Did Muawiya Order the Execution of Hujr ibn Adi?

Hujr bin Adi: Executed by Muawiya’s Order According to Sunni Historical Sources

Before anyone calls this “Shia propaganda,” read what Sunni historical and biographical sources themselves record about Hujr bin Adi.

Hujr bin Adi was not an unknown man. Sunni scholars describe him as a noble, pious, and obedient leader from the supporters of Imam Ali a.s.

Arabic:

وكان شريفا، أميرا مطاعا، أمارا بالمعروف، مقدما على الإنكار، من شيعة علي رضي الله عنهما. شهد صفين أميرا، وكان ذا صلاح وتعبد.

English:

“He was noble, an obeyed leader, one who commanded good, foremost in objecting to wrong, from the Shia/supporters of Ali. He witnessed Siffin as a commander, and he was a man of righteousness and worship.”

Reference:

Al-Dhahabi, Siyar A‘lam al-Nubala, biography of Hujr bin Adi.

Comment:

This is al-Dhahabi speaking, not a Shia writer. Hujr is described as noble, pious, devoted in worship, and from the supporters of Imam Ali a.s.

Ibn Sa‘d also records that Hujr was from the companions of Imam Ali a.s and fought with him at Jamal and Siffin.

Arabic:

وكان من أصحاب علي بن أبي طالب وشهد معه الجمل وصفين.

English:

“He was from the companions of Ali bin Abi Talib, and he witnessed Jamal and Siffin with him.”

Reference:

Ibn Sa‘d, al-Tabaqat al-Kubra, biography of Hujr bin Adi.

Comment:

This places Hujr clearly in the camp of Imam Ali a.s.

Ibn Sa‘d also says:

Arabic:

وكان ثقة معروفا ولم يرو عن غير علي شيئا.

English:

“He was trustworthy and well-known, and he did not narrate from anyone except Ali.”

Reference:

Ibn Sa‘d, al-Tabaqat al-Kubra, vol. 6, p. 220.

Comment:

So Hujr was not an unknown troublemaker. Sunni rijal and biographical sources describe him as trustworthy and known.

Ibn Kathir mentions his famous title:

Arabic:

ويقال له: حجر الخير.

English:

“He was called Hujr al-Khayr.”

Reference:

Ibn Kathir, al-Bidayah wa al-Nihayah, events of 51 AH.

Comment:

Hujr was known as “Hujr of goodness.”

Now look at why he became a target.

Sunni sources record that Hujr objected to public attacks against Imam Ali a.s.

Arabic:

إلا أنه لم يدع الدعاء لعثمان والوقيعة في علي رضي الله عنه، وكان حجر بن عدي إذا سمع ذلك قال: أنا أشهد أن من تعيبون لأحق بالفضل وأن من تزكون لأولى بالذم.

English:

“He did not stop supplicating for Uthman and attacking Ali. Whenever Hujr bin Adi heard that, he would say: ‘I testify that the one you criticize is more deserving of virtue, and the one you praise is more deserving of blame.’”

Reference:

Ibn Kathir, al-Bidayah wa al-Nihayah, events of 51 AH.

Comment:

This shows that Hujr was targeted partly because he defended Imam Ali a.s against public abuse from the governors of Muawiya’s side.

Then came the incident with Ziyad delaying the Friday prayer.

Arabic:

خطب زياد يوما في الجمعة فأطال الخطبة وأخر الصلاة، فقال له حجر بن عدي: الصلاة! فمضى في خطبته، ثم قال: الصلاة! فمضى في خطبته، فلما خشي حجر فوت الصلاة ضرب بيده إلى كف من الحصا، وثار إلى الصلاة وثار الناس معه.

English:

“Ziyad gave a Friday sermon one day and prolonged the sermon, delaying the prayer. Hujr bin Adi said to him: ‘The prayer!’ But he continued his sermon. Then Hujr again said: ‘The prayer!’ But he continued. When Hujr feared the prayer would be missed, he took a handful of pebbles and rose for prayer, and the people rose with him.”

Reference:

Al-Tabari, Tarikh al-Rusul wa al-Muluk, events of 51 AH.

