Abd-al-Rahman ibn Muljam

Who is Abd-al-Rahman ibn Muljam?

Abd-al-Rahman ibn Muljam al-Sarimi Arabic:عبدالرحمن بن ملجم السريمي was the Kharijite assassin of Imām Ali ibn Abi Talib, the first cousin and son-in-law of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad.

A number of the Kharijites met in Mecca and remembered the Battle of Nahrawan that was fought in 659 by the Caliphate under Ali and the Kharijites in Baghdad which resulted in Khariji defeat. One of the Kharijis said "If we just bought ourselves revenge for the honour of our deceased brothers". They agreed to assassinate three of the leaders of Islam: ibn Muljam was to kill Ali, and Alhujjaj Al Tamimi was to kill Muawiya, and Amr ibn Bakr Al Tamimi was to kill 'Amr ibn al-'Aas.

Ibn Muljam was to assassinate Ali in the morning of 19th Ramadan 40 AH, which would correspond to January 25th, 661, as Ali was performing Fajar Prayer in the Mosque of Kufa.