Why Was Sharik ibn Shaddad Killed with Hujr ibn Adi?

Sharik bin Shaddad al-Hadrami: Executed in Muawiya’s Adhra Killing of Hujr bin Adi’s Companions

Before anyone calls this “Shia propaganda,” read what Sunni historical sources themselves record.

Sharik bin Shaddad al-Hadrami was not killed in a random incident. He was one of the companions of Hujr bin Adi who were taken from Kufa to Marj Adhra near Damascus and executed in the famous case of Hujr bin Adi.

The strongest way to understand Sharik’s story is through the Hujr bin Adi execution file, because Sunni sources repeatedly name him among the men killed with Hujr.

Ibn Manzur records an individual entry for him:

Arabic:

شريك بن شداد الحضرمي الشيعي

كوفي من التابعين. أحد الاثني عشر الذي قدم بهم من الكوفة مع حجر بن عدي إلى عذراء وقتل بها.

English:

“Sharik bin Shaddad al-Hadrami al-Shi‘i: A Kufan from the Tabi‘in. He was one of the twelve who were brought from Kufa with Hujr bin Adi to Adhra, and he was killed there.”

Reference:

Ibn Manzur, Mukhtasar Tarikh Dimashq, biography of Sharik bin Shaddad al-Hadrami.

Comment:

This is the clearest individual entry about Sharik. It says he was a Kufan Tabi‘i, from the Shia/supporters of Ali, brought with Hujr to Adhra, and killed there.

Al-Tabari records that Sharik was among the men taken with Hujr to Marj Adhra.

Arabic:

حجر بن عدي بن جبلة الكندي، والأرقم بن عبد الله الكندي من بني الأرقم، وشريك بن شداد الحضرمي، وصيفي بن فسيل، وقبيصة بن ضبيعة بن حرملة العبسي، وكريم بن عفيف الخثعمي... فمضوا حتى نزلوا مرج عذراء، فحبسوا بها.

English:

“Hujr bin Adi bin Jabalah al-Kindi, al-Arqam bin Abdullah al-Kindi from Banu al-Arqam, Sharik bin Shaddad al-Hadrami, Sayfi bin Fasil, Qabisah bin Dubay‘ah bin Harmalah al-‘Absi, Karim bin ‘Afif al-Khath‘ami… They went on until they reached Marj Adhra, and they were imprisoned there.”

Reference:

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

Comment:

This places Sharik inside the group of Hujr’s companions who were taken from Kufa and imprisoned at Marj Adhra.

Ibn Kathir also names Sharik among Hujr’s companions who were sent in this case.

Arabic:

وكان مع حجر بن عدي بن جبلة الكندي من أصحابه جماعة قيل: عشرون رجلا، وقيل: أربعة عشر رجلا، منهم: الأرقم بن عبد الله الكندي، وشريك بن شداد الحضرمي، وصيفي بن فسيل، وقبيصة بن ضبيعة بن حرملة العبسي...

English:

“With Hujr bin Adi bin Jabalah al-Kindi there was a group of his companions. It is said they were twenty men, and it is said they were fourteen men. Among them were al-Arqam bin Abdullah al-Kindi, Sharik bin Shaddad al-Hadrami, Sayfi bin Fasil, Qabisah bin Dubay‘ah bin Harmalah al-‘Absi…”

Reference:

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

Comment:

Again, Sharik is named among the companions of Hujr who were taken in this case.

Ibn al-Athir also records the same event sequence.

Arabic:

وساروا حتى انتهوا بهم إلى مرج عذراء عند دمشق، وكانوا: حجر بن عدي الكندي، والأرقم بن عبد الله الكندي، وشريك بن شداد الحضرمي، وصيفي بن فسيل الشيباني، وقبيصة بن ضبيعة العبسي...

English:

“They travelled until they brought them to Marj Adhra near Damascus. They were: Hujr bin Adi al-Kindi, al-Arqam bin Abdullah al-Kindi, Sharik bin Shaddad al-Hadrami, Sayfi bin Fasil al-Shaybani, Qabisah bin Dubay‘ah al-‘Absi…”

Reference:

Ibn al-Athir, al-Kamil fi al-Tarikh, events of 51 AH.

Comment:

This confirms that Sharik was among the prisoners brought to Marj Adhra near Damascus.

Before the execution, Hujr’s group declared that their blood was unlawful.

Arabic:

أبلغ معاوية أن دماءنا عليه حرام، وأخبره أنا قد أومنا وصالحناه وصالحنا، وأنا لم نقتل أحدا من أهل القبلة فيحل له دماؤنا.

English:

“Tell Muawiya that our blood is unlawful upon him. Inform him that we were granted safety, we made peace and reconciled, and we did not kill anyone from the people of the qiblah such that our blood would become lawful for him.”

Reference:

Ibn al-Athir, al-Kamil fi al-Tarikh, events of 51 AH.

Comment:

This statement was from the detained group of Hujr and his companions. Sharik was among the companions later named in the killed group. Their argument was clear: they had not killed anyone from the people of qiblah to make their blood lawful.

Then Muawiya sent executioners to Hujr and his companions.

Arabic:

فبعث معاوية هدبة بن فياض القضاعي، والحصين بن عبد الله الكلابي، وأبا شريف البدي إلى حجر وأصحابه ليقتلوا من أمروا بقتله منهم.

