Abd al-Rahman ibn Muljam

According to the historian Al-Dhahabi, Ibn Muljam participated in the Muslim conquest of Egypt and was a member of the Egyptian cavalry. Settling in Fustat among the Arab nobility, he was noted for his religious devotion, having memorized the Quran and studied Islamic jurisprudence. During the caliphate of Umar, the caliph instructed Amr ibn al-As to provide Ibn Muljam with a residence near the mosque to facilitate his teaching of the Quran and law. This residence was located directly adjacent to the house of Abd al-Rahman ibn Udays. Ibn Muljam later moved to Kufa, where he initially became a follower of Ali ibn Abi Talib 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 with a poison-coated sword. Athir bin Amr as-Sakuni, a leading physician, treated Ali; however, Ali died from his injuries on 28 January. Three days later, Ali's son, Hasan ibn Ali, personally performed the execution of Ibn Muljam. ==See also==