Malik al-Ashtar

Malik al-Ashtar

The tomb of Malik al-Ashtar
Full Name	Malik b. Harith
Wellknown Relatives	Ibrahim b. Malik, his son
Death/Martyrdom	39/659
Burial Place	Egypt

Mālik b. Hārith (مالک بن حارث) (b.? - d. 39/659) well-known as al-Ashtar was one of the especial companions of Imam 'Ali (a) and one of the powerful leaders of Iraq. He was one of the commanders of the army of Imam 'Ali (a) who was forethoughtful in politics and strong in battle. He participated in the Battle of Jamal and the Battle of Siffin and eventually he was appointed by Imam 'Ali (a) as governor-general in Egypt. However, he was martyred before arriving to Egypt. The famous treaty of Malik al-Ashtar is a letter that Imam 'Ali (a) wrote to Malik while he was in Egypt.

His Parentage and Children

According to Ibn Abi al-Hadid, his parentage is as follows: Malik b. Harith b. 'Abd Yaghuth b. Muslima b. Rabi'a b. Khazima b. Sa'd b. Malik b. Nakha' b. 'Amr b. 'Ila b. Khalid b. Malik b. Udd.

Ibrahim b. Malik was his son. He was one of the companions of Mukhtar al-Thaqafi, where they took revenge on the murderers of Imam al-Husayn (a).

From Yemen to Kufa

The date of his birth is unknown but it is known that he was born in Yemen and grew up there. He emigrated from Yemen on 11/632 or 12/633. He was one of the commanders and head of his tribe. He was alive during the age of ignorance. He settled in Kufa and because of his move, a generation started living there. He participated in the Battle of Yarmuk and lost one of his eyes in the battle. He used to be a companion of Imam 'Ali (a). He killed Muhammad b. Talha in the Battle of Jamal. All the historians have praised him. There are some poems about him which are recorded in historical sources.

Burial of Abu Dhar

Ibn Abi al-Hadid who was a Mu'tazili Sunni, narrated a tradition, or hadith, from Abu Dhar al-Ghifari and he narrated the hadith from the Prophet (s). Ibn Abi al-Hadid considers the hadith as a certain testimony for faithfulness of Malik al-Ashtar. He refers to the tradition that says a group of the believers will bury Abu Dhar and since Malik al-Ashtar was among that group in Rabadha (the place that Abu Dhar was banished) to bury Abu Dhar, Ibn Abi al-Hadid concluded that according to the hadith of the Prophet (s), Malik was faithful.

Banishment to Sham and Hums

Sa'id b. 'As al-Umawi, Uthman's governor in Kufa, said in a banquet that Sawad (an area in the Iraq that has many gardens) belongs to Quraysh and Banu Umayya. Malik al-Ashtar and some other people, rebelled against the governor's proclamation and fought with 'Abd al-Rahman al-Asadi, the head of security in Kufa. After this incident, Sa'id b. 'As by the order of Uthman, banished Malik and nine persons to Sham.

According to the narration Ibn Abi al-Hadid, in addition to Malik, there were other displaced persons: Malik b. Ka'b Arhabi, Aswad b. Yazid al-Nakha'i, 'Alqama b. Qays al-Nakha'i, Sa'sa'a b. Suhan al-'Abdi. Malik had a conversation with Mu'awiya in Sham, and Mu'awiya wrote a letter to 'Uthman and 'Uthman decided to allow Malik to return to Kufa. However, when they came back to Kufa, they started to denounce Sa'id b. 'As and Sa'id wrote a letter to 'Uthman and he banished them to Hums.

According to another narration, it was Mu'awiya who banished Malik and his companions to Hums because he was afraid that Malik's speeches might attract people of Sham. According to the letter of Sa'id b. 'As, the protesters were: 'Amr b. Zurara, Kumayl b. Ziyad, Malik b. Harith (Malik al-Ashtar), Harqus b. Zahir, Shurayh b. Awfa, Yazid b. Muknaf, Zayd b. Suhan, Sa'sa'a b. Suhan, Jundab b. Zahir.

