Kumayl ibn Ziyad

Kumayl ibn Ziyad al-Nakha'i , born Kūmayl ibn Ziyād al-Nakhaʿī al-Madhḥijī was a prominent Tabi'un and a close companion of the first Shia Imam and fourth Rashidun caliph, Ali ibn Abi Talib. A member of the Nakha tribe of the Madhhij confederation, he is esteemed in Islamic tradition for his piety and his role in preserving the spiritual teachings of Ali.

Kumayl rose to political prominence during the caliphates of Uthman and Ali, famously serving as the governor of Hit. He is most widely recognized for transmitting Du'a Kumayl, a major supplication in the Shia tradition which he reportedly received from Ali. Historically, Kumayl was a vocal critic of the Umayyad administration and participated in the revolt of Ibn al-Ash'ath in 700. Following the failure of the uprising, he was captured and executed by the Umayyad governor Al-Hajjaj ibn Yusuf in 708.

Early life and conversion Kumayl ibn Ziyad belonged to the Nakha tribe, a prominent branch of the ancient Yemeni Madhhij confederation. His full lineage is recorded as Kumayl ibn Ziyad ibn Nahik ibn al-Haytham ibn Sa‘d ibn Malik ibn al-Harith ibn Suhban ibn Sa‘d ibn Malik ibn an-Nakha‘i.

Six months prior to his final expedition, the Islamic prophet Muhammad dispatched Khalid ibn al-Walid to Yemen to introduce Islam to the local population. Khalid's mission faced significant resistance, and the Yemenis reacted by throwing stones at him. Upon learning of this, Muhammad sent Ali to Yemen with a contingent of soldiers. When Ali arrived and began to speak of Islam, the crowd again threw stones and struck him. Ali ordered his soldiers to remain calm and maintained a composed demeanor. His display of good manners in the face of hostility impressed the Yemeni people. Consequently, many tribes, including the Kinda, Nakha, Hamadan, converted to Islam. It was during this time that Kumayl ibn Ziyad entered the faith, alongside Malik al-Ashtar, Hujr ibn Adi, and Uways al‑Qarani.

Opposition to Uthman's administration

In 30 AH (650 CE), widespread dissatisfaction arose in Kufa regarding the conduct of the governor, Walid ibn Uqba, the half-brother of Uthman. Walid was accused of public intoxication and neglecting his religious duties; most notably, he was reported to have led the Fajr prayer while inebriated, performing four Raka'at instead of the prescribed two before asking the congregation if they wished for him to continue.

According to historical accounts by Abu Mikhnaf, Kumayl ibn Ziyad and his kinsman Amr ibn Zurara al-Nakha'i were the first to publicly call for the removal of Uthman and advocate for Ali as the rightful leader. This movement initially met with resistance from the provincial authorities; when Walid was informed of their activities, he initially intended to suppress them by force but was warned of the group's growing strength. Consequently, Uthman ordered the exile of Amr ibn Zurara to Damascus, describing him as a boorish bedouin.

Kumayl and other prominent Kufans, including Malik al-Ashtar, eventually formed a vocal delegation that traveled to Medina to petition Uthman directly. On this journey, the group stopped at Al-Rabadha to visit Abu Dharr al-Ghifari, a respected companion of Muhammad who was living in exile and whose health was rapidly declining. Abu Dharr expressed profound sorrow upon hearing of the political instability and tribal discontent in Kufa.

After the visit to Al-Rabadha, Malik and the delegation continued their journey to Medina. When they finally met with Uthman, they expressed their concerns about Al-Walid's conduct. Although their mission did not immediately succeed, Uthman eventually recalled Al-Walid and appointed Sa'id ibn al-As in his place.

As administrative policies grew stricter under the influence of Marwan I, public unrest culminated in the siege of the caliph's residence. During this period, Malik al-Ashtar led the Kufan rebel forces entering Medina. Although Ali sent his sons, Hasan and Husayn, to guard Uthman’s door and prevent violence, the situation escalated into Uthman's assassination. Following the event, Kumayl and Malik al-Ashtar were among the primary figures who urged Ali to accept the Caliphate, with Malik presenting Ali as the most qualified candidate due to his knowledge and proximity to Muhammad.

