Abd al-Rahman ibn Muljam

Abd al-Rahman ibn Amr ibn Muljam al-Muradi , known as Ibn Muljam, was a 7th-century Kharijite assassin. He is primarily known for the assassination of ‘Alī ibn Abi Talib, 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.

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. 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. 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. 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. Ibn Muljam later relocated to Kufa, where he initially supported Ali and fought at the Battle of Siffin before defecting to the Kharijites.

Background and conspiracy

There were numerous defections from Ali's camp in the aftermath of the Battle of Siffin. A majority of these defectors gathered under one banner and came to be known as the Kharijites. A number of them met in Mecca and discussed the 659 Battle 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 kill Amr ibn al-As, al-Hujjaj al-Tamimi was to kill Mu'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 of Fustat, Damascus and Kufa. The method was to come out of the prayer ranks and strike the targets with a sword dipped in poison.

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. 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.

Assassination of Ali and execution

On 26 January 661, while Ali was praying in the Great Mosque of Kufa, Ibn Muljam struck him. He was caught at the scene by the Hashimite al-Mughira ibn Nawfal ibn al-Harith, or by Qutham ibn al-Abbas. 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, a wish fulfilled by his eldest son Hasan. Other accounts state that Ali left the decision to Hasan with a recommendation for pardon, asked his men not to tightly bind Ibn Muljam, and stipulated that he receive good treatment and protection from public humiliation. Ibn Muljam is highly praised in Kharijite literature for the assassination.