Assassination of Ali: Difference between revisions
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[[Ali ibn Abi Talib]], the fourth [[Sunni]] [[Rashidun Caliphate|Rashidun caliph]] and first [[Shia Imam]], was assassinated by a ''[[Kharijite]]'' called [[Ibn Muljam]] on 26 January 661 at the [[Great Mosque of Kufa]], in present-day [[Iraq]]. Ali died due to his injuries two days after Ibn Muljam struck him on his head by a poison coated sword, on the 21 (or 19) [[Ramadan]] 40 [[Islamic calendar#Numbering the year|AH]] (28 January 661 [[common era|CE]]). He was the third successive caliph, after [[Umar]] and [[Uthman]], to be assassinated. |
[[Ali ibn Abi Talib]], the fourth [[Sunni]] [[Rashidun Caliphate|Rashidun caliph]] and first [[Shia Imam]], was assassinated by a ''[[Kharijite]]'' called [[Ibn Muljam]] on 26 January 661 at the [[Great Mosque of Kufa]], in present-day [[Iraq]]. Ali died due to his injuries two days after Ibn Muljam struck him on his head by a poison coated sword, on the 21 (or 19) [[Ramadan]] 40 [[Islamic calendar#Numbering the year|AH]] (28 January 661 [[common era|CE]]). He was the third successive caliph, after [[Umar]] and [[Uthman]], to be assassinated. |
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Ali became the caliph after the assassination of [[Uthman]] in 656. However he faced opposition from the [[Levant]] governor, [[Muawiyah I]]. A civil war, called [[First Fitna]], took place within the early Islamic state which resulted in the overthrowing of the [[Rashidun]] [[caliph]]s and the establishment of the [[Umayyad dynasty]]. It began when the caliph [[Uthman ibn Affan]] [[Siege of Uthman|was assassinated]] in 656 and continued through the four-year reign of Ali.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia | title=Muʿāwiya I | encyclopedia=[[Encyclopaedia of Islam]] | publisher=[[Brill Publishers|Brill]] | accessdate=21 September 2014 | author=[[Martin Hinds]] | edition=2nd | URL=http://referenceworks.brillonline.com/entries/encyclopaedia-of-islam-2/mu-a-wiya-i-SIM_5279}}</ref> |
Ali became the caliph after the assassination of [[Uthman]] in 656. However he faced opposition from various factions including the [[Levant]] governor, [[Muawiyah I]]. A civil war, called [[First Fitna]], took place within the early Islamic state which resulted in the overthrowing of the [[Rashidun]] [[caliph]]s and the establishment of the [[Umayyad dynasty]]. It began when the caliph [[Uthman ibn Affan]] [[Siege of Uthman|was assassinated]] in 656 and continued through the four-year reign of Ali.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia | title=Muʿāwiya I | encyclopedia=[[Encyclopaedia of Islam]] | publisher=[[Brill Publishers|Brill]] | accessdate=21 September 2014 | author=[[Martin Hinds]] | edition=2nd | URL=http://referenceworks.brillonline.com/entries/encyclopaedia-of-islam-2/mu-a-wiya-i-SIM_5279}}</ref> |
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After [[Ali]] agreed to arbitration with [[Muawiyah I]] following the [[Battle of Siffin]] (657), a revolt happened against him by some members of his army, later known as [[Khawarij|Kharijites]] ("those who leave").<ref name=higgins>{{cite book|last1=Higgins|first1=Annie C.|editor1-last=Martin|editor1-first=Richard C.|title=Encyclopedia of Islam and the Muslim World v.1|date=2004|publisher=Macmillan|page=390|chapter=Kharijites, Khawarij}}</ref> They killed some of Ali's supporters, but they were crushed by Ali's forces at the [[Battle of Nahrawan]] on July 658. <ref> |
After [[Ali]] agreed to arbitration with [[Muawiyah I]] following the [[Battle of Siffin]] (657), a revolt happened against him by some members of his army, later known as [[Khawarij|Kharijites]] ("those who leave").<ref name=higgins>{{cite book|last1=Higgins|first1=Annie C.|editor1-last=Martin|editor1-first=Richard C.|title=Encyclopedia of Islam and the Muslim World v.1|date=2004|publisher=Macmillan|page=390|chapter=Kharijites, Khawarij}}</ref> They killed some of Ali's supporters, but they were crushed by Ali's forces at the [[Battle of Nahrawan]] on July 658. <ref> |
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{{Harvnb|Madelung|1997|pp=260-261}}</ref> |
{{Harvnb|Madelung|1997|pp=260-261}}</ref> |
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Ibn Muljam met up with two other Kharijites namely al-Burak ibn Abd Allah and Amr ibn Bakr al-Tamimi at Mecca |
