Anonymous user
Maytham al-Tammar: Difference between revisions
m
no edit summary
imported>Bahrami mNo edit summary |
imported>Bahrami mNo edit summary |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
'''Maytham al-Tammār al-Asadī al-Kūfī''' (میثم التمار الأسدی الکوفی) (d. 60/692) was a devout and loyal companion of [[Imam 'Ali | '''Maytham al-Tammār al-Asadī al-Kūfī''' (میثم التمار الأسدی الکوفی) (d. 60/692) was a devout and loyal companion of [[Imam 'Ali (a) ]]. Although there isn't alot of detailed information available about his life, he is known for being a date-seller in [[Kufa]] who had many outstanding qualities. Maytham was executed by the [[Ummayad]] governor before [[the event of Karbala]]. | ||
[[File:Tomb of Maytham al-Tammar in kufi.jpg|thumbnail|300px| Tomb of Maytham al-tammar in [[Kufa]]- [[Iraq]]]] | [[File:Tomb of Maytham al-Tammar in kufi.jpg|thumbnail|300px| Tomb of Maytham al-tammar in [[Kufa]]- [[Iraq]]]] | ||
==Name== | ==Name== | ||
Maytham was a non-Arab, and because he was the slave of an Asadi woman, he was ascribed to the tribe of [[Bani Asad]]. Later, he was bought and then freed by [[Imam 'Ali | Maytham was a non-Arab, and because he was the slave of an Asadi woman, he was ascribed to the tribe of [[Bani Asad]]. Later, he was bought and then freed by [[Imam 'Ali (a) ]]. When Imam 'Ali (a) asked him his name, he answered: "Salim". Imam 'Ali (a) said, "The Prophet informed me that your Persian parents named you Maytham." Imam 'Ali (a) then asked him to return to the name which the Prophet called him and he accepted, and was therefore called Abu Salim. His other title was Abu Salih. | ||
==Life== | ==Life== | ||
Maytham was a date-seller in the bazaar of [[Kufa]]; therefore, he was given the title of "al-Tammar", "seller of dates". There are also a few accounts that he was a melon-seller in ''Dar al-Rizq'' (probably the name of a locality in Kufa). | Maytham was a date-seller in the bazaar of [[Kufa]]; therefore, he was given the title of "al-Tammar", "seller of dates". There are also a few accounts that he was a melon-seller in ''Dar al-Rizq'' (probably the name of a locality in Kufa). | ||
Maytham was a companion of [[Imam 'Ali | Maytham was a companion of [[Imam 'Ali (a) ]], [[Imam al-Hasan (a)]] and [[Imam al-Husayn (a)]], but he is best known as a devout follower of Imam 'Ali (a). He was a devoted and sincere lover of [[the Prophet]] (s) and his [[household (a) ]], and they were also affectionate towards him. As reported by [[Umm Salama]], the Prophet (s) praised Maytham many times during his life. | ||
Maytham received great spiritual knowledge from the [[Ahl al-Bayt | Maytham received great spiritual knowledge from the [[Ahl al-Bayt (a) ]]. Imam 'Ali (a) taught him the secrets of vicegerency and informed him of unseen matters. | ||
==Family== | ==Family== | ||
His sons, Salih, Shu'ayb and Hamzah, followed their father in being loyal partisans of the [[Ahl al-Bayt | His sons, Salih, Shu'ayb and Hamzah, followed their father in being loyal partisans of the [[Ahl al-Bayt (a) ]]. His grandchildren were among the companions of the [[Imams]] and narrators of [[hadith]]. One of his descendants, [[Ali b. Isma'il b. Shu'ayb b. Maytham]], became a great [[Shia theologian]] and wrote some early theological books. | ||
==Foretelling== | ==Foretelling== | ||
Maytham foretold the death of [[Mu'awiya]], the martyrdom of [[Imam Husayn | Maytham foretold the death of [[Mu'awiya]], the martyrdom of [[Imam al-Husayn (a) ]], his own execution and the release of [[Mukhtar b. Abi ‘ubayda al-Thaqafi]] from prison. | ||
==Works== | ==Works== | ||
Maytham wrote a commentary of the [[Qur'an]] from what he had learned from [[Imam 'Ali | Maytham wrote a commentary of the [[Qur'an]] from what he had learned from [[Imam 'Ali (a) ]]. According to one account, Maytham told [[Ibn Abbas]] that Imam Ali had taught him the knowledge of [[Ta'wil]] (hidden meaning of the Qur'an). He asked Ibn Abbas to ask him any question about the interpretation of the Qur'an, and Ibn Abbas questioned him and wrote down his answers. When Maytham foretold the story of his own martyrdom, Ibn Abbas became suspicious about him and decided to destroy the writings. Maytham asked him not to do that and said, "Keep yourself from doing that until my prophecy is fulfilled; if it does not happen, destroy my interpretations". | ||
