Translated by: “Muhammad hassan heidary”.
Short response:
There is disagreement between Shia and Sunni about the place that commander of the faithful Ali [a.s] was hit on the by sword.
Some of Sunnis say this incident occurred out of home when he was going to “Kufa” mosque. On the other hand, narratives of Shia imams [a.s] that some of them were registered with authentic document and also some of narratives written n Sunni resources restate that this disaster occurred in the altar of “Kufa” mosque while hadrat “Ali” [a.s] was saying “Fajr” prayer.
Detailed response:
As for exact place that imam “Ali” [a.s] was hit by sword, there is disagreement between Shia and Sunni scholars. What we get from some Sunni resources is that imam “Ali” [a.s] was hit by “Ibn Muljam Muradi” on his way to mosque that led to his martyrdom. But Shias believe that this incident happened inside “Kufa” mosque and sometimes have emphasized that it occurred while he was saying prayer inside mosque. Some of Sunni scholars agree with Shias in this regard. In continue, we’ll present several narratives plus Sunni and Shia scholars’ approach. Then we’ll study one of these narratives in the perspective of “Rijal” science.
First point of view: “Kufa” mosque while worshiping in altar {Shias and some of Sunnis}
Narrative of commander of the faithful Ali [a.s] {authentic document}
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَكْرِ بْنِ النَّقَّاشِ وَ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ الْحَسَنِ الْقَطَّانُ وَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ الْمُعَاذِيُ وَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ إِسْحَاقَ الْمُكَتِّبُ قَالُوا حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الْعَبَّاسِ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ الْهَمْدَانِيُّ مَوْلَى بَنِي هَاشِمٍ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِيِّ بْنِ فَضَّالٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ عَلِيِّ بْنِ مُوسَى الرِّضَا عَنْ أَبِيهِ مُوسَى بْنِ جَعْفَرٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ الصَّادِقِ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ الْبَاقِرِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ عَنْ أَبِيهِ زَيْنِ الْعَابِدِينَ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ عَنْ أَبِيهِ سَيِّدِ الشُّهَدَاءِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ (عليهم السلام) عَنْ أَبِيهِ سَيِّدِ الْوَصِيِّينَ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ (علیه السلام) قَالَ: قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ مَا أَفْضَلُ الْأَعْمَالِ فِي هَذَا الشَّهْرِ (شهر رمضان) فَقَالَ يَا أَبَا الْحَسَنِ أَفْضَلُ الْأَعْمَالِ فِي هَذَا الشَّهْرِ الْوَرَعُ عَنْ مَحَارِمِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ ثُمَّ بَكَى فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ مَا يُبْكِيكَ فَقَالَ يَا عَلِيُّ أَبْكِي لِمَا يُسْتَحَلُّ مِنْكَ فِي هَذَا الشَّهْرِ كَأَنِّي بِكَ وَ أَنْتَ تُصَلِّي لِرَبِّكَ وَ قَدِ انْبَعَثَ أَشْقَى الْأَوَّلِينَ وَ الْآخِرِينَ فَضَرَبَكَ ضَرْبَةً عَلَى قَرْنِكَ فَخَضَبَ مِنْهَا لِحْيَتَكَ.
Hadrat “Ali” [a.s] said: {when messenger of Allah [PBUH] said virtues of month of Ramadan} I rose and said: O messenger of Allah [PBUH]; what’s the best deed in this month? He said: O “Abu al-Hassan”; the best deed in this month is avoiding of what god’s forbidden. Then he cried. I said: O messenger of Allah [PBUH]; why are you crying? He said: because something will happen to you in this month. It’s as if that I’m seeing you saying prayer and the most evil person hits you on the head by sword.
“Ibn Babawayh” – Oyoun Al-Akhbar al-Ridha – vol. 1, p 265
Studying document:
Above narrative is authentic according to the principles of “Rijal” science. We study its narrators:
مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَكْرِ بْنِ النَّقَّاش، أَحْمَدُ بْنُ الْحَسَنِ الْقَطَّانُ، مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ الْمُعَاذِيُ، مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ إِسْحَاقَ الْمُكَتِّبُ
There are four persons in Sheikh “Saduq” floor {floor of narrators}. Some of them are amongst those whom Sheikh “Saduq” has quoted numerous narrative from them without mediator. It shows that Sheikh “Saduq” would trust them, that’s why some of scholars believe that if reliable narrators quote many narratives from one narrator, it shows that they trust him.
