Abd al-Rahman ibn Muljam
Abd al-Rahman ibn Muljam () was an Arab soldier of the Kharijites who killed Ali ibn Abi Talib () in January 661. He belonged to Banu Murad. Biography. In 661, some Kharijites gathered in Mecca and discussed the Battle of Nahrawan, in which, hundreds of their comrades were killed by Ali's forces, after their defection from Ali's army. The Kharijites planned to assassinate three of Muslim leaders at the time: 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. In late 660, Ibn Muljam arrived in Kufa and fell in love with Quttaam, daughter of Shajnah. Quttaam's father and brother were earlier killed by Ali's forces in the Battle of Nahrawan. After seeing Quttaam, it is reported that Ibn Muljam 'lost his senses', because of girl's beauty and decided  to propose her. However, Quttaam replied that she would marry Ibn Muljam, after he would kill Ali. Quttaam offered three thousand dinar, a male-slave and a chanteuse for the killing of Ali. Ibn Muljam accepted the offer and told Quttaam that Ali's assassination will be her "mahr". On January 22, 661, Amr escaped the assassination attempt of either Zadawayh or Amr ibn Bakr, who killed Amr's stand-in for the Friday prayers, Kharija ibn Hudhafa, mistaking the latter for Amr. When the Kharijite was apprehended and brought before him, Amr proclaimed "You wanted me, but God wanted  Kharija!" and he personally executed him. 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. 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. Three days later Ali's son, Hasan ibn Ali, personally performed the execution of Ibn Muljam. Legacy. The Ibadis approve of Ibn Muljam's assassination of Ali. They believe that, to get  rid of the tyrant, God sent Ibn Muljam. The eleventh-century Ibadi scholar al-Bansawi regards Ibn Muljam as a faithful Muslim and wishes God's mercy on Ibn Muljam.