Question: what was the relationship between the shiites and ali the fourth caliph?
Answer: While Sunnis consider Ali the fourth Rashidun Caliph, Shia Muslims regard Ali as the first Caliph and Imam after Muhammad. Shia Muslims also believe that Ali and the other Shia Imams, all of whom are from the House of Muhammad's, known as the Ahl al-Bayt, are the rightful successors to Muhammad.