“Turabi” – research about “Rijal” science – p 345
Late Ayatollah “Borujerdi” says in this regard:
الظاهر أنّه يمكن استكشاف وثاقة الراوي من تلاميذه الذين أخذوا الحديث عنه فإذا كان الآخذ مثل الشيخ أو المفيد أو الصدوق أو غيرهم من الأعلام خصوصا مع كثرة الرواية عنه لا يبقي ارتياب في وثاقته أصلا.
Apparently, we can realize that a narrator is reliable via disciples who have quoted narrative from him. So, if narrators are elders such as; Sheikh “Tusi”, Sheikh “Mufid”, Sheikh “Saduq”, particularly, if they quoted numerous narratives from a narrator, undoubtedly that narrator is reliable.
“Al-Fazel Lankarani” – Nihayat al-Taqrirfi Mabahith al-Salat – vol. 3, p 232
Abu al-Abbas Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Saed al-Hamdani
أحمد بن محمد بن سعيد الهمداني رجل جليل في أصحاب الحديث ... و كان كوفيا زيديا جاروديا ... ذكره أصحابنا لاختلاطه بهم و مداخلته إياهم و عظم محله و ثقته و أمانته.
“Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Saed al-Hamdani” is one of the elders of hadith narrators… his denomination was “Zaidiyyah” and because he was reliable amongst our companions {Shias who believe in twelve imams} and was in communication with them, they’ve remembered him.
“Al-Najashi al-Asadi Al-Kufi” – Rijal – p 94
“Ali ibn Al-Hasan ibn Ali in Fazzal”
“Al-Najashi al-Asadi al-Kufi” says about him
علي بن الحسن بن علي بن فضال كان فقيه أصحابنا بالكوفة و وجههم و ثقتهم.
“Ali ibn Al-Hasan ibn Ali ibn Fazzal” was faqih of our companions in “Kufa” and was reliable and dignified.
“Al-Najashi al-Asadi” – Rijal – p 257
“Al-Hasan ibn Ali ibn Fazzal”
الحسن بن علي بن فضال ... روى عن الرضا عليه السلام و كان خصيصا به كان جليل القدر عظيم المنزلة زاهدا ورعا ثقة.
“Hasan ibn Ali ibn Fazzal” would quote narrative from imam “Riza” [a.s] amd was one of close persons to him. He was dignified, pious and reliable.
Sheikh “Al-Tusi” – al-Fihrest – p 98
As you saw, narrators of above narrative were all reliable. So, this narrative is authentic and proves that imam “Ali” [a.s] was martyred in altar of “Kufa” mosque and damned “Ibn Muljam” hit him on the head by sword.
Following narrative confirms this narrative:
Narrative of imam “Sajjad” [a.s]:
أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو الْفَتْحِ هِلَالُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ جَعْفَرٍ الْحَفَّارُ، قَالَ: أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو الْقَاسِمِ إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ عَلِيِّ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ الدِّعْبِلِيُّ، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنِي أَبِي أَبُو الْحَسَنِ عَلِيُّ بْنُ عَلِيِّ بْنِ رَزِينِ بْنِ عُثْمَانَ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ بُدَيْلِ بْنَ وَرْقَاءَ أَخُو دِعْبِلِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ الْخُزَاعِيِّ (رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ) بِبَغْدَادَ سَنَةَ اثْنَتَيْنِ وَ سَبْعِينَ وَ مِائَتَيْنِ، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا سَيِّدِي أَبُو الْحَسَنِ عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُوسَى الرِّضَا بِطُوسَ سَنَةَ ثَمَانٍ وَ تِسْعِينَ وَ مِائَةٍ قَالَ: حَدَّثَنِي أَبِي مُوسَى بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي جَعْفَرُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ (عَلَيْهِمَا السَّلَامُ) قَالَ: ... وَ أَمَّا ابْنُ مُلْجَمٍ فَضَرَبَهُ فَوَقَعَتِ الضَّرْبَةُ وَ هُوَ سَاجِدٌ عَلَى رَأْسِهِ.
