History of Islam 4: Ali ibn Abi Taalib (R)

He was the first male to accept Islam, at roughly nine years old — the Prophet's ﷺ cousin, and the son of Abu Talib, the supportive and loving uncle who protected him through the worst trials of his early prophethood.

His devotion shows most clearly at the Hijrah, when he acted as the Prophet's ﷺ decoy in Makkah, lying in his bed while the Prophet ﷺ left under cover of night for Madinah with Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه.

The volume follows him through the Madinan years, his knowledge and judgment, and the caliphate — a period of division that is set out honestly and at a level young readers can handle.

Why This Series

Our past, present and future are interconnected and interdependent. Knowing and understanding our history is therefore not optional; it is essential.

Darussalam presents the entire history of Islam to young people in language that appeals to them, in a simple yet lucid manner — which is the gap this series fills. Most Islamic history in English is either written for scholars or thinned out for small children, with nothing in between for a reader of twelve or fifteen.

The Rest of the Series

Darussalam presents the whole of Islamic history to young readers in language that appeals to them. The first four volumes cover the Rightly Guided Caliphs; later volumes carry the story forward through the ages that followed.

• Volume 1 — Abu Bakr as-Siddiq رضي الله عنه
• Volume 2 — 'Umar ibn al-Khattab رضي الله عنه
• Volume 3 — 'Uthman ibn 'Affan رضي الله عنه
• Volume 5 — Mu'awiyah ibn Abi Sufyan رضي الله عنه