Throughout his life, Imam Ali (peace be upon him) endured immense hardship. It is said that no one ever heard him utter a complaint, though he often admonished the people and reproached them from the pulpit. His laments were not for personal suffering nor for the people’s neglect of jihad; rather, the burden that pained his heart most deeply was his concern for the condition of the Muslim community and the spiritual state of the nation.
The Tragic Conspiracy and Martyrdom of Imam Ali (peace be upon him)
The plot to assassinate Imam Ali (peace be upon him) was conceived by Abd al-Rahman ibn Muljam al-Muradi—the most wicked among men—together with a group of his Kharijite companions in Makkah. They vowed to kill Imam Ali (peace be upon him), Muawiya ibn Abi Sufyan, and Amr ibn al-As simultaneously. It was decided that Ibn Muljam would be the one to murder the Commander of the Faithful (peace be upon him).
After this agreement, Ibn Muljam traveled to Kufa and met with his associates there, concealing his true intention so that the conspiracy formed in Makkah would remain secret. One day, he visited a man from the tribe of Banu Taym al-Ribab and there encountered a woman named Qatam bint al-Akhdar, whose father and brother had been killed by Imam Ali (peace be upon him) during the Battle of Nahrawan. Captivated by her beauty, Ibn Muljam sought her hand in marriage. Qatam said, “What will you offer as my dowry?” He replied, “Whatever you wish.” She answered, “Three thousand dirhams, a servant, a maid, and the killing of Ali ibn Abi Talib.” She then added, “I will find someone to help you accomplish it.” She sent word to Wardan ibn Mujallad from her tribe and invited him to assist Ibn Muljam, and he agreed.
Ibn Muljam later met a man from the tribe of Ashja—some narrations name him Shabib ibn Bahira—and said to him, “O Shabib, would you like to attain honor in this world and the next?” Shabib asked, “What is it?” Ibn Muljam replied, “Help me kill Ali. We will lie in wait for him in the Grand Mosque, and when he comes out for the dawn prayer, we shall attack him. By this, we will find solace and avenge our slain.” After much persuasion, Shabib agreed.
They went to Qatam, who was staying in spiritual retreat in the Grand Mosque. They told her, “We have agreed to kill this man.” She said, “Then meet me here when you are ready.” They remained there for several days. On the appointed night—Friday, the nineteenth of Ramadan in the fortieth year after Hijra—Wardan ibn Mujallad also joined them. Qatam brought a silk cloth, wrapped it around their chests as a symbol of their vow, and they girded their swords. They sat in wait by the door through which Imam Ali (peace be upon him) would come out for prayer.
According to Abul-Faraj al-Isfahani, that night Ibn Muljam met privately with al-Ashath ibn Qays in the mosque. As they whispered, Hajar ibn Adi passed by and overheard al-Ashath saying to Ibn Muljam, “Hurry, hurry to your goal! The dawn has begun to smile.”
The Final Moments Before the Strike
A few hours before dawn, Imam Ali (peace be upon him) walked through the mosque, waking those asleep and calling them to prayer. His voice—the same voice that for years had called the believers to worship—resonated across Kufa. Moments later, a cry pierced the night:
“By God, the pillars of guidance have been shattered! Ali, the chosen one, has been martyred!”
Thus, the people of Kufa—and soon after, the entire Islamic world—received the devastating news. The Imam (peace be upon him) had long foretold his martyrdom, and his close companions were aware of it.
The Prophet’s (peace be upon him and his family) Tears for Imam Ali (peace be upon him)
During the Battle of the “Trench,” Imam Ali (peace be upon him), who was then in his twenties, faced the formidable warrior ʿAmr ibn ʿAbd Wudd during the Battle of the Trench. The enemies of Islam thought they would destroy the Muslims and slay him. Imam Ali (peace be upon him) fought fiercely, but the enemy’s blow wounded his forehead, causing blood to flow. When Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family) saw him wounded, his blessed heart burned with grief. He wiped the blood from the Imam’s forehead with a cloth, ordered that the wound be treated, and with tears in his eyes said, “Where will I be on the day when this head is dyed red with its own blood?” — a clear allusion to the day when Imam Ali’s (peace be upon him) beard would be stained with the blood of his head.
Thus, Imam Ali (peace be upon him) had long awaited that destined day, and those close to him knew it would come. Yet when it finally arrived, the magnitude of the tragedy overwhelmed everyone.
The Imam’s Vision at the Moment of Departure
Lady Umm Kulthum, the daughter of Imam Ali (peace be upon him), sat weeping before him. When the Imam (peace be upon him) opened his eyes and saw her, he said, “Do not distress yourself, my daughter. If you could see what I see, you would not weep. The angels of the seven heavens are standing in rows, and the prophets are calling out, ‘Come, O Ali! What lies ahead of you is far better than what you leave behind.’”
The Imam’s Final Words When Struck in Prayer
When Ibn Muljam’s sword struck the blessed head of Imam Ali (peace be upon him) as he stood in worship, the Imam proclaimed:
“In the Name of God, by God, and upon the religion of the Messenger of God (peace be upon him and his family). By the Lord of the Kaaba, I have triumphed!”
That night was one of mourning and anguish for all Muslims—yet for the Commander of the Faithful (peace be upon him), it was the night of victory, joy, and ultimate deliverance.
The Final Hours Before His Martyrdom
That evening, as mentioned, Imam Ali (peace be upon him) broke his fast with his daughter Umm Kulthum—his meal consisting only of bread and salt, though there was milk, which he asked to be taken away. He spent the night in worship until dawn, then went to the mosque and called the adhan aloud. As he stood in the niche of prayer, a voice cried out:
“By God, the pillars of guidance have been shattered!”
The meaning of this cry was soon made clear when the herald added, “Ali, the Chosen One, has been slain.”
His Guidance Even in His Final Moments
Asbagh ibn Nubata relates:
“I entered and saw the Imam (peace be upon him) lying on his bed, his head wrapped with a yellow cloth. I could hardly distinguish which was paler—his noble face or the bandage upon it. He would fall unconscious, then awaken. When he awoke, he held my hand and explained to me the meaning of the heavenly voice that said, ‘By God, the pillars of guidance have been shattered.’”
Even in that state of weakness, the Imam (peace be upon him) did not cease guiding his followers. He narrated a long, illuminating tradition, then fell unconscious once more. None of his companions saw him again until, on the night of the twenty-first of Ramadan, he departed this world and ascended to the mercy of his Lord—leaving history cloaked in mourning.
In the depths of the night, his pure body was carried and buried in secret. Only his sons and a few of his most trusted companions attended his funeral. Thus ended the earthly life of the Commander of the Faithful, Imam Ali (peace be upon him), the pillar of faith and justice.