The Worst Mahr: A Bargain for Murder

Saturday 24-Nov-2018, 6:23AM / 1765

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Translation: Aboo Sahl Dhikrullaah Adebayo

Prelude to the Killing of Aliyy b. Abee Taalib - radiyaLlahu an'hu

Abdur-Rahmaan bn Miljam Al-Khaarijee wooed a beautiful lady: Qutām bint 'Alqamah.

She said: My mahr (bride-price) is expensive for you to be paid.

He said: What is it?

She said: Three thousand (dinar), a slave, a lady's maid and assassination of 'Aliyy bn Abee Taalib (SubhaanaLlaah).

He said: By Allaah, I will not come back to you except I assassinate him.

Then, he bought a sword for one-thousand Dirham and drown it in poison. He went out and sat opposite to the door where the Commander of the Believers, 'Aliyy bn Abee Taalib, used to come out from.

 'Aliyy came out for the dawn prayer, then Ibn Miljam Al-Khaarijee stabbed him on his head saying 'judgment belongs to Allaah, neither to 'Aliyy nor his comrades.'

'Aliyy said: 'By The Lord of Ka'bah, do not let the dog escape from you.' 

The people then closed every door till he was tied with rope. They brought Ibn Miljam - may the wrath of Allaah be upon him - to 'Aliyy (may Allaah be pleased with him) and he said: 'If I remain alive; the judgment is in my hand, but if I die; you should decide either to pardon him or retaliate.'

Many doctors came to him, but the well versed among them was Atheer bn 'Amr, he was from the doctors of Chosroes. He took the lung of a sheep and drew out its vein. He applied it to his wound, hence the vein became swell. He then removed it and there was white cerebrum on it. The stab had reached his brain.

He (the doctor) said: Commander of the believers, be prepared, you will die.

Ibn Miljam heard a wail from the house (of 'Aliyy). He said: 'May the curse of Allaah be upon who is wailing; is it Umm Kulthum (bint 'Aliyy) or 'Aliyy? By Allaah I really stabbed him to the extent that if it was divided among the people of Kufah, they will all die.'

Then, the Commander of the Belivers died on Sunday, 17th of Ramadhaan 40AH. Hasan, Husayn and 'AbduLlaahi bn Ja'far bathed him. Husayn prayed on him and he was buried in Kufah.

Source: Al-Laailu' Al-Baahiyyah, Sharh Laamiyyah ibn Taymiyyah. pp.66-67

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