Qutaum was outstandingly beautiful and was described by an...

Qutaum was outstandingly beautiful and was described by an Arab chronicler as possessing "a face which would be the just reward of the virtuous" and of "jet black tresses which fell on her cheek and resembled the ignominious record of a villain's guilt." Abdur Rahman was quite unable to resist such attractions and when he proposed a match, Qutaum declared herself willing to marry him on three condition.

He was to give her three thousand dirhems in cash, a male and a female slave and the head of Caliph Ali . Abdur Rahman had come to Kufa with the express purpose of killing Ali and he therefore found no difficulty in agreeing to her terms. Qutaum told him that he must attack Ali when he was least expecting it.

"Should you escape alive", she continued, "you will have my hand and a happy domestic life with me; but should you perish in the assault, you will enjoy a better life in Heaven above than you would have done on earth with a poor soul like me." In order to help her suitor, Qutaum asked a man of her tribe, Werdan, to join in the conspiracy,-and it was also through her persuasion that Shub'ibbin Bijrah of the tribe of Ashjah agreed to join in the plot.

The three conspirators now anxiously waited for the arrival of the 19th of Ramazan-the day fixed for the ghastly murder. Moawiya escapes with a wound Having reached Damascus, Burk ibn Abdullah on the appointed day mingled with the worshippers at the morning service and stabbed Moawiya who, dressed in silken clothes was conducting it. It is said that the sword slipped and Moawiya was wounded in the loins.

Burk was caught redhanded and when brought before Moawiya boasted that his associate Abdur Rahman, would by that time have killed Ali in Kufa. To this Moawiya replied, "Ali may have escaped in the same way as I." Moawiya then ordered his men to cut off the feet of his would be assassin and take out his tongue. Thereupon Burk was dragged out of his presence to be further tortured and put to a cruel and ignominious death. Moawiya's wound did not prove fatal.

His physician gave him two alternatives, one being cautery and the other to drink a draught which would render him impotent. Moawiya chose the second, saying, "My two sons, Abdullah and Yezid, are enough for me and I do not require more." It was characteristic that after his recovery, he took elaborate precautions for his future safety.