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Masqala b. Hubayra

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Masqala b. Hubayra
Personal Information
LineageBanu Shayban
Well-Known RelativesNu'aym (brother), Bastam (son)
Place(s) of ResidenceKufa, Ardashir-Khwarrah, Sham
DeathAround 60/679
Burial PlaceTabaristan, Royan region
Religious Information
Other ActivitiesCooperation with Muawiyah, attacking Tabaristan


Musqala b. Hubayra al-Shaybani (Arabic: مُصقَلَة بن هُبَیره الشیباني) was a governor of Imam Ali (a) in a region in southwestern Iran who defected to Muawiyah due to certain financial issues. He played a significant role in the killing of Hujr b. Adi. According to the content of Letter 43 of Nahj al-Balagha, he was accused of granting Fay' (booty) to his relatives; thus, he wrote a letter to Imam Ali (a) to exonerate himself. According to historical documents, after the defeat of the rebellion of the Banu Najiya tribe in 38/658-59, Musqala bought and freed five hundred of their captives; however, he was unable to return the full amount to the Bayt al-Mal (public treasury). Following this, fearing Imam Ali's (a) reaction, he fled to Sham and Muawiyah's court. Imam Ali (a) reprimanded this action in Sermon 44 of Nahj al-Balagha. He led an army to Tabaristan on Muawiyah's orders and was killed there around 60/679.

His brother, Nu'aym b. Hubayra, was among the companions of Imam Ali (a), and Bistam, Musqala's son, was a governor for the Umayyads.

Introduction

Musqala b. Hubayra b. Shibl al-Shaybani is considered one of the notable figures of Iraq and a companion of Imam Ali (a) who was the Imam's governor in the Ardashir-Khwarrah region (a region in southwestern Iran); however, he defected to Muawiyah due to financial issues.[1] Historical and biographical books do not contain information about his life before his governorship.[2]

Ibn Abi al-Hadid, the commentator on Nahj al-Balagha, traces his lineage back to "Nizar b. Adnan," one of the ancestors of the Prophet (s).[3] His father, Hubayra b. Shibl, is considered one of those who accompanied the Prophet (s) in the Conquest of Mecca.[4] Bistam, Musqala's son, was a governor for Mus'ab b. al-Zubayr, Abd al-Malik b. Marwan, and al-Hajjaj b. Yusuf, and he rebelled against al-Hajjaj in 83 AH and was killed.[5] Musqala's brother, Nu'aym b. Hubayra, was also a companion of Imam Ali (a). Nu'aym joined the Uprising of Mukhtar to avenge Imam al-Husayn (a) and was killed in 66 AH by Shabath b. Rib'i of the Umayyad army.[6]

Governor of Ardashir-Khwarrah

Ibn 'Abbas, the governor of Basra under the government of Imam Ali (a), appointed Musqala b. Hubayra as the governor of the Ardashir-Khwarrah region.[7] "Ardashir-Khwarrah" was a region in southwestern Iran that included cities such as Kazerun, Firuzabad, and the port of Siraf.[8]

Addressee of Imam Ali's (a) Letter Accusing Economic Corruption

According to Tarikh al-Yaqubi, it was reported to Imam Ali (a) that Musqala was distributing Fay' (property acquired by Muslims without war) among his relatives. The Imam wrote to him stating that if this report were true, he must change his conduct.[9] This writing by the Imam also appears in Letter 43 of Nahj al-Balagha.[10] According to Yaqubi, Musqala wrote in response that such a report was not true; however, if the Imam thought so, it would be better to dismiss him from his position because dismissal was easier for him than accusation. Imam Ali (a) accepted his word, and he remained in his position.[11]

Freeing the Captives of Banu Najiya

Sermon of Imam Ali (a) regarding Musqala

May Allah blacken the face of Musqala! He acted like a nobleman at first, but fled like a slave and betrayed like a criminal. He silenced his praiser before he could speak and forced his describer to reprimand him instead of verifying him. Had he stayed, we would have taken from him what was within his capacity and given him respite for the rest until his ability increased.[12]