As reported by Ibn Shubba (d. 262/875), Malik and his companions stayed in Hums till the Kufans ousted Sa'id b. 'As and sent a letter for Malik to come back to Kufa.

Governor of Kufa

After the return of Malik to Kufa, the elders of the Kufa made a covenant with Malik to don't let Sa'id b. 'As get back to Kufa. Thus Malik became the governor of Kufa, he was Imam of Jum'a prayer, he appointed imams for other prayers, and chose a person in charge of Treasury.

After correspondence between Malik and 'Uthman, Malik suggested that if 'Uthman appoint Abu Musa al-Ash'ari and Hudhayfa as governors of Kufa, he will agree with them. So, 'Uthman sent letters to al-Ash'ari and Hudhayfa to be in charge of the government of Kufa.

Arrest of 'Uthman

When different groups gathered to protest to 'Uthman and his commanders, Malik was the head of Kufi protesters. However when 'Uthman was surround and threatened to death, Malik and Hakim b. Jibla (head of the protestors of Basra) resigned but Ibn 'Adis and his Egyptian followers, insisted to continue the surround.

The fact that Malik wasn't among the murderers of 'Uthman could be realized through his conversation with Jarir b. 'Abd Allah al-Bajali. Imam 'Ali (a) sent Jarir to Sham to talk with the Shami people, and he couldn't reach his goal and wasn't successful in his mission. Malik told to Imam 'Ali (a) that if you decided to send me, it would be more fruitful. When Jarir heard this idea, said: I swear by God that if you went there, they would kill you because they think (زعم) that you were one of the killers of 'Uthman. Since the verb زعم is used for false idea, it can be understood that Malik wasn't among the killers of 'Uthman, otherwise they should use a verb like "know" (علموا) which indicates the certain knowledge.

After the death of 'Uthman, Malik guided people to Make Bay'a with Imam 'Ali (a).

The battles of Imam 'Ali (a)

The Battle of Jamal

In the Battle of Jamal, Malik was the commander of Maymana (the right part of the army of Imam 'Ali (a)). In this battle, Malik fought a Pitched battle with 'Abd Allah b. Zubayr who had the bridle of the camel of 'A'isha (the wife of the prophet (s) ), during this Pitched battle, both of them fall on earth but Malik had a better position. 'Abd Allah begun shouting and his solders came and rescued him.

At the end of the battle, Malik went to 'A'isha and said: praise to God that helped his friends and defeated his enemy. He also recited this verse of Qur'an: “And say: The truth has come and the falsehood has vanished; surely falsehood is a vanishing (thing)” ('Isra: 81)

- O 'A'isha! How did you see the God's act to yourself?

- “Who are you? May your mother mourn for you!” she answered

- “I am your son, Ashtar” Malik said. (wives of the prophet were titled as Umm al-Mu'minin (mother of the believers) and hence Malik called himself as her son)

- “You lied, I am not your mother” 'A'isha said

- “You are my mother even if you don't like it” he answered.

- “You were the guy who wanted to kill my niece ('Abd Allah b. Zubayr)?” she asked

- “My apologies to God and to you, if I wasn't hungry for three days, I made you relieved from this niece” he answered.

At the end of this Battle, Malik bought an expensive camel and gave to 'A'isha, instead of her camel that was killed.

The battle of Siffin

The character of Malik in Imam 'Ali (a) TV show

Malik al-Ashtar was one the commanders of the army of Imam 'Ali (a) who could reach the vicinity of the camp of Mu'awiya. The victory of the army of Imam was evident. In such situation, solders of Mu'awiya tried a ruse and put the Qur'ans on the spears and invited the followers of Imam 'Ali (a) to finalize the battle by the command of the Qur'an. A group of the solders (approximately 20000 persons) of the army of Imam became cheated. They gathered and asked 'Ali (a) to order to Malik to return, otherwise they kill 'Ali (a). Imam explained the situation and the ruse of the Mu'awiya but they didn't accept and said that you should order to Malik to get back immediately. Imam had no choice except sending a courier to Malik to stop him.

