jan 1, 661 - Death of Ali (RA)

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- The year 660 had been the year of the two oaths and by the end of the year an informal truce was agreed upon between ‘Ali and Mu’awiya.
- The incident of the two oaths of loyalty imposed upon the Muslims not only angered many of the old believers but aroused the fury of the three Kharijites, who at the conclusion of hajj that year decided to act.
- On the 40th anniversary of the Prophet’s migration to Madina in 661 CE (40 AH)they would strike and free Islam from persecution by removing ‘Ali, Mu’awiya and Amr ibn Al-Aas.
- They claimed that neither Ali nor Muawiyyah were worthy of rule.
- In fact, they went so far as to say that the true caliphate came to an end with 'Umar and that Muslims should live without any ruler over them except God. They vowed to kill all three rulers, and assassins were dispatched in three directions.
- After the Battle of Nahrawan, the Kharijites became his bitter enemies. The survivors of the battle wanted revenge for their friends who were killed in the battle.
- Three attacks were planned to take place in the second week of Ramadan during Friday prayers in the great mosques at Fustat, Damascus and Kufa.
- The assassins who were deputed to kill Muawiyyah and Amr did not succeed and were captured and executed.
- Abdul Rehman bin Muljim was selected to assassinate Ali.
- On the 18th of Ramadhan when Ali was leading the morning prayers in a mosque at Kufa, Muljim attacked him with a poisonous sword.
- The wounds proved fatal and he died on the 21st of Ramadhan at the age of 63.
- His son Hassan killed Muljim the next day.
- There are different versions as to the place of his burial. Majority of the people hold that he was buried in Najaf.

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