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.Nakshawani, Ammar. "Biography of Kumayl Ibn Ziyad al-Nakha'i". Masjid al-Husayn Leicester, 21 Nov. 2012. Web. 01 July 2013 (Retrieved). 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.
Furthermore, even after the Battle of Sifeen, Kumayl narrates:
I remember one day after the Battle of Sifeen, we were walking past a house in Kufa, Imam Ameerul Momineen (Imam Ali) was with me. I heard from the house the most beautiful Quran being recited. A man recited the Quran in the middle of the night. I looked at Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib and said to him. 'O Imam this man reciting Quran, the words he is recites are so beautiful.' The Imam then looked at me and said 'Kumayl one day I will remind you about this man."
Months passed and the Khawaarij attacked Imam Ali at the Battle of Nahrawan. When the battle finished, Kumayl narrates:
Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib came up to me. He looked at me and said 'Kumayl do you see that man who has died over there from the Khawaarij army?' 'Mawla of course I see him.' He (Imam Ali) said 'Do you remember that night you and I were walking past a house and you said to me 'look how beautiful the Quran is from the man's house'?' I said to you 'wait there will be a day. That man laying there is that same man who was reciting the Quran.' What's the point of him reciting the Quran when he does not know my position within the Quran.
Kumayl further narrates:
Those years (referring to the caliphate of Imam Ali) were the most turbulent years for the companions of Ali. We lost Malik al-Ashtar. We lost Ammar ibn Yasir. One by one the companions of Ali ibn Abi Talib were dying. I myself was in a state of confusion.
Kumayl the Governor of Hīt Kumayl was appointed governor of Hīt, Iraq by Imam Ali who told him never to leave Hīt when situations got tough. Unfortunately, one day a situation occurred. Mu'awiya knew that if he could remove Shabath ibn Rib'i (also a companion of Imam Ali and the killer of Imam Husain ibn Ali, who was one of the last men to strike Imam Husain's neck,Ayati, Ibrahim. A Probe into the History of Ashura. Accra: Islamic Seminary Publications, 1984. Print. (the governor of Kafarqos, some say the city of Kirkeesya), then he could defeat Imam Ali. So Mu'awiya attacked the city of Kafarqos to try to remove Shabath ibn Rib'i.
Kumayl narrates: I was in a state of confusion. Ali ibn Abi Talib had written to me saying' Kumayl never ever remove yourself from your city. I have put people in their different cities and they should never go and leave themselves.' When I saw Mu'awiya attack. I wondered how can I leave this city when it is under attack, even though Ali ibn Abi Talib told me not to leave my city? I was in utter confusion. I left my city alone. I went to defend Shabath ibn Rib'i, and when I did so I received a letter from him (Letter 61 in the Nahj al-Balagha).
Letter 61 from The Peak of Eloquence (Nahj al-Balagha) It is wrong of a person to disregard and neglect the duty entrusted to him and try to take up the work entrusted to someone else - and at a time when he is not required to do it. Such an attribution indicates a weak and harmful mentality. Your desire to invade Kirkisiya and to leave your province undefended and unattended shows the confusion in your mind. By such an action you will convert yourself into a kind of bridge, which your enemy can cross conveniently to reach your friends. Thus you will be a useless auxiliary who has neither power nor prestige nor dignity; who cannot stop his enemy's in-roads, nor can crush him, and who cannot defend his subjects nor can he be of any use or help to his ruler.Ibn Abi Talib, Ali. Nahjul Balagha = Peak of Eloquence : Sermons, Letters, and Sayings of Imam Ali Ibn Abu Talib. Ed. Mohammad Askari. Jafery. Elmhurst, NY: Tahrike Tarsile Quran, 1984. Print. Pg. 654
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."
Secrets of the World Eager to increase his understanding of this world, Kumayl ibn Ziyad loved to learn from his teacher, Imam Ali. Kumayl narrates:
There are times Ali ibn Abi Talib can see that you are going through difficulties. Those are the times when he takes you by the hand and reveals to you the secrets of this world. There are nights which I spent with Ali ibn Abi Talib where he increased my yaqeen (certainty) in Allah.
For example, the following discourse in which Imam Ali takes Kumayl to a graveyard outside Kufa:
O Kumayl ibn Ziyad, truly these hearts are vessels and the best of them are those which hold the most. So retain from me that which I say to you. People are divided into three types: a lordly knower (alim rabbani); one who seeks knowledge (muta'allim) for the sake of deliverance; and the common folk (hamaj ra'a) following just anyone, swaying with every current, not desiring to be illumined by the light of knowledge, nor seeking refuge from any strong support.
O Kumayl, knowledge is better than wealth, for knowledge guards you, while you must guard wealth; and wealth diminishes as it is spent, while knowledge increases as it is disbursed; and the results of wealth disappears with the disappearance of wealth.
O Kumayl ibn Ziyad, the wise apprehension of knowledge (ma'rifat al-'ilm) is a religion by which Allah is worshipped. Through it, man acquires obedience in his life and a good name after his death. And knowledge is a judge, while wealth is judged.