Malik al-Ashtar: Difference between revisions

| Activities = one of the prominent commanders of the army of [[Imam 'Ali (a)]] in the [[Battle of Jamal]] and [[Battle of Siffin]]

According to [[Ibn Abi l-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.<ref>Ibn Abi al-Hadid, ''Sharhi Nahj al-balagha'', vol.15, p.98</ref>

[[Ibrahim b. Malik al-Ashtar]] 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)]].<ref>al-Amin, sayyid Muhsin, ''A'yan al-shi'a'', vol.2, p.200</ref>

The date of the birth of Malik al-Ashtar is unknown but it is known that he was born in [[Yemen]] and grew up there. He was alive during the [[age of ignorance]].<ref>al-Muhajir, ''malik al-Ashtar sirata'', p. 33</ref>

Malik al-Ashtar emigrated from Yemen on [[11]]/632-633 or [[12]]/633-634. He was one of the commanders and head of his tribe. He settled in [[Kufa]] and because of his move, his generation started living there. He participated in the [[Battle of Yarmuk]] and lost one of his eyes in the battle.<ref>Ibn 'Asakir, ''Tarikh madinat Damishq'', vol.56, p.380</ref>

Malik al-Ashtar used to be a companion of [[Imam 'Ali (a)]]. He killed [[Muhammad b. Talha]] in the [[Battle of Jamal]]. All the biographers have praised him. He had some poems which are recorded in historical sources.<ref>Amini, ''Tarjumi-yi a'lam-i Nahaj al-balagha'', pp. 39-40</ref>

[[Ibn Abi l-Hadid]] who was a [[Mu'tazila|Mu'tazili]] [[Sunni]], narrated a [[hadith]] from [[Abu Dhar al-Ghifari]] that [[the Prophet (s)]] said a group of the ''believers'' will bury Abu Dhar. Since Malik al-Ashtar was among that group in [[Rabadha]] (the place that Abu Dhar was banished) to bury Abu Dhar, Ibn Abi l-Hadid considers this hadith as a certain testimony for faithfulness of Malik al-Ashtar and concluded that according to the hadith of the Prophet (s), Malik al-Ashtar was faithful.<ref> Ibn Abi al-Hadid, ''Sharhi Nahj al-balagha'', vol.15, pp.99-100</ref>

== Banishment to Sham and Hums ==

[[Sa'id b. al-'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 the head of security in Kufa. After this incident, Sa'id b. al-'As by the order of Uthman, banished Malik al-Ashtar and nine persons to [[al-Sham]].<ref>al-Amin, sayyid Muhsin, A'yan al-shi'a, vol.9, p.40</ref>

According to the narration of [[Ibn Abi l-Hadid]], in addition to Malik al-Ashtar, there were other displaced persons: Malik b. Ka'b al-Arhabi, Aswad b. Yazid al-Nakha'i, 'Alqama b. Qays al-Nakha'i, [[Sa'sa'a b. Sawhan al-'Abdi]].<ref>Ibn Abi al-Hadid, ''Sharhi Nahj al-balagha'', vol.2, p.130-133</ref>

Malik al-Ashtar had a conversation with [[Mu'awiya]] in al-Sham, and Mu'awiya wrote a letter to 'Uthman and 'Uthman decided to allow Malik al-Ashtar to return to Kufa. However, when they came back to Kufa, they started to denounce Sa'id b. al-'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 al-Ashtar and his companions to Hums because he was afraid that Malik al-Ashtar's speeches might attract people of al-Sham. According to the letter of Sa'id b. al-'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. Sawhan]], Sa'sa'a b. Suhan, Jundab b. Zuhayr.<ref>al-Nairi, ''Tarikh al-Madinat al-munawwara'', vol.3, pp.1141-1142</ref>

As reported by [[Ibn Shubba]] (d. [[262]]/875-876), Malik al-Ashtar and his companions stayed in Hums till the Kufans ousted Sa'id b. al-'As and sent a letter for Malik al-Ashtar to come back to Kufa.<ref>al-Nairi, ''Tarikh al-Madinat al-munawwara'', vol.3, p.1142</ref>

After the return of Malik al-Ashtar to [[Kufa]], the elders of the Kufa made a covenant with Malik al-Ashtar to not let Sa'id b. al-'As get back to Kufa. Thus, Malik al-Ashtar became the governor of Kufa, he was the [[Imam of Jumu'a prayer]], he appointed Imams for other [[congregational prayers]], and chose a person to be in charge of treasury.<ref>al-Muhajir, ''Malik al-Ashtar sirata''. p.62</ref>

After correspondence between Malik al-Ashtar and [['Uthman]], Malik al-Ashtar suggested that if 'Uthman appointed [[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.<ref>al-Baladhuri, ''Ansab al-ashraf al-Muhajir'', vol.5, p.535-536; ''Malik al-Ashtar sirata'', p.63</ref>

When different groups gathered to protest against [['Uthman]] and his commanders, Malik al-Ashtar was the head of Kufan protesters. However, when 'Uthman was surrounded and threatened to death, Malik al-Ashtar and Hakim b. Jubla (head of the protesters of [[Basra]]) resigned but Ibn 'Udays and his Egyptian followers, insisted to continue the offense.<ref>Tabari, ''Tarikh al-Rusul wa al-Muluk'', vol.3, p.411; al-Amin, ''A'yan al-shi'a'', vol.9, p.41</ref>