Ibn Muljam met up with two other Kharijites namely al-Burak ibn Abd Allah and Amr ibn Bakr al-Tamimi at [[Mecca]] concluded that the situation of the Muslims at the time were due to the erroneousness of Ali, Muawiah and [[Amr ibn As]], governor of [[Egypt]], whom they decided to kill in order to resolve the deplorable situation of their time and also avenge their companions killed at Nahrawan. Aiming to kill Ali, Ibn Muljam headed toward Kufa where he fell in love with a woman whose brother and father died at Nahrawan. She agreed to marry him if only he could kill Ali. Consequently, Ali was stabbed by Ibn Muljam at the [[Great Mosque of Kufa]]. |
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== Background == |
== Background == |
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Revision as of 06:35, 3 June 2016
| Assassination of Ali | |
|---|---|
 A calligraphic representation of Ali | |
| Location | Kufa, Rashidun Caliphate (present day Iraq) |
| Coordinates | 32°01′43″N 44°24′03″E / 32.02861°N 44.40083°E |
| Date | January 26, 661 |
| Target | Ali |
| Weapons | Sword |
| Deaths | Ali |
| Perpetrator | Ibn Muljam |
Ali ibn Abi Talib, the fourth Sunni Rashidun caliph and first Shia Imam, was assassinated by a Kharijite called Ibn Muljam on 26 January 661 at the Great Mosque of Kufa, in present-day Iraq. Ali died due to his injuries two days after Ibn Muljam struck him on his head by a poison coated sword, on the 21 (or 19) Ramadan 40 AH (28 January 661 CE). He was the third successive caliph, after Umar and Uthman, to be assassinated.
Ali became the caliph after the assassination of Uthman in 656. However he faced opposition from various factions including the Levant governor, Muawiyah I. A civil war, called First Fitna, took place within the early Islamic state which resulted in the overthrowing of the Rashidun caliphs and the establishment of the Umayyad dynasty. It began when the caliph Uthman ibn Affan was assassinated in 656 and continued through the four-year reign of Ali.[1] After Ali agreed to arbitration with Muawiyah I following the Battle of Siffin (657), a revolt happened against him by some members of his army, later known as Kharijites ("those who leave").[2] They killed some of Ali's supporters, but they were crushed by Ali's forces at the Battle of Nahrawan on July 658. [3]
Ibn Muljam met up with two other Kharijites namely al-Burak ibn Abd Allah and Amr ibn Bakr al-Tamimi at Mecca concluded that the situation of the Muslims at the time were due to the erroneousness of Ali, Muawiah and Amr ibn As, governor of Egypt, whom they decided to kill in order to resolve the deplorable situation of their time and also avenge their companions killed at Nahrawan. Aiming to kill Ali, Ibn Muljam headed toward Kufa where he fell in love with a woman whose brother and father died at Nahrawan. She agreed to marry him if only he could kill Ali. Consequently, Ali was stabbed by Ibn Muljam at the Great Mosque of Kufa.
Background
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Events leading to his assassination can be traced back to the death of Muhammad, prophet of Islam, where the community of Muslims disputed over his succession as the leader of Ummah. The assembly at the Saqifat Bani Saida decided Abu Bakr as the caliph. Umar and Uthman succeeded Abu Bakr, respectively and Ali became the caliph after the death of Uthman in 656.[4] While Sunni muslims believed that Muhammad had not selected a successor, Shia Muslims believed that Ali was chosen as Mohmmad's successor by God referring to the event of Ghadir Khumm.[5] Abu Bakr was succeeded by Umar, who was murdered in 644. After Umar's death, Ali, the cousin and son-in-law of Muhammed, and Uthman were contenders for the post. Due to the decision of Abdur Rahman bin Awf, a sahaba Uthman succeeded Umar as the third caliph.[4]
Ali's caliphate was coincident with First Fitna.[6] Though Ali was selected as the fourth Rashidun (the "rightly guided") caliph five days after Uthman's death, the Umayyad governor of Syria, Muawiyah I, refused to pledge allegiance to him as the new caliph until the killers of Uthman were punished.[7] Ali faced opposition during his rule. He first emerged victorious at the Battle of Camel in 656, against an army primarily led by Muhammad's wife Aisha and other sahaba who believed Ali had to do more to punish the killers of Uthman, including those suspected of finding cover behind his forces. He also fought the Battle of Siffin in 657 against Muawiyah I. The battle ended in a stalemate with Ali entering into negotiations with Muawiyah.[8] A group called Khawarij who had initially supported Ali's claims to be caliph, turned against him for his failure to emerge victorious at Siffin and his agreement to arbitration with his rival, Muawiyah I, to decide the succession to the Caliphate following the battle.[2] In 658 they revolted, but Ali defeated them at the Battle of Nahrawan.[8]
