Al Mualim is Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad's mentor and the first game's main antagonist in Assassin's Creed.
He leads the Masyaf-based Assassin Brotherhood and assigns Altaïr a series of assassination targets after Altaïr violates the Order's principles during a mission. The targets are connected to the Templar conspiracy in the Holy Land.
The name means “The Teacher” or “The Master” in Arabic, reflecting his authority over the Assassins. A major revelation near the end of the game is that Al Mualim has been manipulating events to obtain the Apple of Eden for himself.
Players sometimes confuse Al Mualim with Rashid ad-Din Sinan, the historical figure who inspired the character. The game is set during the Third Crusade, but its supernatural artifacts and secret organizations are fictionalized.