Malik ibn Awf al-Nasri
مالك بن عوف النصري
c. 580 CE – c. 640 CE · c. 19 AH† †
† Hijri date derived by computation from the Gregorian/Julian date; it may differ from the transmitted date by a day or two.
The young commander of Hawazin who fielded the tribal confederation against the Muslims at Hunayn — and within weeks accepted Islam, reconciled with the Prophet at al-Ji'rana, and led his people back to their faith and their property.
At a glance
- Roles
- General
- Era
- The Prophetic Era
- Region
- Arabia
- Review
- Draft Completeness 2/5 · Help complete it
In time
BattlesConverts and those who leave
Place in the story
- Military opponenttowardThe early Muslim community · 630 CE · 9 AH† – 630 CE · 9 AH†Historical
- Convert to Islam · 630 CE · 9 AH†Tradition
Arabian polytheism (documented) · Sunni (transmitted)
Roles are dated and sourced; the museum describes the act and attributes the judgement.
Brief
Malik ibn Awf was the young commander who fielded Hawazin's whole confederation against the Muslims at Hunayn — and within weeks came to the Prophet at al-Ji'rana, accepted Islam, and led his people home.
Life
After the conquest of Mecca, Hawazin and Thaqif gathered against the new order; Malik — barely thirty in the sources — insisted on bringing the tribes' women, children and flocks to the field at Hunayn so the men would fight to the end 1 2.
Defeated, he withdrew into the fortress of Ta'if. Then, during the siege, he came out to the Prophet at al-Ji'rana, accepted Islam, and was set over the Muslims of his own people — recovering their captives and property in the famous amnesty 3.
Legacy
Hunayn's story is often told as the battle won and lost in a morning; Malik is its other half — the defeated commander whose conversion closed the war weeks later.
For young visitors
Malik lost a battle to the Muslims — then joined them, and was given his people's captured families and flocks back.
Connections
- Member of
- Hawazin
- Fought
- The early Muslim community
- Participated in
- The Battle of HunaynThe siege of Ta'ifThe Hawazin delegation and the amnesty of captives
- Converted under
- Muhammad
People and things also explored
The Battle of HunaynKhalid ibn al-WalidHawazinThe siege of Ta'ifThaqifMuhammadThe Conquest of Mecca (Fath Makka)Abu Sufyan ibn Harb
Sources
- Ibn Ishaq / Guillaume, The Life of Muhammad (1955)
- Watt, Muhammad at Medina (1956)
- Ibn Sa'd, Kitab al-Tabaqat al-Kabir (Bewley translation, Ta-Ha)
Cite this page
islam.museum contributors. “Malik ibn Awf al-Nasri”. islam.museum, https://islam.museum/en/person/malik-ibn-awf/. CC BY-SA 4.0. Accessed 2026-10-12.