The killing of the Kharijites at the Battle of Nahrawan was "the most problematic event" during Ali's caliphate and "sealed the division between Shi'a and Kharijites."[4] Ibn Muljam along with two other men, namely al-Burak ibn Abd Allah and Amr ibn Bakr al-Tamimi, all considered as belonging to Kinda, met at Mecca and had a long discussion after the pilgrimage ceremony. They concluded that the situation of Muslims at the time was due to Ali, Muʿawiya and Amr ibn al-As, "whom they regarded as being in error", and swore to kill them to also "avenge their companion's massacred at al-Nahrawan." They arranged the date of assassination and each of them chose his victim.[9]
Attack and death
Ali was assassinated by Ibn Muljam, a Kharijite from Egypt, at the Great Mosque of Kufa, located in Kūfa, Iraq, on 26 January 661. Ibn Muljam was of Himyar by male descent but counted among Murad due to his maternal kinship, and allied with the Banii Jabala of Kinda. He had entered Kufa with the aim of killing Ali to avenge the Kharijite leaders at al-Nahrawan.[4] He met a woman named Quttaam from the Ar-Raabab tribe before the assassination. According to cleric Ali al-Sallabi, on seeing Quttaam, he "lost his senses" and "forgot the assignment" for which he was roaming, and proposed to her. Quttaam said that she would marry him if he could "heal" her by giving her three thousand deenars, a chanteuse, a male slave and the death of Ali. Quttaam wanted revenge too as her father and brother had been killed by Ali's forces at Al-Nahrawan. Ibn Muljam persuaded a man called Shubayb to assist him in killing Ali.[10] Besides Shablb ibn Bujra, Wardan ibn al-Mujalid also were Ibn Muljam's accomplice.[4]
On Friday, 19 (or 17[4]) Ramadan, Ali entered Kufa mosque to perform the morning prayer.[11][12] Ibn Muljam, who was present in the front row of the worshipers, struck Ali with a poisoned sword on the back of his neck.[13] The attack took place after Ali had recited verses from the Sura al-Anbiya as part of the worship.[8] Shablb's sword did not hit Ali and instead "hit the wooden frame of the door or the arch." He fled and was caught near the gates of Kinda by 'Uwaymir', but could finally escape through the crowd. Wardan ran away to his home and was killed there by a relative, "'Abd Allah b. Najaba b. Ubayd, after confessing his involvement." Ibn Muljam was caught by the Hashimite al-Mughlra ibn Nawfal ibn al-Harith.[4]
Ali ordered that if he died from the wound, Ibn Muljam had to be executed in retaliation. Otherwise, if he survived, he would decide on how to treat him. Ali died two days later on 21 Ramadan 40/30 January 661 (or 19 Ramadan 40/28 January 661) and Ibn Muljam was killed in accordance to Ali's instruction.[4][14] Some sources claim Ali was buried at the Imam Ali Mosque at Najaf in present-day Iraq,[15] while others, usually Afghans, say he was buried at the Rawze-e-Sharif in the Afghan city of Mazar-e-Sharif.[16] Ali's death is commemorated by Shia Muslims every year.[17]
Some reports accuse a man named al-Ash'ath ibn Qays of being involved in the assassination of Ali. One report speaks of a death threat sent to Ali by him[a] and another one accuses him of devising schemes against Ali[b]. After Ali was injured by Ibn Muljam, al-Ashʿath sent his son to determine Ali’s condition, his words suggesting that he knew Ali would not survive.[9] According to al-Yaqubi, Ibn Muljam was hosted by al-Ash'ath for a month and when Ibn Muljam had been preparing his sword. Another report by Ibn Sa'd says that al-Ash'ath stayed the night of the killing at mosque counseling Ibn Muljam and that al-Ash'ath signaled the time of attempting the assassination by saying "the morning has smiled." However al-Sallabi believes that these accusations against al-Ash'ath seem baseless as he was a loyalist and was against Kharijites from the time they first appeared and fought them at Nahrawan. He was also the first one to fight against the people of Syria in the battle for the water. Moreover, there exists no narration from the family of Ali ibn Abi Talib supporting these accusations against al-Ash'ath, neither his family did not discuss it with any member of al-Ash'ath's family.[10]
