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The Murder of Malik b. Nuwayra

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The murder of Mālik b. Nūwayra (Arabic: قتل مالك بن نُويرة) occurred during the caliphate of Abu Bakr, when Malik, a companion of the Prophet, was killed by Khalid b. al-Walid. This incident became a significant theological controversy between Shia and Sunni scholars. Shia scholars, citing Khalid’s moral deviation and the perpetration of this killing, have critiqued the doctrine of the righteousness of the Companions. According to Shia researchers, Malik refused to pay zakat to Abu Bakr’s government, as he did not recognize the legitimacy of his caliphate, which served as the pretext for his killing. Some Sunni writers have labeled Malik b. Nuwayra as an apostate (murtadd) to justify Khalid b. al-Walid’s action. However, Shia scholars and some Sunni scholars have rejected the claim of his apostasy, citing the testimony of several Companions affirming Malik’s adherence to Islam and Abu Bakr’s payment of blood money for his killing. 'Umar b. al-Khattab considered Khalid deserving of qisas (retaliatory execution) for Malik’s murder and stoning for his illicit relations with Malik’s wife. In contrast, Abu Bakr excused Khalid for having acted upon ijtihad.[1]

Malik b. Nuwayra was a prominent noble during both the pre-Islamic era and the Islamic period, having embraced Islam during the lifetime of the Prophet (s). After the Prophet’s demise, Malik challenged Abu Bakr, questioning why he did not transfer the caliphate to Imam 'Ali (a) as per the Prophet’s directive. Shaykh 'Abbas Qummi believes that Malik was killed due to his devotion to the Ahl al-Bayt (a).

Several books have been written regarding the killing of Malik b. Nuwayra, one of which is The Story of the killing of Malik b. Nuwayra, compiled by Ali Labbaf.

Malik b. Nuwayra

Main article: Malik b. Nuwayra

Malik b. Nuwayra b. Jamra al-Tamimi was a companion of the Prophet (s) and a prominent noble during both the pre-Islamic era and the Islamic period.[2] Malik was a poet and had a collection of poetry.[3] He visited the Prophet (s) and embraced Islam. The Prophet appointed him as his representative in his tribe to collect zakat from them.[4]

According to Shaykh 'Abbas al-Qummi, a Shia hadith scholar of the 14th/20th century, Malik b. Nuwayra was killed due to his devotion to the Ahl al-Bayt (a).[5] According to Fadl b. Shadhan, after the passing of the Prophet (s), Malik b. Nuwayra went to Medina and, upon learning of Abu Bakr’s caliphate, protested to him, questioning why he did not transfer the caliphate to [[Imam 'Ali (a) as per the Prophet’s directive.[6]

Killing of Malik During Ridda Wars

Malik b. Nuwayra refused to pay zakat to Abu Bakr’s government and instead distributed it among his own people.[7] According to Sayyid 'Abd al-Husayn Sharaf al-Din, the author of al-Nass wa-l-ijtihad, Malik withheld zakat from Abu Bakr because he doubted the legitimacy of his caliphate and the validity of paying zakat to him.[8]

Khalid b. al-Walid, under Abu Bakr’s orders, set out to confront the alleged apostasy of Malik b. Nuwayra and his tribe in the Butah region.[9] Abu Bakr had instructed that their adherence to prayer be assessed before initiating conflict to confirm their apostasy.[10] Informed of Khalid’s approach, Malik, to demonstrate his good intentions and dispel the misconception that his tribe had prepared an army, dispersed the gatherings of his people to avoid the appearance of a military formation.[11] Some of the Helpers, observing Malik and his tribe’s commitment to prayer, opposed Khalid b. al-Walid’s actions, but Khalid paid no heed to them.[12]

Malik, accompanied by his wife Umm Tamim, appeared before Khalid to prove his non-apostasy. However, upon seeing Malik's beautiful wife, Khalid killed Malik and, that same night, consummated a relationship with Umm Tamim, despite her being in the 'idda period following her husband's death.[13] According to the third/ninth century historian al-Ya'qubi, Khalid, upon seeing Umm Tamim, declared, "By God, I cannot attain what you possess except by killing you," and then proceeded to kill Malik.[14] The second/eighth-century historian al-Waqidi reports that Khalid had long been infatuated with Umm Tamim. Malik himself, before his death, had cited his wife's beauty as Khalid's motive.[15] Malik's death is recorded among the events of the year 11 AH/632.[16]

According to 'Allama Amini[17] and Rasul Ja'farian,[18] Shia historians, there is no doubt that Malik b. Nuwayra was killed due to Khalid b. Walid's moral deviation.

