| Malik ibn Nuwayra | |
|---|---|
| مالك بن نويرة | |
| Born | Arabia |
| Died | 632 CE (10/11 AH) |
| Spouse | Layla bint al-Minhal |
| Parent | Nuwayrah |
Malik ibn Nuwayra (Arabic: مالك بن نويرة: died 632), was the chief of the Banu Yarbu, a clan of the Banu Hanzala, which was a large section of the powerful tribe of Bani Tamim.
Muhammad had appointed Malik as an officer over the Banu Yarbu clan to collect sadaqa and send them to Medina. However, after the death of Muhammad, Malik stopped distributing the sadaqah and refused to send it to Medinah. As a result, Abu Bakr ordered his execution, which was carried out by Khalid bin Walid.
Death
Malik was appointed by Muhammad as the collector of the sadaqa ('alms tax') for his clan, the Yarbu of the Tamim. However, following Muhammad's death, Malik stopped distributing the sadaqa and also refused to send it to Medina. As a result, Abu Bakr decided to have him executed by Khalid ibn al-Walid. In 632, Khalid and his army encountered Malik and eleven of his clansmen from the Yarbu. The Yarbu did not resist, proclaimed their Muslim faith, and were escorted to Khalid's camp. Despite the objection of an Ansarite, who had been among the captors and argued that the captives' inviolability should be respected due to their declaration of faith, Khalid had them all executed. Afterward, Khalid married Malik's widow, Layla bint al-Minhal.
When news of Khalid's decision reached Medina, Umar, who had become Abu Bakr's chief aide, pressed for Khalid to be punished or relieved of command. Abu Bakr chose to pardon him stating that Khalid did nothing wrong and that the crimes of Malik had been proven. Abu Bakr's decision was influenced by two key factors. First, he was guided by the hadith of Muhammad, who described Khalid as “The Sword which Allah unsheathed against the unbelievers.” Second, Abu Bakr acted in a manner similar to Muhammad’s response when Khalid may have attacked the Banu Jadhima and killed their men. Muhammad did not discharge or punish Khalid for that incident.
Other reasons for Malik execution include committing apostasy by refusing to acknowledge Muhammad as a prophet during his encounter with Khalid. According to the 8th-century historian Sayf ibn Umar, Malik had been cooperating with the prophetess Sajah, his kinswoman from the Yarbu. However, after they were defeated by rival clans from the Tamim, Malik abandoned her cause and retreated to his camp at al-Butah, where he and his small party were encountered by the Muslims. Taha Karaan, a modern scholar, mentioned that according to Ibn Hajar, Malik began speaking ill of Muhammad and using "derogatory" terms when referring to him. Historians Ibn Khallikan and Abu al-Faraj al-Isfahani confirm Malik's apostasy, citing his use of the term "your companion" when referring to Muhammad and his refusal to acknowledge the obligation of zakāh. Additionally, Historians like Al-Baladhuri and Ibn al-Athir affirm that Malik died an apostate, a claim supported by his brother, Mutammim ibn Nuwayrah, who later relayed this to Umar. This explains why Umar did not hold Khalid accountable or address the issue again after becoming caliph.
Historian W. Montgomery Watt considers accounts about the Tamim during the Ridda in general to be "obscure ... partly because the enemies of Khālid b. al-Walīd have twisted the stories to blacken him".
References
- Landau-Tasseron 1991, p. 267.
- ^ Crone 1978, p. 928.
- ^ Karaan, Taha. "Khalid bin Walid and the alledged killing of Malik bin Nuwayrah". Mahajjah.com. Retrieved January 9, 2025.
- Umari 1991, pp. 172–173.
- Landau-Tasseron 1991, p. 268.
- Al-Asqalani 2020, pp. 353.
- Al-Asqalani 2020, pp. 359–360.
- Watt 1956, p. 139. sfn error: no target: CITEREFWatt1956 (help)
Bibliography
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- Umari, Akram Diya (1991). Madīnan Society at the Time of the Prophet, Volume II: The Jihād against the Mushrikūn. Translated by Huda Khattab. Herndon, Virginia: The International Institute of Islamic Thought. ISBN 0-912463-37-6.
- Watt, W. Montgomery (1960). "Abū Bakr". In Gibb, H. A. R.; Kramers, J. H.; Lévi-Provençal, E.; Schacht, J.; Lewis, B. & Pellat, Ch. (eds.). The Encyclopaedia of Islam, Second Edition. Volume I: A–B. Leiden: E. J. Brill. pp. 109–111. OCLC 495469456.