Did Muawiya Arrange the Poisoning of Malik al-Ashtar?

Malik al-Ashtar — Imam Ali’s commander who was poisoned on the road to Egypt, and Sunni historical sources preserve the accusation against Muawiya

Malik al-Ashtar was not an ordinary man.

He was one of the greatest commanders of Imam Ali a.s, a trusted supporter of Ali, a brave warrior of Siffin, and the man Imam Ali a.s appointed as governor of Egypt.

That is exactly why his death mattered politically.

If Malik had reached Egypt, Muawiya’s plan for Egypt would have become much harder.

Sunni sources record that Malik al-Ashtar died after drinking poisoned honey on his way to Egypt. Some Sunni historical sources go further and preserve the serious accusation that Muawiya arranged this poisoning.

Important note:

This is not a Sahih Bukhari/Muslim hadith.

This is historical reporting.

The poisoned-honey death is widely recorded in Sunni historical and biographical books.

The direct accusation against Muawiya is also recorded in Sunni historical books, but Sunni defenders dispute the chain. So the fair wording is:

Sunni historical sources preserve a serious accusation that Muawiya arranged the poisoning of Malik al-Ashtar.

Core narration 1: Malik al-Ashtar was from the supporters of Imam Ali a.s

Arabic:

مالك بن الحارث بن عبد يغوث النخعي الكوفي المعروف بالأشتر، أدرك الجاهلية، وكان من شيعة علي.

English:

“Malik bin al-Harith bin Abd Yaghuth al-Nakha‘i al-Kufi, known as al-Ashtar, reached the Jahiliyyah period and was from the Shia/supporters of Ali.”

Reference:

Al-Mizzi, Tahdhib al-Kamal, biography of Malik al-Ashtar.

Status:

Sunni rijal / biographical report.

Comment:

This proves that Sunni rijal sources themselves identify Malik al-Ashtar as one of the supporters of Imam Ali a.s.

Core narration 2: Ibn Sa‘d says Malik was from Imam Ali’s companions and died after drinking honey

Arabic:

وكان الأشتر من أصحاب علي بن أبي طالب وشهد معه الجمل وصفين ومشاهده كلها. وولاه علي مصر فخرج إليها. فلما كان بالعريش شرب شربة عسل فمات.

English:

“Al-Ashtar was from the companions of Ali bin Abi Talib and witnessed with him Jamal, Siffin, and all his battles. Ali appointed him over Egypt, so he went toward it. When he reached al-‘Arish, he drank a drink of honey and died.”

Reference:

Ibn Sa‘d, al-Tabaqat al-Kubra, biography of al-Ashtar.

Status:

Early Sunni historical / biographical report.

Comment:

This confirms the basic historical point: Malik was Imam Ali’s man, appointed over Egypt, and died after drinking honey.

Core narration 3: Al-Bukhari records the honey death in al-Tarikh al-Kabir

Arabic:

بعث علي الأشتر أميرا على مصر حتى بلغ قلزم فشرب شربة من عسل فكان فيها حتفه فقال عمرو بن العاص إن لله جنودا من عسل.

English:

“Ali sent al-Ashtar as governor over Egypt until he reached Qulzum. He drank a drink of honey, and in it was his death. Then Amr bin al-‘As said: Indeed Allah has soldiers from honey.”

Reference:

Al-Bukhari, al-Tarikh al-Kabir, biography of Malik al-Ashtar.

Status:

Historical report, not Prophetic hadith.

Comment:

This is not from a Shia book. Al-Bukhari himself records in al-Tarikh al-Kabir that Malik’s death came through honey, and Amr bin al-‘As mocked it by saying: “Allah has soldiers from honey.”

Core narration 4: Abd al-Razzaq records that the news reached Muawiya and Amr

Arabic:

فأرسل الأشتر أميرا على مصر، حتى إذا بلغ القلزم شرب بالقلزم شربة من عسل فكان فيها حتفه، فبلغ ذلك معاوية وعمرو بن العاص فقال عمرو بن العاص: إن لله جنودا من عسل.

English:

“So he sent al-Ashtar as governor over Egypt. When he reached al-Qulzum, he drank a drink of honey at al-Qulzum, and in it was his death. When that reached Muawiya and Amr bin al-‘As, Amr bin al-‘As said: Indeed Allah has soldiers from honey.”

