Abd al-Rahman ibn Muljam
Kharijite dissident who killed the fourth caliph Ali
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Abd al-Rahman ibn Amr ibn Muljam al-Muradi (Arabic: عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَن ابْنُ عَمْرِو ابْنُ مُلْجَم الْمُرَادِيّ), known as Ibn Muljam, was a 7th-century Kharijite assassin. Prior to his notoriety, he participated in the Arab conquest of Egypt and settled in Fustat, where he taught the Quran and religious law under the direction of Amr ibn al-As. He later relocated to Kufa, initially supporting Ali ibn Abi Talib and fighting alongside him at the Battle of Siffin before defecting to the Kharijites. He is primarily known for the assassination of Ali, the fourth Rashidun caliph and first Shia Imam. Following the attack, Ibn Muljam was captured and subsequently executed in Kufa by Ali's eldest son, Hasan ibn Ali.
Abd al-Rahman ibn Muljam عبد الرحمن بن ملجم | |
|---|---|
| Born | |
| Died | 31 January 661 |
| Conviction | Murder |
Criminal penalty | Death |
| Details | |
| Victims | Ali ibn Abi Talib |
| Date | January 661 |
| Killed | 1 |
| Weapon | Poisoned sword |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance | Rashidun Caliphate (until 657) Kharijites (from 657) |
Conflicts | |
Early life and settlement in Egypt
Abd al-Rahman belonged to the Himyar tribe paternally and to the Murad tribe maternally, or more precisely to the Tujib branch of Murad, while also maintaining ties with the Kinda tribe.[1][2] According to historical tradition recorded by chroniclers like Ibn Yunus and cited in modern scholarship, Abd al-Rahman ibn Muljam participated in the Arab conquest of Egypt and settled in Fustat.[3] During the caliphate of Umar, the caliph instructed the governor Amr ibn al-As to move Ibn Muljam closer to the mosque so that he could teach the Quran and religious law.[3] Historical records also note that he was a member of the Egyptian cavalry and that his residence in Fustat was located adjacent to the house of Abd al-Rahman ibn Udays.[4] Ibn Muljam later relocated to Kufa, where he initially supported Ali and fought at the Battle of Siffin before defecting to the Kharijites.[5]
Defection and the assassination plot
Following the Battle of Nahrawan, where a large number of Kharijites were killed by Ali's army, several survivors met in Mecca to plot the assassination of three prominent Muslim figures whom they held responsible for the community's division: Amr ibn al-As, Mu'awiya ibn Abu Sufyan, and the Caliph Ali. According to the conspiracy, Amr ibn Bakr al-Tamimi was tasked with killing Amr ibn al-As in Fustat, al-Hujjaj al-Tamimi with killing Mu'awiya in Damascus, and Ibn Muljam with killing Ali in Kufa. The coordinated attacks were planned to take place simultaneously as the targets led the morning prayer, with the assassins striking from within the prayer ranks using swords dipped in poison.[6]
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 the Friday prayers, Kharija ibn Hudhafa, mistaking the latter for his target.[7][8] 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.[8]
Assassination of Ali and Execution of Ibn Muljam
On 26 January 661, while Ali was praying in the Great Mosque of Kufa, Ibn Muljam struck him.[9] He was caught at the scene by the Hashimite al-Mughira ibn Nawfal ibn al-Harith,[10] or by Qutham ibn Abbas.[11] Ali died from his injuries two days later on 28 January. Before his death, Ali requested that Ibn Muljam be executed in retaliation (qisas) if he did not survive,[10] a wish fulfilled by his eldest son Hasan.[12] Other accounts state that Ali left the decision to Hasan with a recommendation for pardon, asked his men not to tightly bind Ibn Muljam,[13] and stipulated that he receive good treatment and protection from public humiliation.[12] Ibn Muljam is highly praised in Kharijite literature for the assassination.[14]