In order to depict a relatively clear and at the same time realistic picture of the political, social, cultural, and economic conditions of the Muslim World in the first century A.H.; it is necessary to conduct researches on the influential Muslim personalities of that period.
Malik ibn al-Harith an-Nakha‘‘i better known as Malik al-Ashtar was one of the influential and prominent noblemen of the city of Kufah. Though he resided in the city during the rules of ‘Umar (following the foundation of Kufah in 17 A.H.),’Uthman, and ‘Ali (A); his influence and impact on the events and developments of the Muslim World was not of equal weight during all these three periods.
This paper intends to analyze Malik’s role and position in the events of this important 20-year period.
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