Hadith 149

pt called Masoud Bin Zajraja. He wrote to Muawiya with the death of Al-Ashtar. Muawiya stood up to address among his companions. He said, ‘Ali-asws, there used to be two right hands for him-asws. One of them was cut off at Siffeen, meaning Ammar-ra, and the other today. Al-Ashtar passed by Eilat heading to Egypt, and Nafie slave of Usman accompanied him and served him, and was kind to him until he fascinated him, and he was assured to him. When he descended at Al-Qulzum, he presented to him a drink of honey with poison and quenched it to him, so he died. Indeed, and for Allah-azwj there is an army from honey’’. [81]
(The book) ‘Al Ikhtisas’ – Ahmad Bin Ali, from Hamza Bin Al Qasim Al Alawy, from Bakr Bin Abdullah Bin Habeen, from Samurah Bin Ali, from Al Minhal Bin Jubeyr Al Himeyri, from Awanah who said, ‘When (news of) the death of Al-Ashtar came to Ali-asws Bin Abu Talib-asws, he-asws ascended the pulpit and addressed the people, then said: ‘Malik Bin Al Haris had fulfilled his vow and has been loyal to his pact and met his Lord-azwj. May Allah-azwj have Mercy on Malik. If he had been a mountain, he would have been majestic, and if he had been a stone, he would have been solid for Allah-azwj. Malik, and what is Malik? And can the women resist from the like of Malik? And is there anyone like Malik? ’ He (the narrator) said, ‘When he-asws descended and entered the government building, men from Quraysh faced up to him-asws and they said, ‘It is intense what you-asws are alarmed upon him, and he has died’. He-asws said: ‘By Allah-azwj! His death has brought honour to the people of the west and disgraced the people of the east’. He (the narrator) said, ‘And he-asws cried upon him for days and grieved upon him with severe grief and said: ‘I-asws will not see the like of him after him, ever! ’’[82]
(The book) ‘Nahj Al-Balagah’ – And he-asws said when the killing of Muhammad Bin Abu Bakr reached him-asws: ‘Our grief upon him is in accordance to their happiness with it except they are deficient of a hater, and we are deficient of a beloved’’. [83]
And he-asws said: ‘And the obituary of Al-Ashtar had come to him-asws: ‘Malik, and what is Malik? If he was a mountain, he would have been majestic, and if he had been a stone, he would have been solid. Neither can the hooves (of horses) climb it nor can the bird get to it’’. [84]
(The book) ‘Rijal Al Kashy’ –
‘It is mentioned that when the obituary of Al-Ashtar came to Amir Al-Momineen-asws, grief made him-asws groan, then he-asws said: ‘May Allah-azwj have Mercy on Malik. And what is Malik? I-asws am upset with his death. If he was a stone, he would have been solid, and if he was a mountain, he would have been majestic, and it is as if he was led from me-asws’’. [85]
(The book) ‘Nahj Al Balagah’ –
‘And from a letter of his-asws to Muhammad Bin Abu Bakr, may Allah-azwj be Pleased from him, when it reached him that he was being replaced by Al-Ashtar about Egypt, he was saddened, then Al-Ashtar died during his heading to Egypt before his arrival to it: ‘(News of) your unhappiness has reached me of sending Al-Ashtar to your office, and I-asws did not do that for slowing you down in the efforts, nor to increase you in efforts. And if I-asws am removing what is under your hand of your authority, I-asws would place you in charge of what is easier to deal with upon you and more attractive governance to you. The man who used to rule the affairs of Egypt was an advising man to us