Draft:Ibn Muljam
| Ibn Muljam | |
|---|---|
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| name | Abd al-Rahman ibn Amr ibn Muljam al-Muradi |
| Personal details | |
| religion | Islam |
Abd al-Rahman ibn Amr ibn Muljam al-Muradi, known as Ibn Muljam al-Muradi, was one of the Kharijites of Nahrawan and the assassin of Ali ibn Abi Talib (peace be upon him), the first Imam of the Shia. After Ali (peace be upon him) assumed the caliphate, Ibn Muljam pledged allegiance to him, fought alongside him in the Battle of the Camel, and following the Battle of Siffin and the conclusion of the Arbitration, joined the Kharijites. He fought against Ali (peace be upon him) in the Battle of Nahrawan and was among the few survivors of that conflict. At dawn on the 19th day of Ramadan, he struck Imam Ali (peace be upon him) inside the Mosque of Kufa, leading to the martyrdom of that righteous Imam. According to narrations from the Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them), he is renowned among Shia Muslims as "Ashqa al-Awwalin wa al-Akhirin" (the most wretched of the former and latter peoples) and "Ashqa al-Ashqiya" (the most wretched of the wretched).
Who Was Ibn Muljam al-Muradi
Abd al-Rahman ibn Amr ibn Muljam al-Muradi, known as Ibn Muljam, was one of the Kharijites who came to Kufa with the intention of martyring Imam Ali (peace be upon him). Incited by Quttam, he was further encouraged to carry out this act, ultimately executing his sinister plan on the 19th day of Ramadan. However, his joy appears to have been short-lived, as he soon faced the consequences of his deeds, to the extent that, according to some accounts, he became eternally punished even after death!
Ibn Muljam al-Muradi, of Arab lineage from the Banu Murad tribe, learned the Quran and Islam from Mu'adh ibn Jabal. Subsequently, he assisted Amr ibn al-As in teaching the Quran and accompanied him during the conquest of the Egypt. After the conquest of Egypt, Ibn Muljam spent some time there teaching the Quran and jurisprudence. Following the accession of Ali (peace be upon him) to the caliphate, Ibn Muljam pledged allegiance to him and participated in the Battle of the Camel. However, after the incident of the Arbitration, he joined the Kharijites. Thereafter, Ibn Muljam, along with Amr ibn Bakr and Bark ibn Abdullah, gathered in Mecca and decided to assassinate Ali, Muawiyah, and Amr ibn al-As on the Night of Destiny. Consequently, Ibn Muljam traveled to Kufa, where he fell in love with a beautiful girl named Quttam[1].
Who Was Quttam
According to historical sources, Quttam was the daughter of Alqamah ibn Shihnah al-Adi from the Taym al-Rabab tribe. Her pleasant appearance and captivating beauty made her famous throughout the city, earning her the epithet "the Moon-Faced of Kufa." However, she was among those who, following the incident of Nahrawan and the killing of her brother and father, joined the opponents of Imam Ali (peace be upon him). She was a cunning and deceitful woman, constantly seeking revenge for the blood of her father and brother. According to one narration, she, along with the faction of Qa'im led by Abdullah ibn Wahb al-Rasibi, considered fighting against Ali (peace be upon him) as jihad and deemed his blood permissible to shed. Thus, after Ibn Muljam met Quttam, she encouraged him and, through various promises, strengthened his resolve to carry out his plan[2].
A Strange Curse Upon Ibn Muljam
In a narration from Imam al-Sadiq (peace be upon him), it is reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) said: During the Night of Ascension, when I reached the fifth heaven, I saw the face of Ali ibn Abi Talib (peace be upon him). I asked: O Gabriel, whose face is this? He replied: O Muhammad, the angels requested to behold the beauty of Imam Ali (peace be upon him), saying: "O Lord, the children of Adam in this world are engaged morning and night in gazing upon the beauty of Ali (peace be upon him); therefore, grant us also the privilege of visiting and seeing his countenance to the same extent as the people of the world enjoy this fortune." Thus, God Almighty created the face of the Imam from His own sacred light, and this image of Ali (peace be upon him) remains with them, so that they visit it night and day, rejoicing and benefiting from viewing his countenance every morning. Then Imam al-Sadiq (peace be upon him) said: When Ibn Muljam struck his blow upon the blessed head of the Imam, a similar mark appeared upon the face that is with the angels. Henceforth, every morning and evening when the angels visit that face, they invoke curses upon Ibn Muljam, and this shall continue uninterrupted until the Day of Resurrection[3].
