Alids

Alids
العلويين
Hashemite Arab Tribe
A medallion bearing the name of Ali inscribed with Islamic calligraphy in Hagia Sophia, Istanbul, Turkey.
EthnicityArabic descent
Nisbaal-Alawi or
al-Alaoui
LocationIslamic world
Descended fromAli ibn Abi Talib
Parent tribeHashimds
DemonymAlawis
Branches
Languageoriginally Arabic, nowadays languages spread all over the Islamic world
ReligionIslam
SurnamesAlawi or Alaoui

Alids (Arabic: العلويين, romanizedal-ʿAlawiyyīn) are the descendants of Ali, the fourth Rashidun caliph and the first Imam in Shia Islam. He was also the cousin and son-in-law of the Islamic prophet Muhammad.

The Alids have led various movements in Islam. The direct line of Alids, beginning with Ali himself, constitutes the Twelve Imams of Twelver Shia Islam, the largest branch of Shia Islam.

Other branches of the Alids 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.