Comment:

This is important. In this report, Hujr objected because the prayer was being delayed.

After this, Ziyad wrote to Muawiya about Hujr. Muawiya then ordered that Hujr should be chained and sent to him.

Arabic:

فلما فرغ من صلاته كتب إلى معاوية في أمره، وكثر عليه. فكتب إليه معاوية أن شده في الحديد، ثم احمله إلي.

English:

“When he finished his prayer, he wrote to Muawiya about Hujr and exaggerated the matter against him. So Muawiya wrote to him: ‘Chain him in iron, then send him to me.’”

Reference:

Al-Tabari, Tarikh al-Rusul wa al-Muluk, events of 51 AH.

Comment:

This directly connects Muawiya to the arrest and transfer order.

When Muawiya’s order came, Hujr’s people wanted to defend him. But Hujr refused to allow bloodshed.

Arabic:

فلما أن جاء كتاب معاوية أراد قوم حجر أن يمنعوه، فقال: لا، ولكن سمع وطاعة.

English:

“When Muawiya’s letter came, Hujr’s people wanted to defend him, but he said: ‘No, rather hearing and obedience.’”

Reference:

Al-Tabari, Tarikh al-Rusul wa al-Muluk, events of 51 AH.

Comment:

This weakens the claim that Hujr was simply an armed rebel seeking war. In this report, he stopped his people from fighting.

Then he was chained and taken to Muawiya.

Arabic:

فشد في الحديد، ثم حمل إلى معاوية.

English:

“He was chained in iron, then carried to Muawiya.”

Reference:

Al-Tabari, Tarikh al-Rusul wa al-Muluk, events of 51 AH.

Comment:

This is the custody chain: Ziyad arrested him, Muawiya ordered him chained, and he was sent to Muawiya.

Then comes the direct order of execution.

Arabic:

فلما دخل عليه قال: السلام عليك يا أمير المؤمنين ورحمة الله وبركاته، فقال له معاوية: أمير المؤمنين! أما والله لا أقيلك ولا أستقيلك، أخرجوه فاضربوا عنقه.

English:

“When he entered upon him, he said: ‘Peace be upon you, O Commander of the Believers, and Allah’s mercy and blessings.’ Muawiya said to him: ‘Commander of the Believers? By Allah, I will neither release you nor seek release from you. Take him out and strike his neck.’”

Reference:

Al-Tabari, Tarikh al-Rusul wa al-Muluk, events of 51 AH.

Comment:

This is one of the clearest reports. The order is direct: “Take him out and strike his neck.”

Even a modern pro-Muawiya Sunni defense, while trying to justify the matter, admits regarding this report:

Arabic:

إسناده حسن إلى ابن سيرين: أخرجه الطبري في تاريخه.

English:

“Its chain is hasan up to Ibn Sirin; al-Tabari narrated it in his Tarikh.”

Reference:

Fath al-Mannan bi Sirat Amir al-Mu’minin Muawiya bin Abi Sufyan, discussion on Muawiya’s killing of Hujr bin Adi.

Comment:

This is important. Even a defensive pro-Muawiya writer accepts the chain up to Ibn Sirin as hasan, while trying to justify the killing.

Ibn Abi Shaybah also preserves a very blunt wording:

Arabic:

كان محمد إذا سئل عن الشهيد يغسل حدث عن حجر بن عدي إذ قتله معاوية، قال: قال حجر: لا تطلقوا عني حديدا ولا تغسلوا عني دما، ادفنوني في وثاقي ودمي، فإني ألقى معاوية على الجادة غدا.

English:

“When Muhammad was asked whether a martyr is washed, he narrated from Hujr bin Adi when Muawiya killed him. Hujr said: ‘Do not remove my chains and do not wash my blood. Bury me in my bonds and my blood, for I will meet Muawiya tomorrow on the clear path.’”

Reference:

Ibn Abi Shaybah, al-Musannaf, Kitab al-Siyar, chapter on whether a martyr is washed.

Comment:

The wording is clear: “إذ قتله معاوية” — “when Muawiya killed him.”

Before being executed, Hujr asked to pray two rak‘ahs.