In 38 AH, Musqala bought and freed 500 Christians of Banu Najiya who had been captured during the Kharijite rebellion against the government of Imam Ali (a). According to historians, Khirrit b. Rashid al-Naji, one of the Kharijite leaders, rebelled against Imam Ali (a), and the Banu Najiya tribe joined him, with some of them becoming apostates. Ma'qil b. Qays al-Riyahi suppressed the rebellion and captured a number of rebels. By the Imam's order,[13] the Muslim captives were released; the Christians of Banu Najiya were also offered freedom if they converted to Islam, but 500 of them refused. During their transfer to Kufa, the captives passed through Ardashir-Khwarrah. At the captives' request, Musqala bought and freed them for five hundred thousand dirhams. Imam Ali (a) praised this act; however, Musqala delayed paying the ransom for the captives to the Muslim Bayt al-Mal. Imam Ali (a) sent him a letter, and Musqala went to Basra, paid two hundred thousand dirhams to Abd Allah b. Abbas, and declared he was unable to pay the rest.[14][15]

Defection to Muawiyah

According to a statement cited in the Encyclopedia of Imam Ali from Musqala, Muawiyah or Uthman used to gift one hundred thousand dirhams of the cities' Kharaj (land tax) to their governors annually, and he expected Imam Ali (a) to do the same.[16] The Imam did not accept this.[17] It is reported that Musqala buried the money under the ground in his house[18] and fled to Sham that same night. By the Imam's order, his house was destroyed[19] to find the assets.[20] Sermon 44 of Nahj al-Balagha condemns Musqala's behavior.[21]Template:Note

According to the Encyclopedia of Amir al-Mu'minin (a), Musqala b. Hubayra participated in Muawiyah's governmental affairs after fleeing to Sham.[22] According to Tarikh al-Tabari (written 303 AH), Musqala wrote from Sham to his brother Nu'aym b. Hubayra, who was a Shia and one of Imam Ali's (a) advisors, promising him a governmental position, but Nu'aym refused.[23]

Testimony Against Hujr b. Adi

Musqala also collaborated with the Umayyads in the killing of Hujr b. Adi, a companion of the Prophet and one of the companions of Imam Ali (a). Ziyad b. Abih arrested Hujr b. Adi and collected a testimony against him. Musqala is considered one of the individuals who testified against him. Following this testimony, Muawiyah ordered the killing of Hujr.[24]

Campaign to Tabaristan and Death

There is a difference of opinion regarding the time and manner of Musqala's death. According to some reports, Dahhak b. Qays, the Umayyad governor in Kufa, sent Musqala to the war in Tabaristan in 54/573/74; however, he made peace with the rulers of Tabaristan after taking five hundred thousand dirhams.[25] According to other reports, Muawiyah sent him to govern Tabaristan, but he was killed during the campaign there,[26] or he was killed in Royan, one of the cities of Tabaristan, while marching toward Khorasan.[27] Tabari mentions Musqala's death under the events of 89/707-08; however, others, citing that his attack was during the lifetime of Muawiyah (died 60/679-80) and Gil Gavbareh, ruler of Tabaristan (died 62/681-82), have placed his death before this date.[28]

Ibn Isfandiyar writes in the History of Tabaristan that people, out of ignorance, considered Musqala a companion of the Prophet (s) and visited his grave.[29] Also, al-Zirikli in al-A'lam mentions Musqala's campaign to Tabaristan and his failure to return as a proverb in Arabic, writing that anyone who intended not to do a task would say, "La yakunu hadha hatta yarji'a Musqala min Tabaristan" (This will not happen until Musqala returns from Tabaristan).[30]