Reference:

Abd al-Razzaq al-San‘ani, al-Musannaf, report no. 9770.

Status:

Historical report.

Comment:

The death was not treated as a tragedy by Muawiya’s camp. It reached Muawiya and Amr, and the famous mocking phrase was said: “Indeed Allah has soldiers from honey.”

Core narration 5: Al-Dhahabi says Malik almost defeated Muawiya and died poisoned

Arabic:

شهد صفين مع علي، وتميز يومئذ، وكاد أن يهزم معاوية... ولما رجع علي من موقعة صفين جهز الأشتر واليا على ديار مصر، فمات في الطريق مسموما، فقيل: إن عبدا لعثمان عارضه، فسم له عسلا... وسر بهلاكه عمرو بن العاص، وقال: إن لله جنودا من عسل.

English:

“He witnessed Siffin with Ali and distinguished himself that day, and he almost defeated Muawiya... When Ali returned from the battle of Siffin, he prepared al-Ashtar as governor over Egypt, and he died on the road poisoned. It was said that a slave of Uthman encountered him and poisoned honey for him... Amr bin al-‘As was pleased by his destruction and said: Indeed Allah has soldiers from honey.”

Reference:

Al-Dhahabi, Siyar A‘lam al-Nubala’, biography of al-Ashtar.

Status:

Sunni biographical / historical report.

Comment:

Al-Dhahabi clearly says Malik almost defeated Muawiya at Siffin and then died poisoned on the way to Egypt.

Core narration 6: Al-Baladhuri preserves the direct Muawiya-plot version

Arabic:

وأتت معاوية عيونه بشخوص الأشتر واليا على مصر، فبعث إلى رأس أهل الخراج بالقلزم فقال له: إن الأشتر قادم عليك؛ فإن أنت لطفت لكفايتي إياه لم آخذ منك خراجا ما بقيت، فاحتل له بما قدرت عليه.

English:

“Muawiya’s spies came to him with news that al-Ashtar was going as governor over Egypt. So he sent to the head of the tax people at al-Qulzum and said to him: al-Ashtar is coming to you. If you subtly manage to rid me of him, I will not take tax from you as long as you live. So plot against him as much as you can.”

Then the report continues:

Arabic:

فأتاه بشربة منه قد جعل فيها سما، فلما شربها قتلته من يومه أو من غده.

English:

“So he brought him a drink of honey in which he had placed poison. When Malik drank it, it killed him that day or the next day.”

Reference:

Al-Baladhuri, Ansab al-Ashraf, report on the killing of al-Ashtar.

Status:

Sunni historical report. Chain is debated, so use as historical accusation, not sahih hadith.

Comment:

This is one of the clearest Sunni historical reports directly accusing Muawiya of arranging Malik’s poisoning.

Core narration 7: Al-Tabari also preserves the direct Muawiya-plot version

Arabic:

وأتت معاوية عيونه فأخبروه بولاية علي الأشتر، فعظم ذلك عليه، وقد كان طمع في مصر، فعلم أن الأشتر إن قدمها كان أشد عليه من محمد بن أبي بكر، فبعث معاوية إلى الجايستار... فقال له: إن الأشتر قد ولي مصر، فإن أنت كفيتنيه لم آخذ منك خراجا ما بقيت، فاحتل له بما قدرت عليه.

English:

“Muawiya’s spies came to him and informed him that Ali had appointed al-Ashtar. That became serious to him, for he had desired Egypt, and he knew that if al-Ashtar reached it, he would be harder upon him than Muhammad bin Abi Bakr. So Muawiya sent to al-Jayistar and said to him: al-Ashtar has been appointed over Egypt. If you rid me of him, I will not take tax from you as long as you live. So plot against him as much as you can.”

Then:

Arabic:

فأتاه بشربة من عسل قد جعل فيها سما فسقاه إياه، فلما شربها مات.

English:

“He brought him a drink of honey in which he had placed poison and gave it to him. When he drank it, he died.”

Reference:

Tarikh al-Tabari, events after Siffin and the appointment of al-Ashtar over Egypt.

Status:

Sunni historical report. Chain is contested, especially by Sunni defenders, so use as historical accusation.

Comment:

Tabari gives the full political motive: Muawiya wanted Egypt and knew Malik al-Ashtar would be harder against him than Muhammad bin Abi Bakr.

