Ali bin Abi Talib is one of the earliest converts to Islam (assabiqunal awwalun), cousin Rasullullah Saw., And also the last Caliph in Kulafaur Rashidun caliphate in the eyes of Sunnis. But for Shiite Islam, Ali was the first caliph and first imam of the 12 Shiite imams.
Ali was born in Mecca, Hejaz region, the Arabian Peninsula, on the 13th of Rajab. According to historians, Ali was born 10 years before the start of Muhammad's prophethood, circa 600 AD. Her real name Haydar ibn Abu Talib. However Rasullullah Saw. did not like it and call him Ali, which means having a high degree with Allah.

When Rasullullah Saw. began to spread Islam, Ali was then aged 10 years. But he believed Rasullullah Saw. and be among the first convert to Islam from among the children. Spent his teenage years a lot to learn together so that Ali Rasullullah youth grow into intelligent, brave, and wise. If Rasullullah Saw. is a repository of knowledge, then Ali is like the key to open the warehouse.
When Rasullullah Saw. hijra, he replaces Rasullullah sleep in her bed so that the people of Quraish who want to kill the Prophet deceived. After a period of pilgrimage and lived in Medina, Ali married the Prophet with his beloved daughter Fatimah az-Zahra.
Ali not only grown into a bright youngster, but also brave in the battlefield. Together Dzulfikar, sword, Ali brings a lot of merit in a variety of battlefield victories like the Battle of Badr, Battle of the Trench, and the Battle of Khaibar.
After the death of Rasullullah, disputes arise regarding who will be appointed Deputy. Shiites believe Muhammad Ali as the caliph had prepared. But Ali was considered too young to have served as a Deputy. In the end, Abu Bakr became the first caliph.
After the killing of Uthman ibn Affan, Islamic political situation became chaotic. On this basis, the son of Zubair and Talhah ibn Awwam Ubaidillah Ali urged that soon became caliph. Ali then inducted into a gang, making it the first caliph inducted into widely. But political exigencies make Ali must bear a heavy task to complete.
The first civil war within Islam, Siffin War broke out followed by widespread slander surrounding the death of Uthman ibn Affan made the position of Ali as Caliph becomes difficult. He died at the age of 63 years for murder by Abdrrahman bin Muljam, someone who comes from the class of Kharijites (dissenters) while lead the morning prayers in the mosque of Kufa, on the 19th of Ramadan, and Ali breathed his last on the 21st of Ramadan in 40 AH. Ali was buried secretly in Najaf, even some history stating that he was buried elsewhere.
Furthermore, the seat of the caliphate is held for generations by the family of the first Umayyad caliph Muawiyah with. So ended Kulafaur Rashidun Caliphate.