The Method of Retaliation Against the Killer of Imam Ali
Historical accounts state that in his final hours, Imam Ali (peace be upon him) instructed his children to show clemency toward Ibn Muljam. Following the martyrdom of Amir al-Mu'minin Ali (peace be upon him), Ibn Muljam was brought before Imam Hasan (peace be upon him) for retribution (qisas). Imam Hasan accordingly executed Ibn Muljam with a single sword stroke. This event occurred on the 21st of Ramadan. As widely reported, Umm al-Haytham, daughter of Aswad al-Nakha'i, took possession of his corpse and burned it[4].
However, Quttam, a woman renowned as the beauty of Kufa, met no better fate than Ibn Muljam. Reports indicate that after Ibn Muljam's execution, the people turned against the accursed and immoral Quttam, slew her with the sword, and burned her corpse outside Kufa[5].
The Location of Ibn Muljam's Grave
Regarding the location and site of Ibn Muljam's grave, the famous traveler Ibn Battuta has reported: "When I traveled to Kufa, I observed in the western part of the Kufan cemetery, amidst an entirely white terrain, a patch of intensely black earth. Out of curiosity, I inquired about its cause. Upon investigation, the local inhabitants informed me: 'This is the grave of Ibn Muljam, the killer of Imam Ali (peace be upon him). It is the custom of the people of Kufa to gather a large quantity of firewood at his gravesite annually and burn it there for seven days.'[6].
The Conversion of a Monk Upon Witnessing the Punishment of Ibn Muljam
One of the punishments inflicted upon Ibn Muljam by God after his death was carried out by a bird. Shaykh Rawandi, citing Hasan ibn Muhammad, known as Ibn Rifa', narrated in Kufa: "One day, while I was in the Masjid al-Haram, I saw people gathered at the Station of Prophet Abraham (peace be upon him), where a man was seated. I asked the people who he was, and they replied: 'He is a monk who has embraced Islam.'" The narrator continues: "I approached him and saw an elderly man clad in a woolen cloak sitting at the Station of Prophet Abraham. I heard him say: 'I was the chief of monks in a monastery. One day, I saw a bird resembling an eagle extract a portion of a person's body from his throat, then another portion, until they formed a complete human being. I then asked that person: "Who are you?" He gave no reply. I said: "I adjure you by Him who created you, tell me who you are."' "He replied: 'I am Ibn Muljam al-Muradi.' I asked: 'What sin have you committed that this bird continuously tears apart your limbs, only to reassemble and swallow them again?' "He answered: 'I am the killer of Ali ibn Abi Talib, and for this reason, God has appointed this bird to torment me daily in this manner.'" The monk continued: "While we were speaking, suddenly the same bird arrived, tore him into pieces, and carried them away. I waited until the bird descended, brought him back, and once again extracted the pieces from its own body. I then asked him: 'Who is Ali ibn Abi Talib?' He replied: 'Ali ibn Abi Talib is the cousin and successor of Muhammad al-Mustafa.'[7].
See Also
Notes
- ↑ Hawadith al-Ayyam: 221.
- ↑ Tarikh al-Khamis: 281; Al-Khawarij: 102.
- ↑ Hayat al-Qulub: 282; A Drop from the Miracles of the Fourteen Infallibles: 121.
- ↑ Al-Irshad, Vol. 1, p. 22; Bihar al-Anwar, Vol. 42, pp. 232, 246, 298.
- ↑ Bihar al-Anwar, Vol. 42, p. 298; Anwar al-Alawiyya, p. 390; Nafa'ih al-A'lam, p. 410.
- ↑ Rihlat Ibn Battuta, p. 147; Nafa'ih al-A'lam, p. 409; Taqwim al-Shi'a, p. 293.
- ↑ Madinat al-Mu'jizat, Vol. 1, p. 544, Hadith 540.