Arabic:

فقال حجر للذين يلون أمره: دعوني حتى أصلي ركعتين، فقالوا: صل، فصلى ركعتين خفف فيهما.

English:

“Hujr said to those in charge of his execution: ‘Leave me until I pray two rak‘ahs.’ They said: ‘Pray.’ So he prayed two light rak‘ahs.”

Reference:

Al-Tabari, Tarikh al-Rusul wa al-Muluk, events of 51 AH.

Comment:

This is the picture Sunni sources preserve: a chained Muslim praying before execution.

Then Hujr gave his final instruction:

Arabic:

لا تطلقوا عني حديدا، ولا تغسلوا عني دما، فإني ملاق معاوية على الجادة.

English:

“Do not remove the iron from me, and do not wash my blood, for I will meet Muawiya on the clear path.”

Reference:

Ibn Abd al-Barr, al-Isti‘ab fi Ma‘rifat al-Ashab, biography of Hujr bin Adi.

Comment:

Hujr wanted to meet Muawiya before Allah with the evidence of his chains and blood.

Al-Dhahabi also records this final scene:

Arabic:

اضربوا عنقه، فصلى ركعتين، وقال لأهله: لا تطلقوا عني حديدًا، ولا تغسلوا عني دمًا، فإني ملاقٍ معاوية على الجادَّة.

English:

“Strike his neck. He prayed two rak‘ahs and said to his family: ‘Do not remove my iron chains, and do not wash my blood, for I will meet Muawiya on the clear path.’”

Reference:

Al-Dhahabi, Siyar A‘lam al-Nubala, biography of Hujr bin Adi.

Comment:

Again, the same meaning appears: prayer, chains, blood, and meeting Muawiya before Allah.

Ibn Sa‘d records another powerful wording:

Arabic:

لما أتي بحجر فأمر بقتله قال ادفنوني في ثيابي فإني أبعث مخاصما.

English:

“When Hujr was brought and his killing was ordered, he said: ‘Bury me in my clothes, for I will be resurrected as one disputing.’”

Reference:

Ibn Sa‘d, al-Tabaqat al-Kubra, vol. 6, p. 220.

Comment:

Hujr believed this case would continue on the Day of Judgment.

Hujr was not killed alone. Sunni sources record the names of those killed with him.

Arabic:

وهذه تسمية الذين قتلوا بعذراء: حجر بن عدي وشريك بن شداد، وصيفي بن فسيل الشيباني، وقبيصة بن ضبيعة العبسي، ومحرز بن شهاب المنقري السعدي، وكدام بن حيان، وعبد الرحمن بن حسان العنزي المبعوث إلى زياد المدفون في قس الناطف، فلما قتلوا صلي عليهم ودفنوا.

English:

“These are the names of those killed at Adhra: Hujr bin Adi, Sharik bin Shaddad, Sayfi bin Fasil al-Shaybani, Qabisah bin Dubay‘ah al-‘Absi, Mihriz bin Shihab al-Minqarī al-Sa‘di, Kudam bin Hayyan, and Abd al-Rahman bin Hassan al-‘Anazi, who was sent to Ziyad and buried alive at Qas al-Natif. When they were killed, funeral prayer was offered over them and they were buried.”

Reference:

Ibn Kathir, al-Bidayah wa al-Nihayah, events of 51 AH.

Comment:

This gives the victim list. It also shows that after killing them, they were shrouded, prayed over, and buried as Muslims.

Al-Tabari also records the same core list.

Arabic:

حجر بن عدي، وشريك بن شداد الحضرمي، وصيفي بن فسيل الشيباني، وقبيصة بن ضبيعة العبسي، ومحرز بن شهاب السعدي ثم المنقري، وكدام بن حيان العنزي، وعبد الرحمن بن حسان العنزي، فبعث به إلى زياد فدفن حيا بقس الناطف، فهم سبعة قتلوا وكفنوا وصلى عليهم.