Sahaba’s Objection to Malik’s Murder

Khalid's actions, which violated Islamic law, provoked protests from some of the Prophet's companions, including Abu Qatada al-Ansari and 'Abd Allah b. 'Umar.[19] When reports of Khalid's reached Medina, 'Umar b. al-Khattab discussed Khalid's transgressions with Abu Bakr and urged him to remove Khalid from his position of command.[20] 'Umar considered Khalid deserving of qisas (retaliatory execution) for the killing of Malik and liable for stoning due to his illicit relationship with Malik's wife. [21]However, Abu Bakr rejected 'Umar's request, excusing Khalid's actions as a mistake in ijtihad.[22] Abu Bakr described Khalid as a sword among the swords of God, wielded against the enemies of God.[23]

After Mutammim b. Nuwayra, Malik's brother, sought justice for his brother's death from Abu Bakr, the latter ordered that Malik's blood money (diya) be paid from the public treasury (Bayt al-Mal).[24] Additionally, Abu Bakr instructed Khalid to separate from Malik's wife, but Khalid never complied with this order.[25] According to the Egyptian historian Muhammed Husaynn Haykal, Abu Bakr, needing Khalid's services for his governance, continued to employ him.[26] However, 'Umar b. al-Khattab did not forget Khalid's transgression, and upon becoming caliph after Abu Bakr's death, he removed Khalid from his position as commander of the army.[27]

Significance of This Event for Theological Discussions

The book Story of the Killing of Malik b. Nuwayra in Persian

The killing of Malik b. Nuwayra is a challenging theological debate between the two major Islamic sects (Shia and Sunni).[28] The murder of Malik by Khalid b. al-Walid and Khalid's subsequent relationship with Malik's wife are considered among the most controversial events associated with the Ridda Wars.[29] Shia scholars, citing this historical incident, have critiqued the Sunni doctrine of the righteousness of the Prophet’s companions, arguing that this doctrine was developed to justify certain inappropriate behaviors of some companions.[30] According to al-Maqdisi, a 4th/10th-century historian, after the issue of Imamate, the differences among Muslims became evident during the Ridda Wars. Although Abu Bakr believed it was necessary to fight the apostates, many Muslims opposed his view.[31]

Shia Muslims and some Sunnis reject the claim that Malik b. Nuwayra was an apostate and regarded him as a Muslim.[32] The testimony of several of the Prophet’s companions affirming Malik’s faith, Abu Bakr’s payment of blood money (diya) for Malik from the public treasury, and Abu Bakr’s order for Khalid to separate from Malik’s wife are among the reasons cited to support Malik’s status as a Muslim.[33] However, Sunni scholars are not unanimous on this matter, with some considering Malik an apostate.[34] Muhammed Husayn Haykal, justifying Khalid’s actions, argues that the killing of Malik and Khalid’s relationship with Malik’s wife are minor issues in light of Khalid’s significant services to the state.[35]

Monographs

Below are some of the books written on the murder of Malik b. Nuwayra:

  • The book The Story of the Killing of Malik b. Nuwayra (Majarayi qatl-i Malik b. Nuwayra), compiled by 'Ali Labbaf in Persian and based on the works of Sayyid Murtada 'Askari, was published in 1391 Sh by Munir Publications in Tehran.[36]
  • The book A Study on the Political and Militant Life of Malik b. Nuwayra (Pazhuhishi dar hayat-i siyasi wa mubarizati-yi Malik b. Nuwayra), authored in Persian by Hasan 'Ali-Purwahid, was published by the Islamic Publications Office in 1395 Sh in 685 pages.[37]
  • The book Malik b. Nuwayra, another work in Persian by Hasan Ali-Purwahid, examines the incident involving Malik with an analytical approach based on Sunni sources. It was published by Dalil-i Ma Publications in 1402 Sh in 616 pages.[38]