Kumayl's description of Ali's Caliphate In view of Imam Ali becoming the new caliph, Kumayl thought that the coming years would be peaceful. On the contrary, Kumayl narrates:

When Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib became caliph, we thought that the people would honor Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib, people would respect him. Those four-and-a-half years with Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib were the most turbulent years we ever faced in our live as human beings. I have never witnessed hatred like the hatred I witnessed against Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib. This man, when I was ten years of age, is the reason we the people of Yemen became Muslims. If it wasn't for him none of us would join the religion of Islam. And now when he becomes caliph, from every angle those who saw him give victory to Islam when he was younger. One by one they started coming out (against him). The confusion that began to effect us, the sahabah (companions) of Ali, was a confusion that you would never want to see. Because everyday there is an attack on our leader (Imam Ali) and there are wars against him. We finished the Jamal (a war), and they attacked him at Jamal. We finished Saffeen (another war), and they attacked him at Safeen. There were days where we sit with each other saying 'why is it that so many have a hatred for this man (Imam Ali)'. But the Imam would remain open with all of us. Any of us who approached him, he remained calm with us. He was a wall of unity for us. (the governor of Kafarqos, some say the city of Kirkeesya), then he could defeat Imam Ali.

Kumayl goes on to say: "I didn't know what to do. We were facing an absolute barrage of pressure from the attack at that time. We were holding on to Ameerul Momineen (Imam Ali) but Mu'awiya was launching attack after attack, and we did not know what our stand had to be."

Another example, Imam Ali takes Kumayl outside of Kufa on a starry night with a breeze of wind. He narrates:

Kumayl, these hearts are containers (of knowledge). The best of them are those that best preserve knowledge. Therefore, preserve what I say to you.

There are three classes of people. The first class knows Allah. The second learns knowledge as means of salvation. And the third is rabble: followers of every crier, who bend with every breeze. These men do not seek to be illuminated by the light of learning, nor do they resort to any authority.

Kumayl, knowledge is better than wealth. Knowledge guards you while you guard wealth. Wealth is diminished by expenditure while knowledge is increased even by giving it away.

Kumayl, those who amass wealth die even as they live while those who have knowledge will continue to exist for as long as time lasts."

Hadith al-Haqiqa (Reality) Kumayl narrates:

I was riding my horse behind Ali ibn Abi Talib. And while he was riding his horse and I am behind him, I called out to him, 'Whats the truth?' Imam Ali said 'Sorry'. I said 'What is the truth? Who are you?' He looked at me and said 'What have you got to do with the truth.' I said 'When you come to the door of bounties it is known that you never turn anyone away.' Imam Ali replied, 'What sprinkles in you, overflows in me. You want to know the truth who I am? You want to know the truth? You think you are close to me and you want to know the truth, you think you know the truth as to who I am? I will tell you what the truth is. The truth is the revelation of the splendor of the divine majesty without a sign.' I (Kumayl) said, 'I don't understand what you mean, tell me more.' He said 'It is the defacement of the conjecture through the clearing of the known.' I (Kumayl) said 'I don't understand, but continue telling me what is the truth.' He said 'It's the rendering of the veils by the triumph of mystery.' I said 'Tell me more.' He said 'It is the divine attraction, but through the apprehension of the known.' I said 'Tell me more.' He said 'It's that light of the morning eternity that continues to radiate through the unity of the temples and their disunity. That's who I am.' I did not have a clue as to what he meant. Imam Ali continue riding the horse and I continued riding behind him.

Du'as from Imam Ali saved by Kumayl Kumayl ibn Ziyad saved many Du'as which he learned from Imam Ali. Two of these du'as are "Du'a Sabah" and "Du'a of Prophet Khidr" (renamed "Du'a Kumayl").

Du'a Kumayl

History

Kumayl narrates:It was in the Mosque in Basrah, Iraq. Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib was giving us a talk. He said all of you should recite the Du'a of Prophet Khidr. This du'a should be recited either on the 15th of Shaban (Islamic month), or on a Thursday night, or whenever you can. This du'a removes evils from your life, removes all forms of envy, and removes any suffering that will exist in your life. It is said that Ibn Muljam struck Imam Ali on the same spot where Amr Ibn Abduwud struck him in the Battle of Khandaq. The poison slowly started to affect Imam Ali's body. A few days later, on January 31, 661, (21 Ramadan 40 A.H) Imam Ali died. It has been said to have been a violent, bloody battle. Unfortunately there little detail about this battle except that Abd al-Malik, Hajjaj, and the Khurasan army managed to defeat the rebels. Some rebels escaped and Abd al-Rahman, Kumail Bin Zyyad, and Sa'id ibn Jubayr avoided being captured. Abd al-Rahman fled back to Turkey. Those who were less fortunate, or who were captured, were executed by command of Hajjaj.

Capture and kill After the Battle of al-Jamājum, Hajjaj, who was still the governor of Kufa, ordered that all the rebels who escaped from the battle were to be captured and brought back to be punished. The main bounties were placed on Abd al-Rahman, Kumayl Bin Ziyad, and Sa'id ibn Jubayr. Hajjaj was able to capture Sa'id ibn Jubayr. The following is a dialog between Hajjaj and Sa'id ibn Jubayr after he was captured and presented to Hajjaj in his palace.