English:

“Hujr bin Adi, Sharik bin Shaddad al-Hadrami, Sayfi bin Fasil al-Shaybani, Qabisah bin Dubay‘ah al-‘Absi, Mihriz bin Shihab al-Sa‘di then al-Minqarī, Kudam bin Hayyan al-‘Anazi, and Abd al-Rahman bin Hassan al-‘Anazi; he was sent to Ziyad and buried alive at Qas al-Natif. They were seven who were killed, shrouded, and funeral prayer was offered over them.”

Reference:

Al-Tabari, Tarikh al-Rusul wa al-Muluk, events of 51 AH.

Comment:

This is a major question: if they were treated as Muslims after death, then why were they executed?

Ibn Kathir says their burial place was Adhra near Damascus.

Arabic:

والصحيح أنهم مدفونون بعذراء من غوطة دمشق رحمهم الله.

English:

“The correct view is that they are buried at Adhra in the Ghouta of Damascus. May Allah have mercy on them.”

Reference:

Ibn Kathir, al-Bidayah wa al-Nihayah, events of 51 AH.

Comment:

They were executed and buried at Adhra near Damascus.

Aisha herself is reported to have confronted Muawiya over Hujr’s killing.

Arabic:

أين ذهب عنك حلمك يا معاوية حين قتلت حجرا وأصحابه؟

English:

“Where did your forbearance go, O Muawiya, when you killed Hujr and his companions?”

Reference:

Ibn Kathir, al-Bidayah wa al-Nihayah, events of 51 AH.

Comment:

This is not a Shia reaction. This is Aisha questioning Muawiya over killing Hujr and his companions.

Muawiya’s reply is also recorded:

Arabic:

وغدا لي ولحجر موقف بين يدي الله عز وجل.

English:

“Tomorrow, Hujr and I will have a standing before Allah, Mighty and Majestic.”

Reference:

Ibn Kathir, al-Bidayah wa al-Nihayah, events of 51 AH.

Comment:

Even in this report, the issue is not erased. It is left for judgment before Allah.

Another report says Aisha asked him directly:

Arabic:

لما قدم معاوية دخل على عائشة، فقالت: أقتلت حجرًا؟ قال: يا أم المؤمنين، إني وجدت قتل رجل في صلاح الناس خيرًا من استحيائه في فسادهم.

English:

“When Muawiya came and entered upon Aisha, she said: ‘Did you kill Hujr?’ He said: ‘O Mother of the Believers, I considered killing one man for the welfare of the people better than keeping him alive for their corruption.’”

Reference:

Quoted in Sunni discussions on the killing of Hujr bin Adi.

Comment:

Muawiya does not deny the killing. He just justifies it as “public interest.”

Ibn Umar’s reaction is also recorded.

Arabic:

لما انطلق بحجر بن عدي كان ابن عمر يتخبر عنه فأخبر بقتله وهو بالسوق فأطلق حبوته وولى وهو يبكي.

English:

“When Hujr bin Adi was taken away, Ibn Umar kept asking about him. When he was informed of his killing while he was in the market, he untied his sitting posture, turned away, and was crying.”

Reference:

Ibn Hajar, al-Isabah fi Tamyiz al-Sahabah, biography of Hujr bin Adi.

Comment:

This shows that the killing of Hujr disturbed early figures like Ibn Umar.

Sa‘d bin Abi Waqqas is also reported to have remembered Hujr’s service to Islam.

Arabic:

لما قتل معاوية حجر بن عديّ قال أبي: لو رأى معاوية ما كان من حجر يوم عبر قنطرة حلوان لعرف أنّ له غناء عظيما عن الإسلام.

English:

“When Muawiya killed Hujr bin Adi, my father said: If Muawiya had seen what Hujr did on the day he crossed the bridge of Hulwan, he would have known that he had great service for Islam.”

Reference:

Al-Baladhuri, Ansab al-Ashraf, report from Aisha bint Sa‘d bin Abi Waqqas.

Comment:

This report remembers Hujr as someone with great service to Islam.

Al-Baladhuri also records a painful historical irony:

Arabic:

فشهد القادسيّة، وافتتح مرج عذراء بالشام وبها قتله معاوية، وقد كان شهد مع عليّ الجمل وصفّين.

