Malik al-Ashtar
Mālik ibn al-Ḥārith مَالِك ٱلْأَشْتَر | |
|---|---|
| Governor of Egypt (r. 658–659) | |
| In office late 658 – early 659 (died before reaching Fustat) | |
| Caliph | Ali |
| Preceded by | Muhammad ibn Abu Bakr |
| Succeeded by | Amr ibn al-As |
| Personal details | |
| Born | c. 586 Yemen, Arabia |
| Died | c. 659 (AH 39) (Aged 74) Egypt, Rashidun caliphate |
| Resting place | In Cairo, Egypt |
| Relations | Nukha (tribe) |
| Children | Ibrahim |
| Parent | al-Harith ibn Abd-Yaguth (father) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Rashidun Caliphate |
| Rank | Military General to Ali |
| Unit | Rashidun cavalry |
| Commands | Right wing commander of the Battle of the Camel And the Battle of Siffin |
| Battles/wars | |
Malik al-Ashtar (Arabic: مَالِك ٱلْأَشْتَر), also known as Mālik bin al-Ḥārith al-Nakhaʿīy al-Maḏḥijīy (Arabic: مَالِك ٱبْن ٱلْحَارِث ٱلنَّخَعِيّ ٱلْمَذْحِجِيّ) was, according to Sunni view, one of the people involved behind Uthman's assassination. While, according to Shias, he was one of the loyal companions of Ali ibn Abi Talib, cousin of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. According to them, Malik remained a loyal supporter of Muhammad's progeny and the Hashemite clan. He rose to a position of prominence during the caliphate of Ali and participated in several battles, such as the Battle of Jamal and Siffin against Mu'awiya. His title "al-Ashtar" references an eyelid injury he received during the Battle of Yarmouk.