Abd al-Rahman ibn Muljam
ʿAbd al-Rahman ibn Muljam al-Murādiyy (Arabic: عبدالرحمن بن ملجم المرادي) was a Khariji known for assassinating Ali, the fourth Caliph of Islam.
Abd-al-Rahman ibn Muljam al-Murādiyy | |
|---|---|
 Extracted from Assassination of Ali by Ibn Muljam | |
| Died | 661 |
| Criminal charge | Murder |
| Penalty | Execution |
| Details | |
| Victims | Ali ibn Abi Talib |
| Date | January 661 |
| Killed | 1 |
| Weapon | Poisoned sword |
Assassination plot
A number of the Kharijites met in Mecca and discussed the 659 Battle of Nahrawan, at which hundreds of their comrades were killed by forces of Ali, after their defection from Ali's army. They agreed to assassinate three of the leaders of Islam: ibn Muljam was to kill Ali, al-Hujjaj al-Tamimi was to kill Mu'awiya, and Amr ibn Bakr al-Tamimi was to kill 'Amr ibn al-'As. The assassination attempts were to occur simultaneously as the three leaders came to lead morning prayer in their respective cities of Kufa, Damascus and Fustat. The method was to come out of the prayer ranks and strike the targets with a sword dipped in poison.[1]
Assassination of Ali
On January 26, 661, while praying in the Great Mosque of Kufa, Ali was attacked by Abd al-Rahman ibn Muljam. He was wounded by ibn Muljam's poison-coated sword while prostrating during the Fajr prayer.[2] Medical treatment for Ali was undertaken by Atheer bin Amr As-Sakooni, a leading physician; however, Ali succumbed to his injuries on January 28, 661.[3]
Three days later Ali's son, Hasan ibn Ali, personally performed the execution of Ibn Muljam.[4][5]
References
- Cook, David (January 15, 2007). Martyrdom in Islam. Cambridge University Press. pp. 54–55. ISBN 978-0521615518.
- Tabatabaei 1979, p. 192
- As-Sallabi, Ali Muhammad. "Biography of Ali Ibn Abi Talib".
- "The End Of Ibn Muljim And His Cohorts". Maaref-foundation.com. Retrieved 2019-01-29.
- "Death of Ali". Ismaili.net. Retrieved 2019-01-29.
Further reading
- Tabataba'i, Muhammad Husayn (1977). Shi'ite Islam. SUNY Press. ISBN 978-0-87395-390-0.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
- Kelsay, John (1993). Islam and War: A Study in Comparative Ethics. Westminster John Knox Press. ISBN 978-0-664-25302-8.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
- Madelung, Wilferd (1998). The Succession to Muhammad: A Study of the Early Caliphate. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-64696-3.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
- Who is responsible for the assassination of Ameerul Momineen Ali (a.s.)? | Serat Online
- Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib (AS), Prophet Mohammad (pbuh), Ghadeer, Martyrdom of Imam Ali, Najaf, Iraq, Abd-al-Rahman ibn Muljam
- Nahjul Balagha Part 1, The Sermons