== OK. Another approach. Forget whether Kaaba thing is true... == 

 ... would it be encyclopedic if it were? 

 To address that question, let's consult: 

 PRINCETON 
 http://www.princeton.edu/~batke/itl/denise/ali.htm 

 COLUMBIA 
 http://www.bartleby.com/65/al/Ali.html 

 BRITANNICA 
 http://concise.britannica.com/ebc/article-9354999 

 ENCYCLOPEDIA OF THE ORIENT 
 http://i-cias.com/e.o/ali.htm