Notes

  1. ↑ Ibn Asakir, Tarikh Madinat Dimashq, 1415 AH, vol. 58, p. 269.
  2. ↑ See for example: Tabari, Tarikh al-Tabari, Beirut, vol. 5, pp. 113–129; Khoei, Mu'jam Rijal al-Hadith, 1372 SH, vol. 19, pp. 193–194.
  3. ↑ Ibn Abi al-Hadid, Sharh Nahj al-Balagha, 1404 AH, vol. 3, p. 127.
  4. ↑ Ibn Makula, al-Ikmal fi al-Irtiyab, 1993, vol. 5, p. 25.
  5. ↑ Tabari, Tarikh al-Tabari, Beirut, vol. 6, pp. 375–383.
  6. ↑ Tabari, Tarikh al-Tabari, Beirut, vol. 6, p. 25.
  7. ↑ Ibn Asakir, Tarikh Madinat Dimashq, 1415 AH, vol. 58, p. 269.
  8. ↑ Neyestani, Javad, Ardashir-Khwarrah, p. 494; b. Khordadbeh, Masalik wa Mamalik, 1371 SH, p. 64.
  9. ↑ Yaqubi, Tarikh al-Yaqubi, Dar Sader, vol. 2, pp. 201–202.
  10. ↑ Nahj al-Balagha, ed. Subhi Saleh, Letter 43, p. 415.
  11. ↑ Yaqubi, Tarikh al-Yaqubi, Dar Sader, vol. 2, pp. 201–202.
  12. ↑ Nahj al-Balagha, ed. Subhi Saleh, Sermon 44, p. 85.
  13. ↑ Thaqafi, al-Gharat, 1395 SH, p. 358.
  14. ↑ Tabari, Tarikh al-Tabari, Beirut, vol. 5, pp. 113–129.
  15. ↑ According to some sources, Musqala bought and freed the captives for one hundred thousand dirhams and sent fifty thousand dirhams to the Imam. (Ibn 'Asakir, Tarikh Dimashq, 1415 AH, vol. 58, p. 270.)
  16. ↑ Tabari, Tarikh al-Tabari, Beirut, vol. 5, p. 130; Makarem Shirazi, Payam-e Amir al-Mu'minin, 1386 SH, vol. 2, pp. 494–497.
  17. ↑ Muhammadi Reyshahri, Encyclopedia of Amir al-Mu'minin, 1389 SH, vol. 6, p. 587.
  18. ↑ Muhammadi Reyshahri, Encyclopedia of Amir al-Mu'minin, 1389 SH, vol. 6, p. 587.
  19. ↑ Nuri, Mustadrak al-Wasa'il, Beirut, vol. 17, p. 404; Majlisi, Bihar al-Anwar, Beirut, vol. 33, p. 405.
  20. ↑ Muhammadi Reyshahri, Encyclopedia of Amir al-Mu'minin, 1389 SH, vol. 6, p. 587.
  21. ↑ Nahj al-Balagha, ed. Subhi Saleh, Sermon 44, p. 85.
  22. ↑ Muhammadi Reyshahri, Encyclopedia of Amir al-Mu'minin, 1389 SH, vol. 13, p. 561.
  23. ↑ Tabari, Tarikh al-Tabari, Beirut, vol. 5, pp. 130–131.
  24. ↑ Tabari, Tarikh al-Tabari, Beirut, vol. 5, pp. 253–256.
  25. ↑ Ibn Asakir, Tarikh Madinat Dimashq, 1415 AH, vol. 58, p. 275; Ibn Taghribirdi, al-Nujum al-Zahirah, 1392 AH, vol. 1, p. 145.
  26. ↑ Ibn Asakir, Tarikh Madinat Dimashq, 1415 AH, vol. 58, pp. 273 and 276.
  27. ↑ Ibn Asakir, Tarikh Madinat Dimashq, 1415 AH, vol. 58, p. 277.
  28. ↑ Azami Sangsari, "Gil, Farshwadhgarshah...", pp. 51–52.
  29. ↑ Ibn Isfandiyar, Tarikh-e Tabaristan, 1366 SH, p. 157.
  30. ↑ Zirikli, al-A'lam, 1980, vol. 7, p. 249.

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