Imam “Sajjad” [a.s] said: when commander of the faithful [a.s] had done “Sajdah” {he’d done first sajdah and wanted to do second one}, “Ibn Muljam” hit him on the head by sword.
Sheikh “Al-Tusi” – al-Amali – p 364
Narrative of imam “Baqir” [a.s]
السندي بن محمد البزاز، عَنْهُ (أبی البختري وهب بن وهب) عَنْ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ: أَنَّ عَلِيَّ بْنَ أَبِي طَالِبٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ) خَرَجَ يُوقِظُ النَّاسَ لِصَلَاةِ الصُّبْحِ فَضَرَبَهُ عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ مُلْجَمٍ بِالسَّيْفِ عَلَى أُمِّ رَأْسِهِ.
Imam “Baqir” [a.s] said: “Ali ibnabi Talib” [a.s] left the house to wake people up for morning prayer, then “Ibn Muljam” hit him on the head by sword.
“Al-Humayri al-Qomi” – Qurb al-Asnad – p 143
It necessary to mention that assuming that above narrative has authentic document, it wants to say that imam “Ali” [a.s] was martyred after going to the mosque and waking people up to say “Fajr” prayer and it doesn’t deny his martyrdom in altar of worshiping, but in fact, this saying is against the sayings of some of Sunni scholars who believe that imam “Ali” [a.s] was martyred out of mosque. On the other hand, document of above narrative is invalid, because “Wahab ibn Wahab abi al-Bakhtari” is one of its narrators. He’s one of Sunni narrators and not only his reliability hasn’t been proved but in perspective of Shia and Sunni, he’s a rejected and abandoned man.
“Ahl al-Bayt” [a.s]
It’s written about “Ahl al-Bayt” [a.s] in “Al-Jami’ah” supplication
وَأَنْتُمْ بَیْنَ صَرِيعٍ فِي المِحْرابِ قَدْ فَلَقَ السَّيفُ هامَتَهُ.
And some of you ”Ahl al-Bayt” will fall on the ground in altar of worshiping while poisoned sword has split his head.
“Al-Mashadi Ha’iri” – al-Mazar – p 298
This point is important that after putting this sentence next to narratives about martyrdom of commander of the faithful Ali [a.s], we’ll realize it’s about hadrat “Ali” [a.s].
Shias’ opinion:
Late “Najashi” says about “Wahab ibn Wahab”:
وهب بن وهب بن عبد الله بن زمعة بن الأسود بن المطلب بن أسد بن عبد العزى أبو البختري. ... وكان كذابا.
“Wahab ibn Wahab ibn Abdullah”… “Abu al-Bakhtari”… would lie a lot.
“Al-Najashi” – Rijal al-Najashi – p 430
Sheikh “Tusi” says in “Tahzib al-Ahkam” book that he’s unreliable.
وهب بن وهب وهو ضعيف جدا عند أصحاب الحديث
Amongst scholars of Hadith science, “Wahab ibn Wahab” is very unreliable.
Sheikh “Tusi” – Tahzib al-Ahkam – vol. 9, p 77
Sheikh “Hasan”, son of “Shahid Thani” says: we can’t rely on narrative quoted by “Abi al-Bakhtari”:
وأمّا الإحتجاج برواية وهب فليس بشيء
Relying on narrative of “Abi al-Bukhtari” isn’t acceptable at all.
“Hasan ibn Zain al-Din al-Amili” – Ma’alim al-Din – vol. 2, p 495
Allameh “Helli” restates that “Abi al-Bukhtari” is liar:
1 - وهب بن وهب بن عبد الله بن زمعة بن الأسود بن المطلب بن عبد العزى ، أبو البختري ... وكان كذابا قاضيا عاميا ، الا ان له أحاديث عن جعفر بن محمد ( عليه السلام ) كلها لا يوثق بها.
He was a Sunni judge and great liar. He’s quoted narratives from imam “Sadiq” [a.s] that not of them are reliable.