Notes

  1. ↑ Ijtihad, in the non-jurisprudential sense
  2. ↑ Ibn al-Athīr, Usd al-ghāba, vol. 4, p. 276.
  3. ↑ Āqā Buzurg al-Ṭihrānī, al-Dharīʿa, vol. 9, p. 264.
  4. ↑ al-Yaʿqūbī, Tārīkh, vol. 2, p. 122.
  5. ↑ Qummī, Muntahā al-āmāl, vol. 1, p. 311.
  6. ↑ Faḍl b. Shādhān, al-Faḍāʾil, p. 76.
  7. ↑ Ibn Ḥajar al-ʿAsqalānī, al-Iṣāba, vol. 5, p. 560.
  8. ↑ Sharaf al-Dīn, al-Naṣṣ wa-l-ijtihād, p. 118.
  9. ↑ Ibn Khaldūn, Tārīkh Ibn Khaldūn, vol. 2, p. 495.
  10. ↑ Sayyid al-Murtaḍā, al-Shāfī fī l-imāma, vol. 4, p. 163.
  11. ↑ Sharaf al-Dīn, al-Naṣṣ wa-l-ijtihād, p. 118-119.
  12. ↑ Wāqidī, al-Ridda, p. 106-107.
  13. ↑ Yaʿqūbī, Tārīkh al-Yaʿqūbī, vol. 2, p. 131-132
  14. ↑ Yaʿqūbī, Tārīkh al-Yaʿqūbī, vol. 2, p. 131.
  15. ↑ Wāqidī, al-Ridda, p. 107.
  16. ↑ Ṭabarī, Tārīkh al-Ṭabarī, vol. 3, p. 278.
  17. ↑ Amīnī, al-Ghadīr, vol. 7, p. 219-220.
  18. ↑ Jaʿfarīyān, Tārīkh-i khulafāʾ, p. 38.
  19. ↑ Maqdisī, al-Badʾ wa al-tārīkh, vol. 5, p. 159.
  20. ↑ Ṭabarī, Tārīkh al-Ṭabarī, vol. 3, p. 278-279.
  21. ↑ Abū l-Fidāʾ, Tārīkh Abī l-Fidāʾ, vol. 1, p. 222.
  22. ↑ Ibn Kathīr, al-Bidāya wa al-nihāya, vol. 6, p. 323.
  23. ↑ Majlisī, Biḥār al-anwār, vol. 30, p. 471.
  24. ↑ Ibn al-Athīr, Usd al-ghāba, vol. 4, p. 277.
  25. ↑ Ibn Ḥajar al-ʿAsqalānī, al-Iṣāba, vol. 2, p. 218.
  26. ↑ Haykal, al-Ṣiddīq Abū Bakr, p. 157.
  27. ↑ Haykal, al-Ṣiddīq Abū Bakr, p. 138.
  28. ↑ Ṣīyāmīyān Gurjī, Ridda, Janghā, p. 695.
  29. ↑ Ghulāmī, Janghā-yi irtidād wa buḥrān-i jānishinī pas az Payāmbar (s), p. 39.
  30. ↑ Nikzād, ʿAdālat-i ṣaḥāba dar tarāzū-yi naqd, p. 42-44.
  31. ↑ Maqdisī, al-Badʾ wa al-tārīkh, vol. 5, p. 123.
  32. ↑ Ibn al-Athīr, Usd al-ghāba, vol. 4, p. 277; Ghulāmī, Janghā-yi irtidād wa buḥrān-i jānishinī pas az Payāmbar (s), p. 40.
  33. ↑ Ibn al-Athīr, Usd al-ghāba, vol. 4, p. 277; Ghulāmī, Janghā-yi irtidād wa buḥrān-i jānishinī pas az Payāmbar (s), p. 40.
  34. ↑ Ibn al-Athīr, Usd al-ghāba, vol. 4, p. 277.
  35. ↑ Haykal, al-Ṣiddīq Abū Bakr, p. 141.
  36. ↑ Labbāf, Mājarā-yi qaṭl-i Mālik b. Nuwayra.
  37. ↑ ʿAlī Pūrwaḥīd, Pazhūhishī dar ḥayāt-i siyāsī wa mubārizātī-yi Mālik b. Nūwayra.
  38. ↑ ʿAlī Pūrwāḥīd, Mālik b. Nuwayra.

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