Malik ibn Ashter
Encyclopedia
Malik Al-Ashtar was one of the most loyal companions of Ali Ibn Abi Talib, the cousin of Muhammad
. Al-Ashtar became a Muslim
during Muhammad's time and rose to prominence during the caliphate
s of Uthman and Ali. During the caliphate of Ali he fought in the Battle of Jamal and Siffin during the first Fitna in Ali's Islamic defence. He is recognized for his fierce and steadfast defense of Islam
in battle as well as his pious nature. The appellation of "Al-Ashtar" is Arabic meaning cut, torn or ripped. He earned the title of "Al-Ashtar" from a battle scar he received on his lower eyelid during the Battle of Yarmouk
.
of Egypt
in 658
(38 A.H.) by ʻAlī ibn Abī-Tālib, the caliph of the Muslims, after the Battle of Siffin
had ended. At that time, Amr ibn al-As had 6,000 soldiers who were on their way, sent by the governor of Damascus
, Muʻāwiyya. ʻAlī was asked to send help. ʻAlī's best general
and childhood friend, Malik Al-Ashtar, was sent to defend his stepson, the former Governor of Egypt, Muhammad ibn Abu Bakr, since ʻAlī believed only Malik could beat Muʻāwiyya and Amr ibn al-As. Muhammad ibn Abū-Bakr was instructed to return to ʻAlī's capital city, Kufa. However, Malik died on his way to Egypt. The Shi’a and Wilferd Madelung believe that Malik was poisoned by Muawiyah I. His Mosouleum is build there,photo placed here.
In Lebanon, the Hamadani (branched to Sabbagh) family are also direct descendants who have maintained a family tree dating back to the Nakha'i tribe origins. The Mroueh family, after tracing their lineage, are also believed to be descendants.
Muhammad
Muhammad |ligature]] at U+FDF4 ;Arabic pronunciation varies regionally; the first vowel ranges from ~~; the second and the last vowel: ~~~. There are dialects which have no stress. In Egypt, it is pronounced not in religious contexts...
. Al-Ashtar became a Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
during Muhammad's time and rose to prominence during the caliphate
Caliphate
The term caliphate, "dominion of a caliph " , refers to the first system of government established in Islam and represented the political unity of the Muslim Ummah...
s of Uthman and Ali. During the caliphate of Ali he fought in the Battle of Jamal and Siffin during the first Fitna in Ali's Islamic defence. He is recognized for his fierce and steadfast defense of Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
in battle as well as his pious nature. The appellation of "Al-Ashtar" is Arabic meaning cut, torn or ripped. He earned the title of "Al-Ashtar" from a battle scar he received on his lower eyelid during the Battle of Yarmouk
Battle of Yarmouk
The Battle of Yarmouk was a major battle between the Muslim Arab forces of the Rashidun Caliphate and the armies of the East Roman-Byzantine Empire. The battle consisted of a series of engagements that lasted for six days in August 636, near the Yarmouk River, along what is today the border...
.
Serving in Ali's Caliphate
One of the fiercest warriors of his time, he served Ali like no one else.extraordinarily He was appointed GovernorGovernor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
of Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
in 658
658
Year 658 was a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 658 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.- Europe :* The Union of Slavic Tribes falls apart after...
(38 A.H.) by ʻAlī ibn Abī-Tālib, the caliph of the Muslims, after the Battle of Siffin
Battle of Siffin
The Battle of Siffin occurred during the First Fitna, or first Muslim civil war, with the main engagement taking place from July 26 to July 28. It was fought between Ali ibn Abi Talib and Muawiyah I, on the banks of the Euphrates river, in what is now Ar-Raqqah, Syria...
had ended. At that time, Amr ibn al-As had 6,000 soldiers who were on their way, sent by the governor of Damascus
Damascus
Damascus , commonly known in Syria as Al Sham , and as the City of Jasmine , is the capital and the second largest city of Syria after Aleppo, both are part of the country's 14 governorates. In addition to being one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, Damascus is a major...
, Muʻāwiyya. ʻAlī was asked to send help. ʻAlī's best general
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
and childhood friend, Malik Al-Ashtar, was sent to defend his stepson, the former Governor of Egypt, Muhammad ibn Abu Bakr, since ʻAlī believed only Malik could beat Muʻāwiyya and Amr ibn al-As. Muhammad ibn Abū-Bakr was instructed to return to ʻAlī's capital city, Kufa. However, Malik died on his way to Egypt. The Shi’a and Wilferd Madelung believe that Malik was poisoned by Muawiyah I. His Mosouleum is build there,photo placed here.
Descendants
Among his descendants are the Kalbasi family, who reside in Iran and some are living in Iraq. One branch of this family adds the title "Ashtari" to the end of their family name to denote this fact.In Lebanon, the Hamadani (branched to Sabbagh) family are also direct descendants who have maintained a family tree dating back to the Nakha'i tribe origins. The Mroueh family, after tracing their lineage, are also believed to be descendants.