The fact that Malik al-Ashtar 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 [[al-Sham]] to talk with the Mu'awiya but he wasn't successful in his mission. Malik al-Ashtar told Imam 'Ali (a) that "if you decided to send me, it would be more fruitful." When Jarir heard this idea, he said: "I swear by God that if you went there, they would kill you because they think (Arabic: زعم) that you were one of the killers of 'Uthman."<ref>al-Amin, A'yan al-shi'a, vol.4, p.75</ref> Since the verb "زعم" is used for false idea, it can be understood that Malik al-Ashtar wasn't among the killers of 'Uthman, otherwise they should use a verb like "know" (Arabic: علموا) which indicates the certain knowledge.

After the death of 'Uthman, Malik al-Ashtar guided people to pledge allegiance, or [[bay'a]], with Imam 'Ali (a).<ref>al-Amin, A'yan al-shi'a, vol.9, p.41</ref>

In the [[Battle of Jamal]], Malik al-Ashtar was the commander of Maymana (the right wing of the army of [[Imam 'Ali (a)]]).<ref> al-Muhajir, ''Malik al-Ashtar sirata'', p. 83</ref> In this battle, Malik al-Ashtar fought a pitched battle with [['Abd Allah b. Zubayr]], who had the bridle of the camel of [['A'isha]] (the [[Wives of the Prophet (s)|wife of the Prophet (s)]]). During this pitched battle, both of them fell on the earth but Malik al-Ashtar had a better position. 'Abd Allah begun shouting and his solders came and rescued him.<ref> al-Muhajir, ''Malik al-Ashtar sirata'', p. 84</ref>

:: "My apologies to God and to you. If I wasn't hungry for three days, I would have relieved you from this nephew," he answered.<ref>al-Shaykh al-Mufid, ''al-Jamal'', p.37; see: Dawani, Ashab-i Imam 'Ali'', p.509</ref>

At the end of this Battle, Malik bought an expensive camel and gave to 'A'isha, to make up for her camel that was killed.<ref> al-Muhajir, ''Malik al-Ashtar sirata'', p. 84</ref>

Thus Malik al-Ashtar came back to the camp and talked to protesters and denounced them. They had a contention and Imam asked them to stop it. Malik al-Ashtar was against [[arbitration]], or ''al-Tahkim'' but since Imam had accepted it, followed Imam.<ref>al-Amin, ''A'yan al-shi'a'', vol.9, p.39</ref>

After the [[Battle of Siffin]], Malik al-Ashtar went back to Iraq. Since [[Egypt]] had unrest, [[Imam 'Ali (a)]] called Malik al-Ashtar who was in Nasibayn and appointed him as governor of Egypt.<ref>al-Amin, ''A'yan al-shi'a'', vol.9, p.38</ref> When [[Mu'awiya]] knew about the appointment through his spies, he realized that if Malik al-Ashtar reaches to Egypt, Mu'awiya could not easily gain victory in Egypt (which was under the govern of [[Muhammad b. Abi Bakr]] at that time). So, Mu'awiya sent a letter to one of the taxpayers and requested him to kill Malik al-Ashtar in exchange for lifelong freedom from taxes. Hence, when Malik al-Ashtar arrived to Qulzam, the taxpayer welcomed Malik al-Ashtar and invited him for food. After Malik al-Ashtar had the food, the man offered a toxic beverage of honey to him, and after drinking that, Malik al-Ashtar passed away from the poison.<ref>al-Amin, ''A'yan al-shi'a'', vol.9, pp.38-39</ref>

[[Ibn Abi l-Hadid]] wrote in his book: "Malik al-Ashtar passed away on [[39]]/659-660 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."<ref>Ibn Abi al-Hadid, ''Sharhi Nahj al-balagha'', vol.15, pp.101</ref>

The author of ''[[al-Gharat]]'' (d. [[283]]/896-897) has mentioned different narrations about how Malik al-Ashtar was poisoned by Mu'awiya."<ref>al-Thaqafi, ''al-Gharat'', vol.1, pp.263-264</ref>

'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 for several days in his face."<ref>al-Thaqafi, ''al-Gharat'', vol.1, pp.265-266</ref>

== In the words of others ==

::"I am sending a servant of the servants of God to you. He who doesn't slumber in the days of fear and isn'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 avoids something, it 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."<ref>Amini, ''Tarjumi-yi a'lam-i Nahaj al-Balagha'', p.40</ref>

::"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 could reach it's height."<ref>''Nahj al-balagha'', Maxiom.443</ref>

::"May God forgive Malik, he was to me as I was to [[the Prophet (s)]]."<ref>Ibn Abi al-Hadid, ''Sharhi Nahj al-balagha'', vol.15, p.98</ref>

When [[Mu'awiya]] became aware of the martyrdom of Malik, he said to people: "'Ali had two hands, one of them was cut in the Battle of Siffin, one was [['Ammar b. Yasir]]; and the other was Malik."

According to Ibn Abi l-Hadid, Malik al-Ashtar 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."

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