Abd al Rahman ibn Muljam

Assassination plot

A number of the Khawarij met in Mecca and discussed the 659 Battle of Nahrawan, at which former supporters of Ali had rebelled against him for agreeing to discuss the leadership of the community with Muawiyah. They agreed to assassinate three of the leaders of Islam: ibn Muljam, a Jewish convert to Islam was to kill Ali, al-Hujjaj al-Tamimi was to kill Muawiya, 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 Damascus, Fustat and Kufa. The method was to come out of the prayer ranks and strike the targets with a sword dipped in poison.

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 fajr prayer. Intense care and medication for the Caliph Ali was undertaken by Atheer bin Amr As-Sakooni, a leading Persian medic. However, Ali ibn Abu Talib martyred, succumbing to the head injuries on January 28, 661.

As a Qisas, or the punishment in equal measure, Ibn Muljam was personally struck three days later by Ali's son, Hasan ibn Ali.