This is the definitive introduction to the writings of ''Ali, who was the son-in-law to the Prophet Muhammad, the fourth caliph to Sunni Muslims, and the central figure in Shi''a Islam. Two essays in this anthology won awards at the International Congress on Iman ''Ali, Tehran, 2001. Seyyed Hossein Nasr, pronounced them, among the best writings on this extraordinary figure in Western languages and are obligatory reading for anyone interested in ''Ali.