Malik al-Ashtar
Malik al-Ashtar by the name of “Malik ibn al-Harith al-Nakha'i”, known as Malik al-Ashtar, holds an important place in the history of Islam and Shiism, and his life was full of ups and downs. Malik was born during the pre-Islamic period. He converted to Islam in the final years of the Prophet's (peace be upon him and his family) life and migrated to Syria during the Rashidun Caliphate. Malik al-Ashtar played an important role in the Islamic conquests of the first and second caliphs, especially in the defeat of the opponents. He apparently settled in Kufa after the Battle of Qadisiyyah. Malik, who was considered one of the Yemeni elders of Kufa, rose up against the extravagance and corruption of the Umayyad rulers during the Caliphate of Uthman and defended the rights of the jihadists. He was a very strong man and one of the leaders and elders of the Shia, and he was very learned and ascetic. He lived in poverty, presided over his tribe, and went to the third caliph (Uthman) with the Kufa community to demand their rights. Malik led the people to pledge allegiance to Imam Ali (peace be upon him). He accompanied the Imam in the battles of Seffin and Nahrawan. His bravery and sacrifices in these battles are recorded in history.
Who is Malik Ashtar?
Malik ibn Harith Ashtar Nakha'i was the most distinguished companion of Imam Ali (a.s.). He was from the Nakha' tribe and a native of Yemen. His birth is recorded a few years before the mission of the Prophet (s.a.w.a.). Al- Amin, Al-Seyyed Mohsen.(2000).Ayan al-Shi'a,vol.9,Beirut:Dar altaarof.[1]
1- Al- Amin, Al-Seyyed Mohsen.(2000).Ayan al-Shi'a,vol.9,Beirut:Dar altaarof.
His adolescence coincided with the first years of the rise of Islam in the Hijaz. However, he did not have the opportunity to meet the Prophet (s.a.w.a.). At the same time, he was known as a young believer with firmness and steadfastness who had converted to Islam. Once, when he was mentioned in the presence of the Prophet (s.a.w.a.), the Prophet said: "He is a true believer[2]".
Al- Amin, Al-Seyyed Mohsen.(2000).Ayan al-Shi'a,vol.9,Beirut:Dar altaarof.
This testimony from the mouth of the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) shows his outstanding character.
The reason he is called Ashtar is because of a blow he received in the eye during the Battle of Yarmook[3].
3-Ashtar, meaning someone whose eyelids are drooping. Malik al-Ashtar’s eye was damaged in the Battle of Yarmouk and the lower eyelid of one of his eyes was drooping.And for this reason he became known as Malik Ashtar.
Those who have spoken about him have considered him an intelligent, clever, brave, poet, orator, faithful, steadfast and decisive man. All these characteristics made him a popular figure.
Ibn Abi al-Hadid writes about him: Malik Ashtar was a warlike and brave man and was one of the great and chiefs of the Shiites and one of the strong lovers of Amir al-Mu'minin and his helpers. If a person were to swear that God had not created among the Arabs and non-Arabs a braver person than him except for his master Amir al-Mu'minin, I do not think he would have committed a sin[4]. 4- Zakari, Ali Akbar.(2020).The biography of the gonernors of Ali ibn Abi Talib Amirul Momeneen (AS), vol.2,Qom;Boostan ketab publications; quoted from: Ibn Abi al-Hadid.(1965) Sharh Nahj al-Balagha, vol. 15, Beirut: Darolhayat al-Turas al-Arabi.
His Birth and accepting Islam
According to the consensus of the biographies of Malik Ashtar, he was born in the era of ignorance; but the exact time is not known.Some biographers have mentioned in their biography of Malik Ashtar: “He was born in the Ignorance era; [5].”
5-Ibn Hajar Asqlani.(1993). Tahdhib al-Tahdhib, Vol.1, Beirut: Darolhayat al-Turas al-Arabi.
And some other sources have written about him: “He was not born in Ignorance era and was the leader of his people; but rather he was born in the beginning of the time of the Prophet’s (peace be upon him and his family) mission and was the leader of his people[6].”
6-Ibn Hajar Asqalani, Ahmad bin Ali.(1994). Al-Isabah fi Tamiz al-Sahaba, first edition, researched by Abdul-Mujoud, Adel Ahmad, Mu'awaz, Ali Muhammad, vol.6, Beirut: Dar Al-Kutb Al-Ilmiyyah
In any case, Malik Ashtar converted to Islam after being born in his hometown at the end of the era of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) and during the mission of Imam Ali (peace be upon him and his family) in Yemen, that is, in the tenth year of the Hijri.[7] 7-Ibn Athir Jazari.(1987).Al-Kamil fi al-Tarikh,(The complete Hisrory),vol.2, Beirut: Dar-alkotob Elmyyah
According to a report, when Imam Ali (peace be upon him) stayed in Yemen, some elders of the Nakha, including Malik Ashtar, accompanied him in the events of that time.[8]
8- Al-Waqadi, Muhammad ibn Omar.(2004). Fotuh al-Sham,vol.1,Beirut:Dar Sader.
Despite Malik Ashtar’s conversion to Islam during the era of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family), he is not mentioned among the companions, because it is not exactly clear whether he was able to meet the Prophet or not; Considering that anyone who met the Prophet even once is considered a companion, Malik is referred to in most sources as a “Tabe’ei” means subordinate.[9] 9-Ibn Saad, Muhammad ibn Saad. Tabaqat al-Kubra.(1995). translated by Dr. Mahmoud Mahdavi Damghani,vol.7 Tehran:Culture and Thought Publications.
The Holy Prophet and Malik Ashtar
Malik Ashtar converted to Islam in Yemen. He never reached the presence of the Prophet. However, it is said that one day he was mentioned in the presence of the Prophet, and the Prophet said: He is truly a believer[10].
