Al Mualim is Altaïr's mentor in the original Assassin's Creed.
Al Mualim leads the Assassin Brotherhood from Masyaf during the game's Third Crusade setting. After Altaïr violates the Brotherhood's principles during an early mission, Al Mualim strips him of rank and equipment. He then assigns Altaïr a series of investigations and assassinations intended to restore his status.
The mentor gives Altaïr targets connected to both the Templars and the political conflict among the Levantine powers. As Altaïr gathers information, he begins to question the official story surrounding the missions and the relationship between the Assassin leader and the Templar conspiracy.
Al Mualim means “the teacher” or “master” in Arabic and functions as Altaïr's authority figure for much of the game. He should not be confused with later mentors such as Mario Auditore, who trains Ezio, or William Miles, who operates in the modern-day storyline. The character's role changes dramatically as the plot reaches its conclusion.