Aftermath
According to Wilferd Madelung, a small minority of people were convinced that "he was the best of Muslims after the Prophet and the only one entitled to rule them," and after Ali's death people were divided regarding their view toward him. "Distrust of, and opposition to, Mu'awiya and his Syrian cohorts" was what united the majority. Ali's admirers then turned into majority due to "highhandedness, misrule and repression" of Umayyad.[4]
After Ali's death, the Shias of Iraq declared Ali's eldest son Hasan ibn Ali the successor to Ali, thus proclaiming him as their new caliph. However, Hasan was not interested in becoming caliph, and to prevent further bloodshed, he signed the Hasan–Muawiya treaty and abdicated in favor of Muawiyah, who became the first caliph of the Umayyad caliphate. Muawiyah died in Medina at the age of forty-five in 669, and was succeeded by Yazid I in 61 AH (680 CE) but Hasan's brother Husayn ibn Ali refused to accept Yazid's leadership. After being invited by the Shiites of Iraq in the same year, Husayn started his march to Iraq. However, during their stay at Karbala, his army was massacred by Yazid at the Battle of Karbala on 10 Muharram (10 October)[18] and his death is commemorated by Shi'a every year during Muharram.[19]
Note
References
- ^ Martin Hinds. "Muʿāwiya I". Encyclopaedia of Islam (2nd ed.). Brill. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
- ^ a b Higgins, Annie C. (2004). "Kharijites, Khawarij". In Martin, Richard C. (ed.). Encyclopedia of Islam and the Muslim World v.1. Macmillan. p. 390.
- ^ Madelung 1997, pp. 260–261
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Madelung, Wilferd (1997). The succession to Muhammad : a study of the early Caliphate (1. paparback ed. ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-56181-7. Retrieved 25 April 2016.
{{cite book}}:|edition=has extra text (help) - ^ Robinson, Chase F. (2011). The New Cambridge History of Islam. Cambridge University Press.
{{cite book}}: Invalid|ref=harv(help) - ^ Martin Hinds. "Muʿāwiya I". Encyclopaedia of Islam (2nd ed.). Brill. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
- ^ Hann, Geoff (2015). Iraq: The ancient sites and Iraqi Kurdistan. Bradt Travel Guides. ISBN 978-1-84162-488-4.
- ^ a b c Cook, David (2007). Martyrdom in Islam. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-61551-8.
- ^ a b Faramarz Haj, Manouchehri; Matthew, Melvin-Koushki; Shah-Kazemi, Reza; Bahramian, Ali; Pakatchi, Ahmad; Muhammad Isa, Waley; Daryoush, Mohammad; Tareh, Masoud; Brown, Keven; Jozi, Mohammad Reza; Sajjadi, Sadeq; Gholami, Rahim; Bulookbashi, Ali A.; Negahban, Farzin; Alizadeh, Mahbanoo; Gholami, Yadollah. "ʿAlī b. Abī Ṭālib.". Encyclopaedia Islamica. Brill.
- ^ a b Ali al-Sallabi. Biography of Ali ibn Abi Talib. Darussalam Publishers. p. 79.
- ^ Nasr, Seyyed Hossein (2007). "Ali". Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Retrieved 2015-03-11.
- ^ Poonawala, I. K. (1985). "ʿAli B. Abi Ṭaleb". Encyclopædia Iranica. Retrieved 2014-07-07.
- ^ I. M. N. Al-Jubouri. Islamic Thought: From Mohammed to September 11, 2001. Xlibris Corporation. p. 74. ISBN 978-1-4535-9585-5.
- ^ Abbas, Ali. "The Life of the Commander of the Faithful Ali Ibn Abu Talib (as)". Retrieved 6 December 2015.
- ^ Reza Shah-Kazemi. Ali ibn Abu Talib Medieval Islamic Civilization: An Encyclopedia. Taylor & Francis. p. 36. ISBN 978-0-415-96691-7.
- ^ Harold, Frank. "BALKH AND MAZAR-e-SHARIF". Retrieved 24 May 2016.
- ^ Jones, J. Gordon Melton, editor, with James A. Beverley, Christopher Buck, Constance A. (2011). Religious celebrations : an encyclopedia of holidays, festivals, solemn observances, and spiritual commemorations. Santa Barbara, Calif.: ABC-CLIO. ISBN 978-1-59884-205-0. Retrieved 23 May 2016.
{{cite book}}:|first1=has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Moosa, Matti (1987). Extremist Shiites: The Ghulat Sects. Syracuse University Press. ISBN 978-0-8156-2411-0.
- ^ Campo, Juan E. (2009). Encyclopedia of Islam. New York: Facts On File. ISBN 978-0-8160-5454-1. Retrieved 23 May 2016.