Malik al-Ashtar: Difference between revisions

  | caption = The tomb of Malik al-Ashtar in [[Egypt]]

  | Companion of = [[Imam 'Ali (a)]]

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

'''Mālik b. Hārith al-Nakhaʿī''' (Arabic:{{iarabic|مالک بن حارث النخعي}}) (b.? - d. [[39]]/659-660) well-known as '''Malik al-Ashtar''' ({{iarabic|مالک الأشتر}}) was one of the especial [[List of Companions of Imam Ali (a)|companions]] of [[Imam 'Ali (a)]]. During the [[caliphate]] of [['Uthman b. 'Affan]], he participated in the funeral of [[Abu Dhar]] and because he objected to the governor of [[Kufa]], he was exiled to [[Hums]]. After he returned from Hums, people made him the governor of Kufa. During the besiege of 'Uthman's house, Malik was among the the besiegers. Supporters of [[Mu'awiya]] accused him of being an accomplice in the murder of 'Uthman.  

After the murder of 'Uthman, Malik was one of the most influential people in calling people to pledge allegiance with Imam Ali (a). During the caliphate of Imam Ali (a), Malik 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. His son, [[Ibrahim b. Malik al-Ashtar]] was one of the people who were seeking the revenge of Imam al-Husayn (a) and was one of [[Mukhtar al-Thaqafi]]'s allies.

The famous [[treaty of Malik al-Ashtar]] is a letter that Imam 'Ali (a) wrote to him while he was in Egypt.

Malik al-Ashtar was a companion of [[Imam 'Ali (a)]] everywhere. He killed [[Muhammad b. Talha]] in the [[Battle of Jamal]]. All the biographers have praised him. Some poems are recorded in historical sources in which he has been praised.<ref>Amini, ''Tarjumat a'lam 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 l-Hadid, ''Sharh nahj al-balagha'', vol.15, pp.99-100</ref> People present in the burial of Abu Dhar chose Malik as the leader for the [[Funeral Prayer]].

According to another report, 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 Syria. 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-Numayri, ''Tarikh al-Madinat al-munawwara'', vol.3, pp.1141-1142</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 [[Syria]] 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:{{ia|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 "{{ia|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: {{ia|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'', p. 83</ref> In this battle, Malik al-Ashtar fought a one-on-one battle with [['Abd Allah b. Zubayr]], who had the bridle of the camel of [[Aisha]]. During this one-on-one 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'', p. 84</ref>

::"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 Aisha! How did you see the [[God]]'s act to yourself?"

::: "You were the guy who wanted to kill my nephew ('Abd Allah b. Zubayr)?" she asked.

[[File:392610 VTk6mkaJ.jpg|270px|thumbnail|The character of Malik in Imam 'Ali (a) TV series]]

Malik al-Ashtar was one the commanders of the army of [[Imam 'Ali (a)]] who would reach the vicinity of the camp of [[Mu'awiya]] in the Battle of Siffin. The victory of the army of Imam was evident. In such a situation, the soldiers of Mu'awiya tried a ruse and put [[Qur'an]]s 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 soldiers (approximately 20,000 persons) of the army of Imam became confused and fell for the ruse. They gathered and asked 'Ali (a) to order to Malik to return, otherwise they would kill 'Ali (a), their Imam and leader. Imam explained the situation and the ruse of the Mu'awiya but they did not accept and forced 'Ali (a) to order Malik al-Ashtar to return immediately. Imam had no choice except to send a courier to Malik al-Ashtar with the message to retreat.

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 he could've move at that time was hopeful that he could overcome the opposing forces and [[Allah]] will help them.

Yazid b. Hani returned to Imam and delivered the message of Malik al-Ashtar. In light of the message, the protesters became suspicious of 'Ali (a) and they swore that he sent a message to Malik al-Ashtar to continue the battle. Imam answered that they witnessed the order for Malik al-Ashtar to come back. Then Imam asked Yazid b. Hani to go back to Malik al-Ashtar and give him Imam's order to return and to tell him there is a sedition. Yazid went to Malik al-Ashtar and delivered the message.

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 rule 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 l-Hadid, ''Sharh 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. Qays 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 in his face for several days."<ref>Al-Thaqafi, ''al-Gharat'', vol.1, pp.265-266</ref>

=== Imam 'Ali (a) ===

When [[Imam 'Ali (a)]] decided to send Malik al-Ashtar to [[Egypt]], he introduced Malik al-Ashtar to the Egyptians in a letter:

When Imam 'Ali (a) heard that Malik al-Ashtar was martyred, he 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 could reach it's height."<ref>''Nahj al-balagha'', Maxim 443</ref>

::"May God forgive Malik, he was to me as I was to [[the Prophet (s)]]."<ref>Ibn Abi l-Hadid, ''Sharh 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, who was [['Ammar b. Yasir]]; and the other was Malik who died today."<ref>Amini, ''Tarjumat a'lam nahaj al-balagha'', p.40; Al-Thaqafi, ''al-Gharat'', vol.1, pp.262</ref>

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.<ref>Ibn Abi l-Hadid, ''Sharh nahj al-balagha'', vol.15, p.98</ref> "Malik would combine lenience with rigor, he was rigorous in its proper situations and he was lenient in its appropriate cases."<ref>Ibn Abi l-Hadid, ''Sharh nahj al-balagha'', vol.15, p.102</ref>