Abd al-Rahman ibn Muljam | |
|---|---|
 The assassination of Ali in a modern painting. | |
| Born | |
| Died | 31 January 661 |
| Conviction | Murder |
| Criminal penalty | Death |
| Details | |
| Victims | Ali ibn Abi Talib |
| Date | January 661 (661-01) |
| Killed | 1 |
| Weapon | Poisoned sword |
Abd al-Rahman ibn Amr ibn Muljam al-Muradi (Arabic:عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَن ابْنُ عَمْرِو ابْنُ مُلْجَم الْمُرَادِيّ,romanized: ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn Muljam al-Murādī), commonly known simply asIbn Muljam, was aKharijite dissident known primarily forassassinating ‘Alī ibn Abi Talib, the fourthcaliph of theRashidun Caliphate and the firstImam of theShia Imamate.
After the death of Ali ibn Abi Talib, his first sonHasan Ibn Ali caught Ibn Muljam and executed him inKufa, the same location where Ali-Ibn Talib was assassinated.
There were numerous defections fromAli's camp in the aftermath of theBattle of Siffin. A majority of these defectors gathered under one banner and came to be known as theKharijites. A number of them met inMecca and discussed the 659Battle of Nahrawan, which took place as a consequence of Siffin, wherein most of their men were eradicated while facing Ali's army. They concocted a plot to assassinate three prominent Muslim personalities: Amr ibn Bakr al-Tamimi was to killAmr ibn al-As, al-Hujjaj al-Tamimi was to killMu'awiya ibn Abu Sufyan and ibn Muljam was tasked to kill the caliph, Ali. The assassination attempts were to occur simultaneously as the three Muslims came to lead morning prayer in their respective cities ofFustat,Damascus andKufa. The method was to come out of the prayer ranks and strike the targets with a sword dipped in poison.[2][additional citation(s) needed]
Amr ibn Bakr al-Tamimi’s assassination attempt on Amr ibn al-As failed on the 22 of January, when he killed Amr's stand-in for theFriday prayers, Kharija ibn Hudhafa, mistaking the latter for his target.[3][4] When the Kharijite was apprehended and brought before him, Amr ibn al-As exclaimed "You wanted me, but God wanted Kharija!" and he personally executed him.[4]
On 26 January 661, while Ali was praying in theGreat Mosque of Kufa, Ibn Muljam struck him with a poison-coated sword.[5] Athir bin Amr as-Sakuni, a leading physician, treated Ali; however, Ali died from his injuries on 28 January.[6]
Three days later, Ali's son,Hasan ibn Ali, personally performed the execution of Ibn Muljam.
