Alids

Al-Alawi
العلوي
Hashemite Arab Tribe
Medallion bearing the name of Ali inscribed with Islamic calligraphy in Hagia Sophia, Istanbul, Turkey.
EthnicityArab
Nisbaal-Alawi
LocationArabia
Descended fromAli ibn Abi Talib
Parent tribeBanu Hashim
Demonym(s)Alawis
Branches
LanguageArabic
ReligionIslam
SurnamesAl-Hashemi, Al-Alawi

The Alids are those who claim descent from Ali ibn Abi Talib (Arabic: عَلِيّ إبْن أَبِي طَالِب; c. 600–661 CE), the fourth Rashidun caliph (r.656–661) and the first imam in Shia Islam. Ali was also the cousin and son-in-law of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. The main branches are the Hasanids and Husaynids, named after Hasan and Husayn, the eldest sons of Ali from his marriage to Fatima, the daughter of Muhammad. As the progeny of Muhammad, they are revered by all Muslims. The Alids have led various movements in Islam, and a line of twelve Alids are the imams in Twelver Shia, the largest Shia branch.