth Sunni Rashidun caliph and the first Imam in Shia Islam. The two principal branches of the Alid lineage are the Hasanids and Husaynids, named after Hasan and Husayn, the sons of Ali and Fatima, the daughter of Muhammad. The direct line of Alids, beginning with Ali himself, constitutes the Twelve Imams of Twelver Shi'ism, the largest branch of Shia Islam. As the family of Muhammad, they are revered by all Muslims. In addition to seventeen daughters, various sources report that Ali had eleven or fourteen, or eighteen sons.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

His first marriage was to Fatima, daughter of the Prophet Muhammad, who bore Ali three sons, namely, Hasan, Husayn, and Muhsin, though the last one is not mentioned in some sources. Muhsin either died in infancy, or was miscarried after Fatima was injured during a raid on her house to arrest Ali, who had withheld his pledge of allegiance from the first Rashidun caliph Abu Bakr (r. The first report appears in Sunni sources and the latter in Shia sources. Hasan and Husayn are recognized as the second and the third Imams in Shia Islam, their descendants being known as the Hasanids and the Husaynids, respectively. They are revered by all Muslims as the family of Muhammad.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Ali and Fatima had two daughters, Zaynab and Umm Kulthum. Some time after the death of Fatima in 632, Ali remarried and had more children. Among them, the lineage of Ali continued through Muhammad ibn al-Hanafiya, Abbas ibn Ali, and Umar al-Atraf, their descendants were honored by the title Alawi (lit. Respectively, they were born to Khawla al-Hanafiyya, Umm al-Banin, and Umm Habib bint Rabi'a (al-Sahba). Mu'awiya seized the rule after the assassination of Ali in 661 and founded the Umayyad Caliphate, during which the Alids and their supporters were heavily persecuted.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Alids

True or False: “Did the Abbasids immediately support the Alids when they overthrew the Umayyads?”

Answer (FALSE ❌): The Abbasids soon turned against their former allies and persecuted the Alids and their Shia supporters after declaring themselves caliphs.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Alids