❖ The Martyrdom of ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib (رضي الله عنه): An Account from Authentic Sunni Sources ❖
Compiled by: Tawheed.com
In the year 40 AH, a group from the Khawārij resolved to eliminate the ongoing discord among Muslims by assassinating three prominent leaders: ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib (رضي الله عنه), Muʿāwiyah ibn Abī Sufyān (رضي الله عنه), and ʿAmr ibn al-ʿĀṣ (رضي الله عنه)—all on the same night. The central conspirator, ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn Muljam, took upon himself the task of assassinating ʿAlī (رضي الله عنه).
Reference:
Al-Bidāyah wa al-Nihāyah, Ibn Kathīr, Vol. 7, p. 326
Tārīkh al-Ṭabarī, Vol. 5, p. 142
On the 17th of Ramaḍān, 40 AH, which was a Friday, ʿAlī (رضي الله عنه) entered the central mosque of Kūfah at the time of Fajr prayer. He woke the people for prayer and called the Adhān, then stood forward to lead the congregation. As he raised his head from the first sajdah of the first rakʿah, ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn Muljam suddenly struck him with a poisoned sword on the head. The blow penetrated deeply, reaching the skull, causing a severe wound.
Upon being struck, ʿAlī (رضي الله عنه) proclaimed:
"فُزْتُ وَرَبِّ الْكَعْبَةِ"
"By the Lord of the Kaʿbah, I have succeeded!"
Reference:
Al-Istīʿāb, Ibn ʿAbd al-Barr, Vol. 3, p. 1126
Tārīkh al-Ṭabarī, Vol. 5, p. 143
Following the attack, ʿAlī (رضي الله عنه) was carried to his home. During this time, he continued to engage in remembrance of Allah, and offered advice on patience and piety. He specifically counselled his sons, Ḥasan (رضي الله عنه) and Ḥusayn (رضي الله عنه), to uphold taqwā and forbearance.
Regarding his assassin, ʿAlī (رضي الله عنه) strictly instructed that no injustice be done to him. However, if he were to die from the injury, then the killer should be punished with only one strike, and that his body must not be mutilated.
Reference:
Al-Ṭabaqāt al-Kubrā, Ibn Saʿd, Vol. 3, p. 36
Al-Bidāyah wa al-Nihāyah, Vol. 7, p. 329
ʿAlī (رضي الله عنه) remained in critical condition for two days, and passed away on the 21st of Ramaḍān, 40 AH, at the age of 63. His body was bathed by Ḥasan (رضي الله عنه), Ḥusayn (رضي الله عنه), and ʿAbdullāh ibn Jaʿfar (رضي الله عنه). The funeral prayer was led by Ḥasan (رضي الله عنه), and he was buried near Kūfah, in the area of Najaf.
Reference:
Siyar Aʿlām al-Nubalāʾ, al-Dhahabī, Vol. 2, p. 626
Tārīkh al-Islām, al-Dhahabī, Vol. 3, p. 651
After the martyrdom of ʿAlī (رضي الله عنه), Ibn Muljam was arrested. As per the will of ʿAlī (رضي الله عنه), he was executed with a single strike, fulfilling the principle of qiṣāṣ (legal retribution). No act of vengeance or mutilation of the body was permitted, as explicitly instructed by the martyr himself.
Reference:
Al-Ṭabaqāt al-Kubrā, Ibn Saʿd, Vol. 3, p. 37
Tārīkh al-Ṭabarī, Vol. 5, p. 146
These accounts are taken from authentic Sunni historical and Hadith sources, and are widely accepted by classical scholars.
Compiled by: Tawheed.com
❀ Background of the Incident
In the year 40 AH, a group from the Khawārij resolved to eliminate the ongoing discord among Muslims by assassinating three prominent leaders: ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib (رضي الله عنه), Muʿāwiyah ibn Abī Sufyān (رضي الله عنه), and ʿAmr ibn al-ʿĀṣ (رضي الله عنه)—all on the same night. The central conspirator, ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn Muljam, took upon himself the task of assassinating ʿAlī (رضي الله عنه).
Reference:
Al-Bidāyah wa al-Nihāyah, Ibn Kathīr, Vol. 7, p. 326
Tārīkh al-Ṭabarī, Vol. 5, p. 142
❀ The Incident of Martyrdom
On the 17th of Ramaḍān, 40 AH, which was a Friday, ʿAlī (رضي الله عنه) entered the central mosque of Kūfah at the time of Fajr prayer. He woke the people for prayer and called the Adhān, then stood forward to lead the congregation. As he raised his head from the first sajdah of the first rakʿah, ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn Muljam suddenly struck him with a poisoned sword on the head. The blow penetrated deeply, reaching the skull, causing a severe wound.
Upon being struck, ʿAlī (رضي الله عنه) proclaimed:
"فُزْتُ وَرَبِّ الْكَعْبَةِ"
"By the Lord of the Kaʿbah, I have succeeded!"
Reference:
Al-Istīʿāb, Ibn ʿAbd al-Barr, Vol. 3, p. 1126
Tārīkh al-Ṭabarī, Vol. 5, p. 143
❀ In His Final Moments and His Will
Following the attack, ʿAlī (رضي الله عنه) was carried to his home. During this time, he continued to engage in remembrance of Allah, and offered advice on patience and piety. He specifically counselled his sons, Ḥasan (رضي الله عنه) and Ḥusayn (رضي الله عنه), to uphold taqwā and forbearance.
Regarding his assassin, ʿAlī (رضي الله عنه) strictly instructed that no injustice be done to him. However, if he were to die from the injury, then the killer should be punished with only one strike, and that his body must not be mutilated.
Reference:
Al-Ṭabaqāt al-Kubrā, Ibn Saʿd, Vol. 3, p. 36
Al-Bidāyah wa al-Nihāyah, Vol. 7, p. 329
❀ Martyrdom and Burial
ʿAlī (رضي الله عنه) remained in critical condition for two days, and passed away on the 21st of Ramaḍān, 40 AH, at the age of 63. His body was bathed by Ḥasan (رضي الله عنه), Ḥusayn (رضي الله عنه), and ʿAbdullāh ibn Jaʿfar (رضي الله عنه). The funeral prayer was led by Ḥasan (رضي الله عنه), and he was buried near Kūfah, in the area of Najaf.
Reference:
Siyar Aʿlām al-Nubalāʾ, al-Dhahabī, Vol. 2, p. 626
Tārīkh al-Islām, al-Dhahabī, Vol. 3, p. 651
❀ The Fate of ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn Muljam
After the martyrdom of ʿAlī (رضي الله عنه), Ibn Muljam was arrested. As per the will of ʿAlī (رضي الله عنه), he was executed with a single strike, fulfilling the principle of qiṣāṣ (legal retribution). No act of vengeance or mutilation of the body was permitted, as explicitly instructed by the martyr himself.
Reference:
Al-Ṭabaqāt al-Kubrā, Ibn Saʿd, Vol. 3, p. 37
Tārīkh al-Ṭabarī, Vol. 5, p. 146
These accounts are taken from authentic Sunni historical and Hadith sources, and are widely accepted by classical scholars.
