Busr Killed Malik ibn Abdullah in Muawiya’s Anti-Ali Campaign

Malik bin Abdullah bin Abd al-Madan — Killed with his father in Muawiya’s Yemen campaign

Malik bin Abdullah bin Abd al-Madan was killed with his father during the brutal Yemen campaign of Busr bin Abi Artat.

Sunni sources record that Muawiya sent Busr toward Hijaz and Yemen, and in that campaign Busr killed Abdullah bin Abd al-Madan, his son Malik, the two young sons of Ubayd Allah bin Abbas, and a group from the supporters of Imam Ali a.s.

This was not a normal battlefield death.

This was a political killing during Muawiya’s campaign against Imam Ali’s side.

Core narration 1: Malik was the son of Abdullah bin Abd al-Madan

Arabic:

وكان هو وابنه مالك بن عبد الله صديقين لعبد الله بن جعفر

English:

“He and his son Malik bin Abdullah were friends of Abdullah bin Ja‘far.”

Reference:

Ibn Hajar, al-Isabah fi Tamyiz al-Sahabah, biography of Abdullah bin Abd al-Madan, quoting al-Marzubani.

Status:

Sunni biographical / historical report.

Comment:

This confirms the name of the son: Malik bin Abdullah.

Core narration 2: Ibn Sa‘d says Busr killed Abdullah and his son Malik

Arabic:

ولم يزل باليمن سيدًا شريفًا حتى قتله بُسْر بن أَبِي أَرْطاة العامري وقتل ابنه مالكًا ليالي أتى اليمن فقتل مَن أشرفَ له، وقتل ابني عبيد الله بن العباس بن عبد المطلب.

English:

“He remained in Yemen as a noble leader until Busr bin Abi Artat al-‘Amiri killed him and killed his son Malik during the nights when he came to Yemen, killing whoever appeared before him, and he killed the two sons of Ubayd Allah bin Abbas bin Abd al-Muttalib.”

Reference:

Ibn Sa‘d, al-Tabaqat al-Kubra, biography of Abdullah bin Abd al-Madan.

Status:

Early Sunni historical / biographical report.

Comment:

This is one of the clearest narrations. It names Malik directly and says Busr killed him along with his father.

Core narration 3: Ibn Hajar connects the killing to Busr’s march from Muawiya’s side

Arabic:

ولما بلغه مسير بشر بن أبي أرطاة من قبل معاوية إلى اليمن خرج عنها عبيد الله، واستخلف صهره هذا، فقدم بشر، فقتل عبد الله وابنه مالكا وولدي عبد الله ابن العباس ابن أخت مالك.

English:

“When news reached him that Busr bin Abi Artat was marching from Muawiya’s side to Yemen, Ubayd Allah left it and appointed his father-in-law in his place. Then Busr arrived and killed Abdullah, his son Malik, and the two sons of Ubayd Allah bin Abbas, who were the sons of Malik’s sister.”

Reference:

Ibn Hajar, al-Isabah fi Tamyiz al-Sahabah, biography of Abdullah bin Abd al-Madan.

Status:

Sunni biographical / historical report.

Comment:

This is very important because it says Busr’s march was “من قبل معاوية” — from Muawiya’s side. Malik was killed in that campaign.

Core narration 4: Tabari records that Busr killed Abdullah and his son

Arabic:

ثم مضى بسر إلى اليمن، وكان عليها عبيد الله بن عباس عاملًا لعلي، فلما بلغه مسيره فر إلى الكوفة حتى أتى عليًا، واستخلف عبد الله بن عبد المدان الحارثي على اليمن، فأتاه بسر فقتله وقتل ابنه، ولقي بسر ثقل عبيد الله بن عباس، وفيه ابنان له صغيران، فذبحهما.

English:

“Then Busr went to Yemen, where Ubayd Allah bin Abbas was Ali’s governor. When news of Busr’s march reached him, he fled to Kufa until he came to Ali, and he appointed Abdullah bin Abd al-Madan al-Harithi over Yemen. Busr came to him, killed him and killed his son. Then Busr encountered the family baggage of Ubayd Allah bin Abbas, in which were his two small sons, so he slaughtered them.”

