Ali and His Notion of Power

Abstract

Ali's political concept and his views on power have always attracted historians and scholars. Among the various approaches to this issue, there is one that distinguishes Ali ibn-e Abitalib from other Muslim rulers. According to this approach, Ali is an ideal ruler and a man of principle who views power as an arbitrary phenomenon. The present writing, merely an introduction on this matter, tries to discuss this approach based on a number of historical records.