Al-Sayyid Isma'il al-Himyari: Difference between revisions

Sayyid Himyari is introduced as a good-looking person who had eloquence and fluency of speech and delicacy of manner. He had a good knowledge of the Qu'an, hadiths, fiqh, history of Islam, conduct of the Prophet (s) and Imams (a) and brought almost all hadiths about the merits of Imam Ali (a) and criticized his dissidents in his poems.

He was powerful in debates with Sunni dissidents. He mentioned the reasons for caliphate and wilaya of Imam Ali (a), proofs for Shia beliefs, rejection of dissidents' sayings and examples of the usurpers of the rights of the Ahl al-Bayt (a) with a sharp language showing tawalla and tabarra [friendship with the Ahl al-Bayt (a) and rejection of their enemies]. He was safe from harassment of Sunni bigots since the leaders of Twelver Shia, Abbasid caliphs and rulers praised and defended him, for he criticized Umayyads, praised Bani Hashim and defended Abbasid caliphs.

It is said that Mansur Abbasi dismissed Sawar b. 'Abd Allah because of his disrespect toward Sayyid Himyari and despite Sawar's dislike, gifted a farm in Basra to Himyari to make a living.