Hajjaj: "What's your name?" Sa'id: "My name is Sa'id (means happy) ibn Jubayr." Hajjaj: "No from today, I will call you Shaqi (means unhappy/the worst/the angry) ibn Qusair (means the one who is broken)." Sa'id: "That (referring to Sa'id) is the name my mother gave me Hajjaj." Hajjaj: "May you and your mother both burn in hell." Sa'id: "Who are you to tell me about hell and to tell me who will burn in hell." Hajjaj: "I have more wealth than you will ever imagine I'll tell you if you go to hell or no." Sa'id: "Well at least I will me next to my master Amir al-Momineen (Imam Ali) in heaven and I'm confident of that. And my master told me that I will be killed in this way." Hajjaj: "May Allah curse your master as well." He laid down Sa'id and was about to behead him. Sa'id: "Where ever your face turns, it turns towards Allah. From this ground we (a royal we; referring to Allah the one and only) created you and it is this ground we are going to return you (Allah) and you're going to raise from here (referring to the Day of Judgment)."

Hajjaj then executed Sa'id ibn Jubayr. After executing him, Hajjaj said the following:

Hajjaj: "Where is that lover of Abu Turab (Abu Turab is a title of Imam Ali)?" Hajjaj's people: "Who?" Hajjaj: "Kumayl ibn Ziyad al-Nakha'i, the lover of Ali ibn Abi Talib. The man who was loyal to him. Where is he know? He has the audacity to raise against me." Hajjaj's people: "What do you what us to send the message?" Hajjaj: "Go and tell the old man his wife and his daughters are in my prison and I enjoy having ladies in my prison. So tell him I will be waiting unless he wants his wife and his sisters and his daughter to be inflicted with more of my punishment."

It is also mentioned that Hajjaj ordered his forces to annoy/torture Kumayl's followers. For example, they deprived them of money leading to economic worries.

Martyrdom

After hearing the news about the torture of his family members and friends, Kumayl decided the only thing to do was to turn himself in to save them from persecution. He got his walking stick, ready to turn himself in. People around him asked: "Kumayl, these people want you. Why don't you just hide." Kumayl replied, "No, no more. A man who insults my master (referring to Imam Ali) is not a man I hide from. Who dare the insult. He (referring to Hajjaj) says where are the lovers of Abu Turab (Imam Ali). I am a lover of Abu Turab." Nonetheless, Hajjaj's forces brought Kumayl to him at his palace. In the meantime, Kumayl began remembering his past. He remembered the days when he was a soldier in the army of Imam Ali. He remembered the time when he led a small group of 400 soldiers to combat a raid by Mu'awiya's army. He remembered disobeying Imam Ali (when leaving Hīt) and receiving a letter from Imam Ali. He remembered Imam Ali's words: "Kumayl, order your family to do good. Order them to help people at night." When presented to Hajjaj, Kumayl saw a headsman carrying a sword with guards (who surrounded Hajjaj). Kumayl knew that death was certain. But, before his death Hajjaj and Kumayl engaged in the following dialog.

Hajjaj: "So you are Kumayl ibn Ziyad al-Nakha'i?" Kumayl: "Yes." Hajjaj: "I heard stories about you. When you were younger, you spoke out against the great caliph Uthman. " Kumayl: "Yes that's me." Hajjaj: "And I heard you are the one who tried to speak out against Mu'awiya." Kumayl: "Yes." Hajjaj: "I heard you are the one who loves Ali ibn Abi Talib. You love Abu Turab." Kumayl: "Yes, I love Abu Turab." Hajjaj: "Curse be on you and on Abu Turab. Dissociate from Abu Turab and I will let you go." Kumayl: "Show me a way better than Abu Turab's way. I will follow it. My master, Imam Ali has told me that you will kill me. Allah's enemy, do whatever you like! And know that Judgement Day will be after killing." Hajjaj: "Disown Ali to save your soul." Kumayl: "Show me a religion better than Ali's."

Since Kumayl took a hardline stance over his love of Imam Ali, Hajjaj ordered the headsman to behead Kumayl. He was martyred at the age of 84 years.

Legacy Kumayl ibn Ziyad left a legacy with his words that he wrote down, his love for Imam Ali, and his stance against oppression and corrupt rulers. His life highlighted that one should be disciplined, firm, have faith in Allah (God), and sacrifice to keep the message of Allah (God) alive.

Shia Many Shias recognize Kumayl ibn Ziyad for his obedience, discipline, and love for Imam Ali. Furthermore, they respect him as a companion who preserved the secrets of the world, teachings of Imam Ali, and several du'as including Du'a Kumayl, which is recited by Shias on Thursday nights.

Sunni There are Sunni books of hadiths (reports) that accept Kumayl and respect him as a companion. Most see Kumayl as a good companion of Imam Ali.