After quoting this sentence of Allameh “Helli” who said: “Not of them are reliable”, late “Tustari” says:
فالمراد : لا يوثق بشيء من حديثه.
It means that not of the narratives quoted by “Abi al-Bakhtari” are reliable.
Allameh “Helli” – Khulasah al-Aqwal – p 414
Late “Dawud Helli” writes about him:
كذاب عامي قضي لهارون ( جش ) كان كذابا ... عن الفضل بن ( شاذان ) أنه قال : كان أبو البختري من أكذب البرية .
“Abu al-Bakhtari” was Sunni and judge of Harun al-Rashid’s court and would lie a lot.
What interesting is that many Sunni scholars have said that this narrator is untrustworthy and liar.
Sunnis’ opinion:
Many Sunni scholars believe that “Abu al-Bakhtari” is liar and can’t be trusted; we mention to some of them:
“Ahmad ibn Hanbal”:
قيل لأحمد بن حنبل ... ذاك الكذاب أبو البختري
“Ahmad ibn Hanbal” was asked about one of narratives, he said: this issue has been quoted by “Abu al-Bakhtari” who was a great liar.
“Khatib al-Baghdadi” – the history of Baghdad – vol. 13, p 486
“Muslim ibn Hajjaj”:
He doesn’t accept narratives quoted by “Abu al-Bakhtari”:
مسلم بن الحجاج يقول أبو البختري وهب بن وهب القاضي القرشي متروك الحديث
“Muslim ibn Hajjaj” said: “Abu Al-Bakhtari Wahab ibn Wahab” was judge and “Qurayshi” and his narratives are abandoned. {can’t be relied on}
“Khatib al-Baghdadi” – vol. 13, p 486
“Nisa’i”:
He says that his narratives aren’t accepted:
أخبرنا البرقاني أخبرنا أحمد بن سعيد بن سعد قال حدثنا عبد الكريم بن أحمد بن شعيب النسائي حدثنا أبي قال وهب بن وهب أبو البختري متروك الحديث.
“Abd al-Karim” quotes from his father: narratives quoted by “Wahab ibn Wahab abu al-Bakhtari” are abandoned.
“Uthman ibn abi Shaybah”:
Master of “Ismael Bukhari” says that he’s “Dajjal”:
عثمان بن أبي شيبة يقول وهب بن وهب يعني القرشي ذاك دجال أرى انه يبعث يوم القيامة دجالا
“Uthman ibn abi Shaybah” would say: he’s “Dajjal” and in my opinion on the day of resurrection, he’ll appear as “Dajjal”.
“Ibn Nadim”:
He says:
أبو البختري وهب بن وهب بن كثير بن عبد الله ... كان ضعيفا في الحديث
His narratives aren’t reliable.
“Ibn Nadim” – al-Fihrest – p 146
“Yahya ibn Ma’in”:
He says that “Abu al-Bukhtari” would fake narrative:
عباس بن محمد قال سمعت يحيى بن معين يقول وأبو البختري كان يأخذ فلسا فيتذكر عامة الليل يضع الحديث.
“Abbas ibn Muhammad” says: I heard from “Yahya ibn Ma’in” who said: “Abu al-Bakhtari” gets money and in return, he fakes narrative during night.
“Khatib Baghdadi” – The History of Baghdad – vol. 13, p 485
He also calls him enemy of god:
أحمد بن محمد بن القاسم بن محرر قال سمعت يحيى بن معين يقول أبو البختري يعني القرشي كذاب عدو الله خبيث
“Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Qasim ibn Muhraz” says: I heard from “Yahya ibn Ma’in” who said: “Abu al-Bakhtari” is “Qurayshi”, liar, enemy of god and evil.
“Khatib Baghdadi” – The History of Baghdad – vol. 13, p 485
Narrative of “Layth ibn Sa’d” {Sunni narrative}
أخبرنا أبو القاسم إسماعيل بن أحمد أنا أحمد بن محمد بن أحمد أنا عيسى بن علي نا عبد الله بن محمد البغوي نا أ حمد بن منصور نا يحيى بن بكير المصري أخبرني الليث بن سعد أن عبد الرحمن بن ملجم ضرب عليا في صلاة الصبح على دهش بسيف كان سمه بالسم ومات من يومه.
