Malik was reportedly appointed by
Muhammad as the collector of the ('alms tax') for his clan. After Muhammad’s death, he is said to have withheld
zakah, prompting
Abu Bakr to order his execution through
Khalid ibn al-Walid. In 632, Khalid’s forces encountered Malik and his men, who affirmed their faith and offered no resistance. Despite objections from an
Ansarite companion, Khalid reportedly ordered their execution and later married Malik’s widow,
Layla bint al-Minhal.
Umar is said to have urged Khalid’s removal from command, but Abu Bakr reportedly declined, stating, “I will not sheathe a sword which
God has drawn for His service.” Historians suggest Malik was executed for
apostasy, citing his alleged support for
Sajah, a self-proclaimed
prophetess, his refusal to recognize Muhammad as a
prophet, or his denial of
zakah obligations. According to 8th-century historian
Sayf ibn Umar, Malik allied with Sajah, his kinswoman, but abandoned her after her defeat by Banu Tamim clans and returned to al-Butah, where he faced Muslim forces. Sayf and other early historians, such as
al-Tabari, noted that Malik called Muhammad "your companion" and rejected
zakah. However,
Wilferd Madelung disputes this, arguing that if Malik had renounced
Islam, Umar and others would not have opposed his execution.
Ali al-Sallabi emphasizes Malik’s refusal to pay
zakah as the primary issue, citing early sources like Ibn Sallam al-Jumahi and
al-Nawawi, who state that some apostates, continued to perform
prayer but rejected
zakah, thereby denying a
core pillar of Islam.
Ibn Hajar cites a narration in which Malik’s brother admitted his apostasy, which he presents as evidence for why Umar, during his
caliphate, took no action against Khalid regarding the incident.
Ibn Taymiyyah defends Khalid, arguing that his decision was a valid
ijtihad and that the case remains uncertain; he adds that criticizing Khalid would involve speculation, which is
prohibited in
Islamic law. Due to conflicting early sources, the exact circumstances of Malik’s death remain unclear. Ella Landau-Tasseron notes that "the truth behind Malik's career and death is likely to remain obscured by a multitude of conflicting reports."
Al-Dhahabi emphasizes the prior piety of those involved and cautioned against both excessive praise and unjust blame.
W. Montgomery Watt adds that the sources on Banu Tamim during the
Ridda Wars are unclear, partly due to "the enemies of Khālid b. al-Walīd have twisted the stories to blacken him". ==Notes==