 Sultan Sharif Ali was a descendant of Imam Hassan ibn Ali.In addition, Sharif Ali served as the Emir of Mecca, and was entitled "Al-Amīr Sharīf ‘Alī bin Sharīf ‘Ajlān bin Sharīf Rumaithah bin Sharīf Muhammad Abū Numā’ī Al-Awwal" ().Sultan Sharif Ali was the ancestor of the Brunei and Sulu royal families.