“Layth ibn Sa’d” says: “Ali ibn abi Talib” [a.s] was hit by poisonous sword of “ibn Muljam Muradi” while saying morning prayer that led to his death. {Martyrdom}
As it was said, in the perspective of narratives martyrdom of commander of the faithful Ali [a.s] has occurred at mosque while saying prayer. Following are the opinions of Sunni and Shia scholars in this regard:
Sheikh “Mufid”:
Sheikh “Mufid” writes:
قَتَلَهُ ابْنُ مُلْجَمٍ الْمُرَادِيُّ (لَعَنَهُ اللَّهُ) فِي مَسْجِدِ الْكُوفَةِ وَ قَدْ خَرَجَ (عليه السلام) يُوقِظُ النَّاسَ لِصَلَاةِ الصُّبْحِ لَيْلَةَ تِسْعَ عَشْرَةَ مِنْ شَهْرِ رَمَضَان وَ قَدْ كَانَ ارْتَصَدَهُ مِنْ أَوَّلِ اللَّيْلِ لِذَلِكَ فَلَمَّا مَرَّ بِهِ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ وَ هُوَ مُسْتَخِفٌّ بِأَمْرِهِ مُمَاكِرٌ بِإِظْهَارِ النَّوْمِ فِي جُمْلَةِ النِّيَامِ ثَارَ إِلَيْهِ فَضَرَبَهُ عَلَى أُمِّ رَأْسِهِ بِالسَّيْف.
Imam “Ali” [a.s] was martyred by “Ibn Muljam” in “Kufa” mosque. This incident occurred when hadrat “Ali” [a.s] left the house in the nineteenth night of month “Ramadan” to wake people up for “Fajr” prayer. “Ibn Muljam” was waiting for him, when imam “Ali” [a.s] passed by him in mosque, he attacked him while pretending to be asleep and hit on his head by sword.
Sheikh “Mufid” – al-Irshad – vol. 1, p 10
“Amin al-Islam Tabarsi”:
He writes:
وَ قَدْ خَرَجَ لِصَلَاةِ الْفَجْرِ لَيْلَةَ تِسْعَةَ عَشَرَ مِنْ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ وَ هُوَ يُنَادِي الصَّلَاةَ الصَّلَاةَ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ الْأَعْظَمِ بِالْكُوفَةِ فَضَرَبَهُ بِالسَّيْفِ.
In the nineteenth day of month of “Ramadan”, imam “Ali” [a.s] left the house to say “Fajr” prayer, while he was waking people up at “Kufa” mosque, cursed “Ibn Muljam Muradi” hit his on head by sword.
“Al-Tabarsi” – E’lam al-Wara Bi A’lam al-Huda – vol. 1, p 309
Allameh “Majlisi”:
While writing the story comprehensively, he says:
وَ الرِّوَايَةُ الصَّحِيحَةُ أَنَّهُ بَاتَ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ وَ مَعَهُ رَجُلَانِ أَحَدُهُمَا شَبِيبُ بْنُ بحيرة [بَجَرَةَ] وَ الْآخَرُ وَرْدَانُ بْنُ مُجَالِدٍ يُسَاعِدَانِهِ عَلَى قَتْلِ عَلِيٍّ ع ... َ ثُمَّ تَرَكَهُ وَ عَدَلَ عَنْهُ إِلَى مِحْرَابِهِ وَ قَامَ قَائِماً يُصَلِّي وَ كَانَ ع يُطِيلُ الرُّكُوعَ وَ السُّجُودَ فِي الصَّلَاةِ كَعَادَتِهِ فِي الْفَرَائِضِ وَ النَّوَافِلِ حَاضِراً قَلْبُهُ فَلَمَّا أَحَسَّ بِهِ فَنَهَضَ الْمَلْعُونُ مُسْرِعاً وَ أَقْبَلَ يَمْشِي حَتَّى وَقَفَ بِإِزَاءِ الْأُسْطُوَانَةِ الَّتِي كَانَ الْإِمَامُ ع يُصَلِّي عَلَيْهَا فَأَمْهَلَهُ حَتَّى صَلَّى الرَّكْعَةَ الْأُولَى وَ رَكَعَ وَ سَجَدَ السَّجْدَةَ الْأُولَى مِنْهَا وَ رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ فَعِنْدَ ذَلِكَ أَخَذَ السَّيْفَ وَ هَزَّهُ ثُمَّ ضَرَبَهُ عَلَى رَأْسِهِ الْمُكَرَّمِ الشَّرِيف.