It was the morning of the Laylat al-Harir and Malik was in a dominant location and could attack to Mu'awiya. He answered to Yazid b. Hani (the courier of Imam) that I can't move now, and I hope that I can overcome them and Allah will help us.

Yazid b. Hani returned to Imam and delivered the message of Malik. In that situation, protestors became suspicious and they swore that you sent a message to Malik to continue the battle. Imam answered that you witnessed that I ordered Malik to come back. Then Imam asked Yazid b. Hani to go to Malik and give imam's order to him and tell him that there is a sedition. Yazid went to Malik and delivered the message

Malik asked Yazid that the problem is duo to the Qur'ans on spears? “Yes” Yazid answered. “I swear to God that I knew that raising the Qur'ans will cause division but is it proper to leave the situation when I am close to victory?” asked Malik. “Do you like to be victorious here but Imam lose on the camp?” asked Yazid. Malik answered: “Subhan Allah (Alleluia!) I swear to God, I don't like this to happen”. “Protesters said that either Malik return otherwise we kill 'Ali as we killed 'Uthman or we betray 'Ali to his enemies” stated Yazid.

Thus Malik came back to the camp and talked to protesters and denounce them and they had contention and imam asked them to stop it. Malik was against Hakamiya (arbitration) but since Imam had accepted it, followed Imam.

Travel to Egypt and Martyrdom of al-Ashtar

After the battle of Siffin, Malik went back to Jazira and since Egypt became unrest, Imam 'Ali (a) called Malik who was in Nasibayn and appointed him as governor of Egypt. When Mu'awiya knew about the appointment through his spies, he realized that if Malik reach to Egypt, Mu'awiya cannot easily gain victory in Egypt (which was under the govern of Muhammad b. Abi Bakr in that time). So, Mu'awiya sent a letter to one of the taxpayers and said that if you kill Malik, I won't ask you for tax till you and I are alive. Hence when Malik arrived to Qulzam, the taxpayer man, welcomed Malik and invited him for food. After Malik had the food, the man offered a toxic beverage of honey to him, and after drinking that, Malik Passed away.

Ibn Abi al-Hadid wrote in his book: Malik passed away on 39/659 when he was going to Egypt by the order of 'Ali (a). It is been said that he was killed by poison and also some said that he passed away by natural causes. The author of al-Gharat (d.283/896) has mentioned different narrations about how Malik was poisoned by Mu'awiya.

'Alqama b. Qiys al-Nakha'i says: when Malik passed away, 'Ali (a) was very sad in a way that we thought he is the only stricken and we (the tribe of Nakha') are not as rueful as he is. This grief was apparent several days in his face.

Malik al-Ashtar in the words of others

Imam 'Ali (a)

When Imam 'Ali (a) decided to send Malik to Egypt, introduced Malik to Egyptian in a letter:

"I am sending a servant of the servants of God to you. He who doesn't slumber in the days of fear and doesn't afraid of enemies and is like fire to villains. He is Malik b. Harith from the ancestry of Midhhaj. Listen to him and obey his commands because he is a sword of the God's swords that is strong and sharp. If he asks you to travel then travel and if he orders to stay then stay, because if he does something or avoid something, that is by my order. I am putting him in a prior position to you because he is a sincere man and I know that he is an unfailing man against your enemies."

When Imam 'Ali (a) heard that Malik was martyr, said:

"Malik! How was Malik, I swear by God, if he was a mount, he was a distinguished one. And if he was a rock, he was a firm one that no bird can reach its height."

Also it is narrated that after his demise, Imam said: "God may forgive Malik, he was to me as I was to the Prophet (s)."

Mu'awiya

When Mu'awiya became aware of the martyrdom of Malik, he said to people:” 'Ali had two hands, one of them was disconnected in the battle of Siffin and it was 'Ammar b. Yasir and the other was Malik”

Ibn Abi al-Hadid

He was a brave horseman, chief of the tribe and one of the great shi'as of Imam 'Ali (a) who was faithful to Imam during his life. “Malik joined amenity with rigor, he was rigorous in its proper situations and he was suave in its appropriate cases.”

External Links

• The material for this article is mainly taken from مالک اشتر in Farsi Wikishia.