Hadith No: 1
Al-Bukhari - Al-Tarikh al-Kabir - Chapter on the Letter Meem - 1325: Malik al-Ashtar
Volume: (7) - Page Number: (311)
1325 - Malik al-Ashtar Abdullah ibn Muhammad said to me: Abdul Razzaq said: "Show us," to Ma'mar from Az-Zuhri, who said: Ali sent al-Ashtar as an commander to Egypt until he reached Qulzum, where he drank a draught of honey and met his end there. Amr ibn al-As said: 'Indeed, Allah has armies from honey.'" And Ali appointed Muhammad ibn Abi Bakr as commander over Egypt and Qais ibn Sa'd set out before the city before the killing of Muhammad.

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Reference: Tarikh al Kabeer Book 7

Hadith No: 2
Ibn Kathir - Al-Bidayah wa'l-Nihayah - Then the year thirty-eight entered - Events that occurred in it
Volume: (10) - Page Number: (655)
[The text is lengthy, so only the relevant excerpt is provided here]
- .... Al-Ashtar al-Nakha'i was appointed to Egypt, and he had been the deputy over Mosul and Nisibis. He wrote to him, summoning him to return and appointing him to Egypt. When this reached Mu'awiyah, that Al-Ashtar al-Nakha'i was appointed to Egypt instead of Muhammad ibn Abi Bakr, he knew that Al-Ashtar would defend it against him due to his boldness and bravery. So, Al-Ashtar set out for it, and when he reached Al-Qulzum, the Jayasar came out to meet him, who was the commander of Alayk on Kharaj, and he presented him with food and gave him a drink of honey, and he died from it. When Mu'awiyah and Amr and the people of Sham learned of this, they said: "Indeed, Allah has armies from honey."
- .... Ibn Jarir mentioned in his history that Mu'awiyah had instructed this man to find a way to kill Al-Ashtar and promised him certain rewards for doing so, and he did it. There is some consideration in this, and even if it is true, Mu'awiyah would consider it permissible to kill Al-Ashtar because he was one of the murderers of Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him). The point is that Mu'awiyah and the people of Sham rejoiced greatly at the death of Al-Ashtar al-Nakha'i. When this reached Ali, he lamented his bravery and capabilities and wrote to Muhammad ibn Abi Bakr, confirming his stability and continuation in the land of Egypt.

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Reference: Al-Bidaayah wa al-Nihaayah Book 10

Hadith No: 3
Al-Dhahabi - Siyar A'lam al-Nubalā' - Among those who witnessed the time of Prophethood - al-Ashtar
Volume: (4) - Page Number: (34)
[The text is lengthy, so only the relevant excerpt is provided here]
- .... And when Ali returned from the Battle of Siffin, he appointed al-Ashtar as governor over the lands of Egypt, but he died on the way, poisoned. It was said that a servant of Uthman confronted him and poisoned him with honey. Ali had been annoyed with him because he was difficult to deal with, so when he heard of his death, he said: "Indeed, we belong to Allah, and to Him we shall return. What a loss, and what a loss! Is there anything like that existing? If it were iron, it would be a chain; if it were stone, it would be a solid barrier. Let those who weep, weep." Some said that Ali said: "For the nostrils and the mouth," and Amr ibn al-As was pleased with his demise, saying: "Indeed, Allah has armies of honey."

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Reference: Seyar A'laam al-Nobalaa Book 4

Hadith No: 4
Ibn Sa'd - al-Tabaqat al-Kubra - The Classes of the Kufans
Class One: From the People of Kufa after the Companions of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his holy progeny)
Among those in this class who narrated from Uthman and Ubayy ibn Ka'b ... - 2191: al-Ashtar
Volume: (6) - Page Number: (239)
- al-Ashtar: His name was Malik ibn al-Harith ibn Abd Yaguth ibn Muslimah ibn Rabiah ibn al-Harith ibn Judhaymah ibn Sa'd ibn Malik ibn al-Nakha' from Madh'hij. He narrated from Khalid ibn al-Walid that he used to strike people for praying after Asr, and al-Ashtar was one of the companions of Ali ibn Abi Talib. He witnessed the Battle of Jamal and Siffin and all of his major battles and Ali (peace be upon him) appointed him to govern Egypt, so he set out for it. However, when he was at al-‘Arish, he drank a sip of honey and died.

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Reference: Al-Tabaqaat al-Kubra Book 6

Hadith No: 5
Ibn Asakir - Tarikh Damishq - Letter M
7165 - Malik ibn al-Harith ibn Abd Yaghuth ibn Muslamah ibn Rabi'ah ...
Volume: (56) - Page Number: (389)
[The text is lengthy, so only the relevant excerpt is provided here]
- .... from the Arabs that Al-Khulayl Al-Ashter would accompany them, so they set out. It was not long before my two Arab companions returned, and I said to them: What is the news? They replied: "It is nothing but that when we arrived at al-Qulzum, we met Al-Ashter with a sip of honey, he drank it, and then he died." So, I entered upon Ali and informed him, and he said: "For the hands and for the mouth." Ibn Bukayr said, and al-Layth added: "And this reached Muawiyah and Amr, and Amr said: 'Indeed, Allah has armies from honey.'" News of his death reached Ali ibn Abi Talib (peace be upon him), and he appointed Muhammad ibn Abi Bakr as governor of Egypt in his place.

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Reference: Tarikh e Damishq Book 56

Hadith No: 6
Ibn Asakir - Tarikh Damishq (History of Damascus) - Letter M
7165 - Malik ibn al-Harith ibn Abd Yaghuth ibn Muslima ibn Rabia ...
Volume: (56) - Page Number: (391)
[The text is lengthy, so only the relevant excerpt is provided here]
- .... And Abu al-Husayn, Abu al-Ghana'im, and the wording is his, said: I am: Abd al-Wahhab ibn Muhammad, Ibn Khayrun and Muhammad ibn al-Hasan added: I am: Ahmad ibn Abdān. Muhammad ibn Sahal narrated to us, from al-Bukhari, who said: Abdullah ibn Muhammad narrated to us, from Abd al-Razzaq, who said: from Ma'mar from al-Zuhri, who said: Ali sent al-Ashtar as an emir to Egypt until he reached Qulzum, where he drank a sip of honey, and in it was his death. Then Amr ibn al-As said: Indeed, Allah has armies of honey. And Ali sent Muhammad ibn Abi Bakr as an emir to Egypt.

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Reference: Tarikh e Damishq Book 56

Hadith No: 7
Al-Hamawi - Mu'jam al-Buldan - B - Chapter on the letter Ba and Ain and what follows them - Baalbek
Volume: (1) - Page Number: (454)
[The text is lengthy, so only the relevant excerpt is provided here]
- .... Indeed, al-Ashtar died at al-Qulzum on his way to Egypt, and Ali (may he be pleased with him and in good spirits) had appointed him as commander. It is said that Muawiya sent him honey mixed with poison, which he ate, and thus he died at al-Qulzum. Muawiya then said: "Indeed, Allah has armies of honey." It is said that he was transferred to Medina and buried there, and his grave in the city is well-known.

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Reference: Mo'jam al-Buldaan Book 1