Malik ibn Nuwayra | |
|---|---|
| مالك بن نويرة | |
| Born | Arabia |
| Died | 632 CE (10/11AH) |
| Spouse | Layla bint al-Minhal |
| Relatives | Banu Yarbu |
Malik ibn Nuwayra (Arabic:مالك بن نويرة: died 632), was the chief of the Banu Yarbu, a clan of theBanu Hanzala, which was a large section of the powerful tribe ofBani Tamim.
Malik was appointed byMuhammad to collectzakah for the Banu Yarbu, but after Muhammad’s death, he reportedly refused to send it toMedina.Abu Bakr ordered his execution throughKhalid ibn al-Walid, with historical sources attributing it to allegedapostasy.
Malik was reportedly appointed byMuhammad as the collector of thezakah ('alms tax') for his clan. After Muhammad’s death, he is said to have withheldzakah, promptingAbu Bakr to order his execution throughKhalid ibn al-Walid. In 632, Khalid’s forces encountered Malik and his men, who affirmed their faith and offered no resistance. Despite objections from anAnsarite companion, Khalid reportedly ordered their execution and later married Malik’s widow,Layla bint al-Minhal.[1]Umar is said to have urged Khalid’s removal from command,[2] but Abu Bakr reportedly declined, stating, “I will not sheathe a sword whichGod has drawn for His service.”[3]
Historians suggest Malik was executed forapostasy, citing his alleged support forSajah, a self-proclaimedprophetess, his refusal to recognize Muhammad as aprophet, or his denial ofzakah obligations. According to 8th-century historianSayf ibn Umar, Malik allied with Sajah, his kinswoman, but abandoned her after her defeat by Banu Tamim clans and returned to al-Butah, where he faced Muslim forces.[4] Sayf and other early historians, such asal-Tabari, noted that Malik called Muhammad "your companion"[a] and rejectedzakah.[5][4] However,Wilferd Madelung disputes this, arguing that if Malik had renouncedIslam, Umar and others would not have opposed his execution.[6]Ali al-Sallabi emphasizes Malik’s refusal to payzakah as the primary issue, citing early sources like Ibn Sallam al-Jumahi andal-Nawawi, who state that some apostates, continued to performprayer but rejectedzakah, thereby denying acore pillar of Islam.[7]Ibn Hajar cites a narration[b] in which Malik’s brother admitted his apostasy, which he presents as evidence for why Umar, during hiscaliphate, took no action against Khalid regarding the incident.[9][8][10]Ibn Taymiyyah defends Khalid, arguing that his decision was a validijtihad and that the case remains uncertain; he adds that criticizing Khalid would involve speculation, which isprohibited inIslamic law.[11]
Due to conflicting early sources, the exact circumstances of Malik’s death remain unclear. Ella Landau-Tasseron notes that "the truth behind Malik's career and death is likely to remain obscured by a multitude of conflicting reports."[12]Al-Dhahabi emphasizes the prior piety of those involved and cautioned against both excessive praise and unjust blame.[13]W. Montgomery Watt adds that the sources on Banu Tamim during theRidda Wars are unclear, partly due to "the enemies of Khālid b. al-Walīd have twisted the stories to blacken him".[14]