10-Al-Amin,Al-SeyyedMohsen.(2000).Ayan al-Shi'a,vol.9,Beirut:Dar altaarof.
Ibn Abi al-Hadid also narrates a hadith from the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) in which it is stated that a group of believers attended the funeral of Abu Dharr al-Ghiffari. Since Malik Ashtar was among the group that attended the funeral of Abu Dharr in the exile of Rabdhah and performed the washing, shrouding, and burying Abu Dharr, Ibn Abi al-Hadid considers this hadith as a definitive testimony from the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) that Malik Ashtar was a believer, and he concludes that Malik Ashtar is a believer according to what the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) said[11]. 11-Ibn Abi al-Hadid.(1965) Sharh Nahj al-Balagha, vol. 15, Beirut: Darolhayat al-Turas al-Arabi.
At the burial of Abu Dharr, a group that was present in the prayer for Abu Dharr made Malik Ashtar the imam and followed him[12]. 12-Fatal Neyshabouri, Mohammad ibn Ahmad.(1996).Rawdat al-Wa'ezin and Basirah al-Mu'taezin,vol.2,Qom:Razi Publications.
Malik Ashtar from Imam Ali’s Perspective
Imam Ali (a.s.) referred to Malik Ashtar’s high position and unparalleled virtues, both in his letters to him and, in his speeches in his presence. Here are a few examples:
After the arbitration in the Battle of Seffin, the Imam wrote in a letter to Malik Ashtar: “You are one of those who have my warm support in establishing the religion, suppressing the arrogance of criminals, and guarding dangerous borders…[13].”
13- Ibn Abi al-Hadid.(1965). Sharh Nahj al-Balagha, Vol. 6.
In a letter to the people of Egypt, the Imam wrote: “… I have sent to you one of the servants of God who does not sleep in times of fear and terror, and does not turn away from the battle in difficult moments of confronting the enemy. He who is harder and more burning against the wicked criminals than the flames of fire; that is, Malik Ashtar. So listen to his orders and obey him in the path of truth, because he is one of the swords of the divine light that neither dulls nor loses its effect…[14].” 14-Nahjul-Balagha Subhi Salih, Letter 38; Mufid, Muhammad ibn Nu'man.(1993). Al-Ikhtas, researched by Ali Akbar Ghaffari, Beirut: Dar Al-Mufid
When the news of Malik al-Ashtar’s martyrdom reached Imam Ali (a.s.) on his way to Egypt, he said with sorrow and regret: “May Allah reward Malik with a good reward! If he were a mountain, he would have been a great and solid mountain, and if he were a rock, he would have been a hard and solid rock… May Allah have mercy on Malik. He fulfilled his promise and finally went to meet Allah. Although we had pledged to be patient with any calamity after the death of the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.s.), Malik’s calamity is too great.[15] 15-Amali Mufid,; Nahjul-Balagha Subhi Salih, Hikmat 443 (with a slight difference in interpretation).
In another speech after Malik’s martyrdom, he said: “Will women give birth to a child like Malik? Is there anyone like Malik?”
The Imam would cry for several days in the absence of Malik and would say: “I will never see anyone like Malik again.”[16]
16- Mufid, Muhammad ibn Nu'man.(1993). Al-Ikhtas, researched by Ali Akbar Ghaffari, Beirut: Dar Al-Mufid.
Ali’s Letter to the People of Egypt, in Honor of Malik Ashtar
The Amirulmomenin Ali (a.s.) wrote a letter to the people of Egypt in honor of Malik Ashtar. In this letter, Ali (a.s) described him with the following ten characteristics:
· A servant of God’s servants.
· He is one who does not sleep when people are afraid (of war).
· He does not fear the enemy in times of fear and terror.
· He is more burning than a flame against the evildoers.
· Listen to his words with your ears and follow him.
· He is a sword of God, whose sharpness is not dull and whose sharpness is effective.
· Listen to his command, I preferred you to him over others in choosing him for your guardianship.
· He submits to my command and acts according to my way.
· He is your advisor and well-wisher.
· He is more severe towards your enemies[17]. 17-Adapted from Nahjul-Balagha, Letter 38.
Ibn Abi al-Hadid, in his commentary on Nahj al-Balagha, has narrated this letter with a slight difference, in which the following characteristic has been added from the words of Imam Ali (a.s.): Malik!
“He was one of the bravest servants of God, of the noblest lineage, and the farthest from filth and disgrace. A sharp sword, patient in submission, calm in battle, possessed of sound strategy and commendable patience.” 1818- Ibn Abi al-Hadid.(1965) Sharh Nahj al-Balagha, Vol. 6.
Martyrdom of Malik
After the great battle of Seffin, when the situation in Egypt became chaotic, Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.) appointed him to the government of Egypt. However, he was poisoned by Moawiyyah’s mercenaries on the way to Egypt in a place called Qolzam. Apparently, this event occurred before the Battle of Nahrawan, because upon studying the sources, Malik’s name is not seen in the battle with the Kharijites[19]. 19-Ebrahim ibn Mohammad Thaqafi.(1989). Al-Gharat, vol.1,Qom: Dar Alketab Aleslami.
After Malik’s martyrdom, Imam Ali (a.s.) also asked for divine mercy and pleasure for him and said: “He was a benevolent man to us and strict with our enemies[20]. 20-Nahjul-Balagha, Letter 34.
And he was to me as I was to the Messenger of God[21].” 21- Ibn Abi al-Hadid.(1965) Sharh Nahj al-Balagha, vol. 15; Amini,Abdulhossein.(1995). Al Ghadir,vol.9,Tehran:Dar al-Kutub al-Islamiyyah.