Ali Zain al-Abidin al-Jifri was born in the city of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on 16 April 1971[7] (20th Safar 1391 AH). Al-Jifri is a direct descendant of the Islamic prophet Muhammad through his grandson Imam Husayn. His lineage is recorded as follows: He is Ali bin Abd al-Rahman, bin Ali, bin Muhammad, bin Alawi, bin Ali, bin Alawi, bin Ali, bin Ahmad, bin Alawi, bin Abd al-Rahman Mawla al-Arshah, bin Muhammad, bin Abd Allah al-Tarisi, bin Alawi al-Khawas, bin Abu Bakr al-Jifri, bin Muhammad, bin Ali, bin Muhammad, bin Ahmad, bin Muhammad al-Faqih al-Muqaddam, bin Ali, bin Muhammad Sahib al-Mirbat, bin Ali Khali Qasam, bin Alawi al-Thani, bin Muhammad Sahib al-Sawma'ah, bin Alawi al-Awwal, bin Ubayd Allah, bin Ahmad al-Muhajir, bin Isa al-Rumi, bin Muhammad al-Naqib, bin Ali al-Uraydi, bin Ja'far al-Sadiq, bin Muhammad al-Baqir, bin Ali Zayn al-Abidin, bin Husayn, bin Ali bin Abi Talib and Fatimah al-Zahra, the daughter of Muhammad. He has written a number of articles and books including "The Concept of Faith in Islam."