English:

“Muawiya sent Hudbah bin Fayyad al-Quda‘i, al-Husayn bin Abdullah al-Kilabi, and Abu Sharif al-Badi to Hujr and his companions, to kill those among them whom they had been ordered to kill.”

Reference:

Ibn al-Athir, al-Kamil fi al-Tarikh, events of 51 AH.

Comment:

This is very important. Sharik was not simply “lost in history.” He was part of the group for whom executioners were sent by Muawiya.

Before the killing, the group was reportedly told to dissociate from Imam Ali a.s and curse him.

Arabic:

وقالوا لهم قبل القتل: إنا قد أمرنا أن نعرض عليكم البراءة من علي واللعن له، فإن فعلتم تركناكم وإن أبيتم قتلناكم.

English:

“They said to them before the killing: We have been ordered to offer you dissociation from Ali and cursing him. If you do it, we will leave you; if you refuse, we will kill you.”

Reference:

Ibn al-Athir, al-Kamil fi al-Tarikh, events of 51 AH.

Comment:

This shows the issue was tied to loyalty to Imam Ali a.s. The group was offered safety if they dissociated from Ali and cursed him.

Their answer was clear.

Arabic:

فقالوا: لسنا فاعلي ذلك.

English:

“They said: We will not do that.”

Reference:

Ibn al-Athir, al-Kamil fi al-Tarikh, events of 51 AH.

Comment:

They refused to dissociate from Imam Ali a.s and refused to curse him.

Then graves were dug and shrouds were brought.

Arabic:

فأمر فحفرت القبور وأحضرت الأكفان وقام حجر وأصحابه يصلون عامة الليل.

English:

“He ordered that the graves be dug and the shrouds be brought. Hujr and his companions stood praying for most of the night.”

Reference:

Ibn al-Athir, al-Kamil fi al-Tarikh, events of 51 AH.

Comment:

This is the scene Sunni history preserves: graves prepared, shrouds brought, and Hujr’s companions praying through the night before execution.

Then Sharik bin Shaddad is explicitly named among the seven killed.

Arabic:

فكان الذين قتلوا: حجر بن عدي، وشريك بن شداد الحضرمي، وصيفي بن فسيل الشيباني، وقبيصة بن ضبيعة العبسي، ومحرز بن شهاب السعدي التميمي، وكدام بن حيان العنزي، وعبد الرحمن بن حسان العنزي الذي دفنه زياد حيا، فهؤلاء السبعة قتلوا ودفنوا وصلي عليهم.

English:

“Those who were killed were: 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 al-Tamimi, Kudam bin Hayyan al-‘Anazi, and Abd al-Rahman bin Hassan al-‘Anazi, whom Ziyad buried alive. These seven were killed, buried, and funeral prayer was offered over them.”

Reference:

Ibn al-Athir, al-Kamil fi al-Tarikh, events of 51 AH.

Comment:

This is the core proof. Sharik bin Shaddad is explicitly named among the seven killed, buried, and prayed over.

Al-Tabari also records Sharik in the list of those killed.

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 حياً بقس الناطف، فهم سبعة قتلوا وكفنوا وصلي 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:

Al-Tabari directly names Sharik bin Shaddad among the killed companions of Hujr.

Ibn Kathir also confirms the same list.

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:

Ibn Kathir also places Sharik among the victims killed at Adhra.

Al-Hasan al-Basri’s reaction exposes the contradiction.

Arabic:

ولما بلغ الحسن البصري قتل حجر وأصحابه قال: صلوا عليهم وكفنوهم ودفنوهم واستقبلوا بهم القبلة؟ قالوا: نعم. قال: حجوهم ورب الكعبة!

English:

“When news of the killing of Hujr and his companions reached al-Hasan al-Basri, he said: ‘Did they pray over them, shroud them, bury them, and face them toward the qiblah?’ They said: ‘Yes.’ He said: ‘Then they defeated them in argument, by the Lord of the Ka‘bah!’”

Reference:

Ibn al-Athir, al-Kamil fi al-Tarikh, events of 51 AH.

Comment:

This is the key question: if Sharik and the others were shrouded, prayed over, buried, and faced toward the qiblah as Muslims, then why were they executed?

This is not a Shia-only story.

This is recorded in:

Ibn Manzur, Mukhtasar Tarikh Dimashq

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

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

Ibn Kathir, al-Bidayah wa al-Nihayah

The fair wording is this:

Sharik bin Shaddad al-Hadrami was a Kufan Tabi‘i and one of the companions of Hujr bin Adi. Sunni historical sources record that he was taken from Kufa to Marj Adhra near Damascus with Hujr’s group. The group was imprisoned, offered dissociation from Imam Ali a.s and cursing him, refused, and Sharik was explicitly named among the seven killed. He was shrouded, prayed over, and buried as a Muslim.

Important note:

The sources do not preserve many independent personal speeches from Sharik himself. Most details are about Hujr’s companions collectively. So the honest wording is not to invent a separate personal story for Sharik, but to say: Sharik bin Shaddad was one of the named victims in the execution of Hujr bin Adi’s companions under Muawiya’s order.

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 say Sharik bin Shaddad and the companions of Hujr were killed, shrouded, prayed over, and buried as Muslims, then how can their blood be hidden under “ijtihad”?

When people present Muawiya’s side as innocent, peaceful, and purely “ijtihadi,” they should first answer the Qur’an, then answer the blood of Hujr, Sharik bin Shaddad, and the companions killed at Adhra.