Malik ibn Nuwayra (Arabic: مالك بن نويرة: died 632), was the chief of the Banu Yarbu, a clan of the Banu Hanzala, which was a large section of the powerful tribe of Bani Tamim.

Muhammad had appointed Malik as an officer over the Banu Yarbu clan to collect zakah and send them to Medina. However, after the death of Muhammad, Malik stopped distributing the zakah and refused to send it to Medinah. As a result, Abu Bakr ordered his execution, which was carried out by Khalid bin Walid.

Malik was appointed by Muhammad as the collector of the zakah ('alms tax') for his clan, the Yarbu of the Tamim. However, following Muhammad's death, Malik stopped distributing the zakah and also refused to send it to Medina. As a result, Abu Bakr decided to have him executed by Khalid ibn al-Walid. In 632, Khalid and his army encountered Malik and eleven of his clansmen from the Yarbu. The Yarbu did not resist, proclaimed their Muslim faith, and were escorted to Khalid's camp. Despite the objection of an Ansarite, who had been among the captors and argued that the captives' inviolability should be respected due to their declaration of faith, Khalid had them all executed. Afterward, Khalid married Malik's widow, Layla bint al-Minhal.^[1]

When news of Khalid's decision reached Medina, Umar, who had become Abu Bakr's chief aide, pressed for Khalid to be punished or relieved of command. Abu Bakr chose to pardon him stating that Khalid did nothing wrong and that the crimes of Malik had been proven.^[2] Abu Bakr's decision was influenced by two key factors. First, he was guided by the hadith of Muhammad, who described Khalid as “The Sword which Allah unsheathed against the unbelievers.”^[3] Second, Abu Bakr acted in a manner similar to Muhammad’s response when Khalid may have attacked the Banu Jadhima and killed their men.^[2] Muhammad did not discharge or punish Khalid for that incident.^[4]

Another reason for Malik's execution, according to historians, includes committing apostasy by refusing to acknowledge Muhammad as a prophet during his encounter with Khalid. According to the 8th-century historian Sayf ibn Umar, Malik had been cooperating with the prophetess Sajah, his kinswoman from the Yarbu. However, after they were defeated by rival clans from the Tamim, Malik abandoned her cause and retreated to his camp at al-Butah, where he and his small party were encountered by the Muslims.^[5] Well-regarded historians, including Ibn Khallikan, Abu al-Faraj al-Isfahani, at-Tabari, Ibn al-Athir, and Ibn Kathir recorded that Malik used the term "your companion" when referring to Muhammad—a phrase commonly used by polytheists—as well as refused to acknowledge the obligation of zakāh.^[6][7] Additionally, other historical narrations suggest that Mutammim ibn Nuwayrah later affirmed Malik’s apostasy when Umar asked him to recite poetry about his brother.^[8]

According to another report, Khalid's actions were deemed an error; however, when Umar called for his removal, Abu Bakr refused,^[3] stating, "I will not sheathe a sword which God (Allah) has drawn for His service."^[9] Despite Umar's initial opposition, he later acknowledged Khalid during his own caliphate and conceded that Abu Bakr had shown better judgment of men in supporting Khalid.^[10] Although there were possible indications that Malik’s final actions, such as prayer, suggested a return to Islam, modern scholar Ali al-Sallabi emphasizes that his refusal to pay zakah was the key issue. He cites historical accounts, including those from Ibn Sallam al-Jumahi and Al-Nawawi, which highlight that some apostates, like Malik, were willing to perform prayer but resisted paying zakah, thus rejecting an essential pillar of Islam.^[11]

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