Module 7E-10 Story Time

Story time

Malik was known throughout the Muslim lands as a great warrior. One day, he was walking through the markets of Kufa. It was his habit to wear a shawl around his head, which hid his identity. A man was eating a date and threw the date stone at Malik, thinking he was just an ordinary old man. It hit Malik’s head and the man laughed, thinking that this rude act was funny. Another man came running up to him and asked him why he would do such a thing. The man laughed and said it was amusing to throw things at old men. He was then told that the old man was Malik al-Ashtar, the famous commander of Imam Ali’s (a) army.

The man was shocked and then became terrified. He ran all over town looking for Malik and eventually found him praying in Masjid al-Kufa. The man approached Malik and apologised greatly for his foolish act. Malik answered by saying that he had come into the masjid to recite a two rak‘ah salah for the man’s guidance.