Correct narrative is that he {Ibn Muljam} was sleeping at mosque and two persons named “Shabib ibn Buhayrah” and “Werdan ibn Mukhalid” would help him killing “Ali” [a.s]…. {after imam “Ali” [a.s] woke “Ibn Muljam” up} he left him and went to altar of worshiping and began saying prayer, while doing so, damned “Iban Muljam” went to him and let imam “Ali” [a.s] to perform “Ruku’” and then he did the first “Sajdah” and when he lifted his head, “Ibn Muljam” hit his sword on his head.
“Al-Majlesi”- Bihar al-Anvar – vol. 42, p 281
The report of some of historians:
روي جماعة من أهل السير: منهم أبو مخنف لوط بن يحيى وإسماعيل بن راشد ( وأبو هشام الرفاعي ) وأبو عمرو الثقفي وغيرهم ... وتقلدوا أسيافهم ومضوا وجلسوا مقابل السدة التي كان يخرج منها أمير المؤمنين عليه السلام إلى الصلاة ... فدخل (علي عليه السلام) المسجد فسبقه ابن ملجم فضربه بالسيف.
A group of historians such as; “Abu Muhnaf”, “Ismael ibn Rashid”, “Abu Umar Thaqafi” and others have said: “Ibn Muljam” and his associates got their swords and sat in front of the door through which imam Ali [a.s] would come to the mosque, “Ali ibn abi Talib” [a.s] came to the mosque, “Ibn Muljam” went further and hit his sword on his head.
“Muhammad ibn Nu’man” – Al-Irshad fi Ma’rifat Hujaj Allah alaa al-Ebad – vol. 1, p 17
“Abu al-Hasan al-Mawerdi” {Sunni}
وَأَحْرَمَ بِرَكْعَتِي الْفَجْرِ فَأَمْسَكَ ابْنُ مُلْجِمٍ عَنْهُ فِي الرَّكْعَةِ الْأُولَى ... فَلَمَّا قَامَ إِلَى الثَّانِيَةِ ضَرْبَهُ فِي سُجُودِهِ ضَرْبَةً فَلَقَ بِهَا هَامَتَهُ.
“Ali” [a.s] began “Fajr” prayer. “Ibn Muljam” let him to finish the first “Rak’at” …. Then, in the second “Rak’at”, “Ibn Muljam” hit his sword on his head and split his forehead.
“Al-Mawerdi” – Al-Hawi fi Fiqh al-Shafi’i” – vol. 13, p 113
“Ibn Tahir Maqdasi” {Sunni}
ودخل علي المسجد ونبه النيام فركل ابن ملجم برجله وهو ملتف بعباءة وافتتح ركعتي الفجر فأتاه ابن ملجم عليه لعائن الله فضربه على صلعته.
“Ali” [a.s] came to the mosque and woke people up saying “Fajr” prayer, then he woke “Ibn Muljam” up and began saying “Fajr” prayer, while doing so, damned “Ibn Muljam” hit his sword on his head.
“Al-Maqdasi” – al-Bad’ wa al-Tarikh – vol. 5, p 232
“Ibn A’tham Kufi” {Sunni}
تناول سيفه وجاء حتى دخل المسجد ورمى بنفسه بين النيام وأذن علي رضي الله عنه ودخل المسجد فجعل ينبه من في المسجد من النيام ثم صار إلى حرابه فوقف فيه فافتتح الصلاة فلما ركع وسجد سجدة واستوى قاعدا وأراد أن يسجد الثانية ضربه ابن ملجم ضربه على رأسه.
“Ibn Muljam” got his sword and went to the mosque and placed himself amongst people who were sleeping in there, “Ali” [a.s] said “Azan” and went to the mosque and woke people up. Then he went to altar of worshiping and began “Fajr” prayer, he did “Ruku’” and “Sajdah”, while doing the second “Sajdah”, “Ibn Muljam” hit his sword on his head.