English:

“He witnessed al-Qadisiyyah, opened Marj Adhra in Syria, and there Muawiya killed him. He had witnessed Jamal and Siffin with Ali.”

Reference:

Al-Baladhuri, Ansab al-Ashraf.

Comment:

The same place Hujr helped open for Islam became the place where Muawiya killed him.

Al-Hasan al-Basri is reported to have condemned Muawiya’s killing of Hujr and his companions.

Arabic:

وقال الحسن البصري: أربع خصال كن في معاوية، لو لم تكن فيه إلا واحدة لكانت موبقة... وقتله حجرا وأصحاب حجر، فيا ويلا له من حجر! ويا ويلا له من حجر وأصحاب حجر!

English:

“Al-Hasan al-Basri said: Four traits were in Muawiya; if he had only one of them it would have been destructive… and his killing of Hujr and the companions of Hujr — woe to him because of Hujr! Woe to him because of Hujr and the companions of Hujr!”

Reference:

Ibn al-Athir, al-Kamil fi al-Tarikh.

Comment:

This report is often attacked by defenders because of its route, so use it as supporting material. The main proof remains the direct historical reports of execution.

There is also a famous report about the people killed at Adhra.

Arabic:

سيقتل بعذراء أناس يغضب الله لهم وأهل السماء.

English:

“People will be killed at Adhra for whom Allah and the inhabitants of heaven will be angry.”

Reference:

Ibn Kathir, al-Bidayah wa al-Nihayah, section on reports about the killing of Hujr bin Adi and his companions.

Comment:

This report is powerful, but it has chain discussion and weakness in some routes. So it should be used as supporting material, not the main proof. The main proof is the historical execution itself.

Now be fair.

This is not a Shia-only story.

This is recorded in:

Ibn Abi Shaybah, al-Musannaf

Al-Tabari, Tarikh al-Rusul wa al-Muluk

Ibn Sa‘d, al-Tabaqat al-Kubra

Al-Baladhuri, Ansab al-Ashraf

Ibn Abd al-Barr, al-Isti‘ab fi Ma‘rifat al-Ashab

Al-Dhahabi, Siyar A‘lam al-Nubala

Ibn Kathir, al-Bidayah wa al-Nihayah

Ibn al-Athir, al-Kamil fi al-Tarikh

Ibn Hajar, al-Isabah fi Tamyiz al-Sahabah

The fair wording is this:

Sunni historical sources record that Hujr bin Adi, known as Hujr al-Khayr, a pious supporter of Imam Ali a.s, was arrested after Ziyad wrote to Muawiya. Muawiya ordered him chained and sent to Syria, then reports record that Muawiya ordered his execution. Hujr prayed two rak‘ahs before death and said not to remove his chains or wash his blood because he would meet Muawiya before Allah. He and his companions were executed at Adhra near Damascus.

Important note:

Some detailed reports have chain discussion, especially the Prophetic-warning reports about Adhra and some reaction reports. But the core event — that Hujr bin Adi and his companions were executed by Muawiya’s order — is strongly preserved in Sunni historical literature.

Now return to the Qur’an.

Allah says about intentionally killing a believer:

Arabic:

ومن يقتل مؤمنا متعمدا فجزاؤه جهنم خالدا فيها وغضب الله عليه ولعنه وأعد له عذابا عظيما

English:

“And whoever kills a believer intentionally, his punishment 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

Allah also says:

Arabic:

من قتل نفسا بغير نفس أو فساد في الأرض فكأنما قتل الناس جميعا

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

So ask honestly:

If Sunni sources describe Hujr bin Adi as pious, trustworthy, a supporter of Imam Ali a.s, a man of worship, and then record that Muawiya ordered him chained, sent to Syria, and executed, how can this be hidden under the word “ijtihad”?

When people present Muawiya’s side as innocent, peaceful, and purely “ijtihadi,” they should first answer the Qur’an, then answer Hujr’s blood, his chains, and his final words:

لا تطلقوا عني حديدا، ولا تغسلوا عني دما، فإني ملاق معاوية على الجادة.

“Do not remove my chains, and do not wash my blood, for I will meet Muawiya on the clear path.”