Core narration 8: Ibn Kathir records the accusation and then adds his caveat

Arabic:

فلما بلغ معاوية تولية علي للأشتر النخعي ديار مصر بدل محمد بن أبي بكر عظم ذلك عليه، وذلك أنه كان قد طمع في مصر واستنزاعها من يد محمد بن أبي بكر، وعلم أن الأشتر سيمنعها منه لحزمه وشجاعته، فلما سار الأشتر إليها وانتهى إلى القلزم استقبله الخانسار وهو مقدم على الخراج فقدم إليه طعاما وسقاه شرابا من عسل فمات منه، فلما بلغ ذلك معاوية وعمرا، وأهل الشام قالوا: إن لله جنودا من عسل.

English:

“When Muawiya learned that Ali had appointed al-Ashtar al-Nakha‘i over Egypt instead of Muhammad bin Abi Bakr, that became serious to him, because he had desired Egypt and wanted to take it from Muhammad bin Abi Bakr. He knew that al-Ashtar would prevent him from it because of his firmness and courage. When al-Ashtar traveled to Egypt and reached al-Qulzum, the tax officer received him, offered him food, and gave him a drink of honey, so he died from it. When that reached Muawiya, Amr, and the people of Syria, they said: Indeed Allah has soldiers from honey.”

Then Ibn Kathir says:

Arabic:

وقد ذكر ابن جرير في تاريخه أن معاوية كان قد تقدم إلى هذا الرجل في أن يحتال على الأشتر ليقتله ووعده على ذلك بأمور ففعل ذلك، وفي هذا نظر، وبتقدير صحته فمعاوية يستجيز قتل الأشتر لأنه من قتلة عثمان.

English:

“Ibn Jarir mentioned in his Tarikh that Muawiya had instructed this man to plot against al-Ashtar in order to kill him, and promised him things for that, so he did it. There is some question regarding this. If it is assumed to be authentic, then Muawiya considered killing al-Ashtar permissible because he was from the killers of Uthman.”

Reference:

Ibn Kathir, al-Bidayah wa al-Nihayah, events of year 38 AH.

Status:

Sunni historical report with Ibn Kathir’s caveat.

Comment:

This is very important. Ibn Kathir does not hide the report. He admits Ibn Jarir mentioned that Muawiya instructed the man to plot against Malik al-Ashtar. Then Ibn Kathir says: “وفي هذا نظر” — there is some issue in it.

So our wording must be fair:

The direct Muawiya-plot report exists in Sunni historical sources, but its chain is disputed.

Core narration 9: Imam Ali a.s’s grief for Malik al-Ashtar

Arabic:

فلما بلغه نعيه قال: إنا لله، مالك، وما مالك! وهل موجود مثل ذلك؟ لو كان حديدا، لكان قيدا، ولو كان حجرا، لكان صلدا، على مثله فلتبك البواكي.

English:

“When news of his death reached Ali, he said: We belong to Allah. Malik — and what a Malik! Is there anyone like him? If he were iron, he would be a strong shackle; if he were stone, he would be solid rock. For the like of him, let the mourners weep.”

Reference:

Al-Dhahabi, Siyar A‘lam al-Nubala’; also reported in Ibn Asakir.

Status:

Historical report.

Comment:

This shows Malik’s rank with Imam Ali a.s. Malik was not just a governor. He was one of the strongest pillars of Imam Ali’s side.

Now ask honestly:

Why did Muawiya become worried when Malik al-Ashtar was appointed over Egypt?

Why did Sunni sources say Malik almost defeated Muawiya at Siffin?

Why did the Syrian side rejoice when Malik died through poisoned honey?

Why do al-Tabari and al-Baladhuri preserve the report that Muawiya arranged the poisoning?

And why does Ibn Kathir, even while questioning the report, still admit that Ibn Jarir mentioned Muawiya’s instruction to plot against Malik?

This was not a normal death in a normal political atmosphere.

This was the death of Imam Ali’s strongest commander on the road to Egypt, exactly when Muawiya wanted Egypt.

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 al-Ashtar was from the supporters of Imam Ali a.s.

He fought for Imam Ali a.s.

He almost defeated Muawiya at Siffin.

He was appointed governor of Egypt.

He died poisoned on the road.

And Sunni historical sources preserve the accusation that Muawiya arranged it because Malik would have blocked his plan for Egypt.

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.