Reference:

Tarikh al-Tabari, report of Busr’s campaign to Yemen.

Status:

Sunni historical report.

Comment:

Tabari does not name the son here, but Ibn Sa‘d and Ibn Hajar identify him as Malik. The event is the same Yemen campaign.

Core narration 5: Ibn al-Jawzi says Muawiya sent Busr with 3,000 fighters

Arabic:

من الحوادث فيها توجيه معاوية بسر بن أبي أرطأة في ثلاثة آلاف من المقاتلة إلى الحجاز... ثم مضى إلى اليمن... واستخلف مكانه عبد الله بن عبد المدان الحارثي، فأتاه بسر فقتله وقتل ابنه وقتل جماعة من شيعة علي.

English:

“Among the events of that year was Muawiya’s sending of Busr bin Abi Artat with three thousand fighters to the Hijaz… then he went to Yemen… Ubayd Allah appointed Abdullah bin Abd al-Madan al-Harithi in his place, so Busr came to him, killed him, killed his son, and killed a group from the Shia/supporters of Ali.”

Reference:

Ibn al-Jawzi, al-Muntazam fi Tarikh al-Muluk wa al-Umam, events of year 40 AH.

Status:

Sunni historical report.

Comment:

This source gives the Muawiya connection clearly:

توجيه معاوية بسر

“Muawiya’s sending/directing Busr.”

Then it says Busr killed Abdullah, his son, and a group from the supporters of Imam Ali a.s.

Core narration 6: Usd al-Ghabah says Muawiya sent Busr to kill the supporters of Ali

Arabic:

قتله بسر بن أبي أرطاة لما سيره معاوية إلى الحجاز، واليمن ليقتل شيعة علي.

English:

“Busr bin Abi Artat killed him when Muawiya sent him to the Hijaz and Yemen to kill the Shia/supporters of Ali.”

Reference:

Ibn al-Athir, Usd al-Ghabah fi Ma‘rifat al-Sahabah, biography of Abdullah bin Abd al-Madan.

Status:

Sunni biographical / historical report.

Comment:

This wording is extremely important:

لما سيره معاوية إلى الحجاز واليمن ليقتل شيعة علي

“When Muawiya sent him to Hijaz and Yemen to kill the Shia/supporters of Ali.”

Malik was killed in this same campaign.

Now ask honestly:

What was Malik bin Abdullah’s crime?

He was the son of Abdullah bin Abd al-Madan.

His father was connected to Imam Ali’s administration in Yemen.

Busr came during Muawiya’s Yemen campaign.

Busr killed Abdullah.

Busr killed Malik.

Busr killed the two young sons of Ubayd Allah bin Abbas.

And Sunni sources say this campaign was sent by Muawiya.

This was not a battlefield duel.

This was a massacre-style political campaign.

Qur’an says:

Arabic:

وَمَنْ يَقْتُلْ مُؤْمِنًا مُتَعَمِّدًا فَجَزَاؤُهُ جَهَنَّمُ خَالِدًا فِيهَا وَغَضِبَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَلَعَنَهُ وَأَعَدَّ لَهُ عَذَابًا عَظِيمًا

English:

“And whoever kills a believer deliberately, his recompense is Hell, abiding therein; Allah is angry with him, has cursed him, and has prepared for him a great punishment.”

Reference:

Qur’an 4:93

And Qur’an says:

Arabic:

مَن قَتَلَ نَفْسًا بِغَيْرِ نَفْسٍ أَوْ فَسَادٍ فِي الْأَرْضِ فَكَأَنَّمَا قَتَلَ النَّاسَ جَمِيعًا

English:

“Whoever kills a soul, unless for a soul or corruption in the land, it is as if he killed all mankind.”

Reference:

Qur’an 5:32

Malik bin Abdullah bin Abd al-Madan was killed with his father in the campaign of Busr bin Abi Artat.

Sunni sources connect that campaign to Muawiya.

So do not use Imam Hasan a.s’s peace treaty to erase this blood.

The treaty was made to stop bloodshed.

It was not a certificate of innocence for the blood already spilled.