“Ibn A’tham Kufi” – Kitab al-Fotuoh – vol. 4, p 278
“Sibt ibn Al-Jawzi” {Sunni}
He’s one of Sunni well-known scholars and writes:
فلما حصل علي في المحراب هجموا عليه فضربه ابن ملجم ... وتأخر علي عن المحراب ، وقدم جعدة فصلى بالناس
When “Ali” [a.s] began saying prayer in altar, enemies attacked him and “Ibn Muljam” hit his sword on his head… “Ali” [a.s] left the altar and “Ju’dah ibn Hubayrah” said prayer leader of prayers.
“Sibt ibn Al-Jawzi” – Tazkirat al-Khawas – p 177
“Ibn Abi al-Dunya”:
حدثا الحسين نا عبد الله قال حدثني أبي عن هشام بن محمد قال حدثني عمر بن عبد الرحمن بن نفيع بن جعدة بن هبيرة أنه لما ضرب ابن ملجم عليا عليه السلام وهو في الصلاة.
When “Ibn Muljam” hit “Ali” [a.s] by sword, hadrat “Ali” [a.s] was saying prayer.
“Ibn abi al-Dunya” – Maqtal of commander of the faithful Ali ibn abi Talib [a.s] – p 31
In another quotation, he says more details:
قال ابن أبي الدّنيا : حدّثنا الحسين ، حدّثنا عبد الله ، قال : حدّثني أبي رحمه الله ، عن هشام بن محمّد ، قال : حدّثني رجل من النّخع ، عن صالح بن ميثم ، عن عمران بن ميثم ، عن أبيه ، قال : إنّ عليّاً خرج [ إلى صلاة الصّبح ] فكبّر في الصّلاة ثمّ قرأ من سورة الأنبياء إحدى عشرة آية ثمّ ضربه ابن ملجم من الصفّ علي قرنه.
“Ali” [a.s] left the house saying “Fajr: prayer, he said “Takbir” of his prayer and read eleven verses of Surah “Al-Anbiya”, then “Ibn Muljam” left the line of prayer and hit him on the head by sword.
“Ibn Abi al-Dunya” – Maqtal of commander of the faithful Ali ibn abi Talib [a.s] – p 30
Second point of view: out of mosque {Sunni}
As we said in the beginning of this article, second point of view is the opinion of some of Sunnis who believe that hadrat “Ali” [a.s] was martyred out of mosque:
“Ibn Harir al-Tabari”:
وأخذوا أسيافهم وجلسوا مقابل السدة التي يخرج منها على فلما خرج ... ضربه ابن ملجم في قرنه بالسيف
“Ibn Muljam” and his accomplices got their swords and sat in front of the door through which “Ali ibn abi Talib” [a.s] would enter the mosque. When “Ali” [a.s] left the mosque… “Ibn Muljam” hit him on the head by sword.
“Al-Tabar” – Tarikh Tabari – vol. 4, p 111
“Masudi”
وأخذوا أسيافهم وقعدوا مقابلين لباب السدة التي يخرج منها علي للمسجد وكان علي يخرج كل غداة أول الآذان يوقظ الناس للصلاة ... وخرج علي رضي الله عنه وضربه ابن ملجم على رأسه بالسيف في قرنه
“Ibn Muljam” and his accomplices got their swords and sat in front of the door through which “Ali ibn abi Talib” [a.s] would enter the mosque. “Ali” [a.s] would go to the mosque every day and wake people up …When “Ali” [a.s] left the mosque, “Ibn Muljam” hit him on the head by sword.
“Al-Masudi” – Murawij al-Zahab – vol. 2, p 413, 414
Conclusion:
As it was said, according to authentic and numerous narratives and perspective of Shia scholars and some of Sunni scholars, hadrat “Ali” [a.s] was certainly martyred in the altar of “Kufa” mosque by “Ibn Muljam” while saying “Fajr” prayer.
There is another point of view related to some of Sunni scholars saying that martyrdom of imam “Ali ibn abi Talib” [a.s] occurred out of mosque that is unacceptable for us; because it doesn’t have strong scientific supporter.
Good luck.