Maytham is also said to have compiled a hadith collection from which his descendants narrated. Some of these narrations are available in references. These narrations are about love and hatred towards [[Ahl al-Bayt | Maytham is also said to have compiled a hadith collection from which his descendants narrated. Some of these narrations are available in references. These narrations are about love and hatred towards [[Ahl al-Bayt (a) ]], the precedence of [[Kufa Mosque]] over [[Bayt al-Maqdis]], the hatred of hypocrites towards Imam 'Ali (a), the four-time confession of fornication and its penalty and other stories about the judgments of Imam 'Ali (a). | ||
Maytham was an outspoken and eloquent speaker who astonished even [[Ibn Ziyad]] with his words. His speeches against the [[Ummayad]] caliphate made him famous for his hatred of injustice. | Maytham was an outspoken and eloquent speaker who astonished even [[Ibn Ziyad]] with his words. His speeches against the [[Ummayad]] caliphate made him famous for his hatred of injustice. | ||
==Imam 'Ali (a) and Maytham al-Tammar== | ==Imam 'Ali (a) and Maytham al-Tammar== | ||
He was a member of ''[[Shurta al-Khamis]]'' (the especial Guards of [[Imam 'Ali | He was a member of ''[[Shurta al-Khamis]]'' (the especial Guards of [[Imam 'Ali (a) ]]), who pledged themselves to fight with Imam 'Ali (a) in all battles and support him in all hardships. | ||
Since there is no report of Maytham's presence in any battle with Imam 'Ali (a), it is thought that he became acquainted with Imam 'Ali (a) in the last years of the Imam's life. This is also indicated by some narrations reported by Maytham about the events of the last years of leadership of Imam 'Ali (a), such as the invasion of the partisans of [[Mu'awiya]] to the districts of Heet and Anbar and their killing of women and children. | Since there is no report of Maytham's presence in any battle with Imam 'Ali (a), it is thought that he became acquainted with Imam 'Ali (a) in the last years of the Imam's life. This is also indicated by some narrations reported by Maytham about the events of the last years of leadership of Imam 'Ali (a), such as the invasion of the partisans of [[Mu'awiya]] to the districts of Heet and Anbar and their killing of women and children. | ||
| Line 32: | Line 32: | ||
While cursing Imam 'Ali (a) and his partisans, Mu'awiya also cursed Maytham. | While cursing Imam 'Ali (a) and his partisans, Mu'awiya also cursed Maytham. | ||
After the demise of Imam 'Ali (a), Maytham became a devout companion of [[Imam Hasan]] and [[Imam Husayn | After the demise of Imam 'Ali (a), Maytham became a devout companion of [[Imam al-Hasan (a)]] and [[Imam al-Husayn (a)]]. Imam al-Husayn was affectionate towards Maytham and treated him kindly. In 60 AH Maytham went to [[Mecca]] to perform [[‘Umrah]], but could not meet Imam al-Husayn (a). [[Umm Salama]] informed him of Imam al-Husayn (a)'s situation. Maytham then asked Umm Salama to pass his greetings to Imam al-Husayn (a) and to tell him that he would meet the Imam in paradise. | ||
Imam 'Ali (a) had promised Maytham a high level in paradise beside himself for his resistance against the governor of [[Kufa]], [[‘Ubayd Allah b. Ziyad]]. The Imam had also informed Maytham of his [[martyrdom]], the name of his killer and the story of his execution on a palm tree. He even showed him the exact tree on which he was going to be hung. It is reported that Maytham prayed beside that tree and talked to it. He told the story of his martyrdom to his friends, but once when he told [[Habib b. Mazahir]] in front of others, people began to mock him. | Imam 'Ali (a) had promised Maytham a high level in paradise beside himself for his resistance against the governor of [[Kufa]], [[‘Ubayd Allah b. Ziyad]]. The Imam had also informed Maytham of his [[martyrdom]], the name of his killer and the story of his execution on a palm tree. He even showed him the exact tree on which he was going to be hung. It is reported that Maytham prayed beside that tree and talked to it. He told the story of his martyrdom to his friends, but once when he told [[Habib b. Mazahir]] in front of others, people began to mock him. | ||
| Line 41: | Line 41: | ||
According to the first account, the governor of [[Kufa]], [[Ibn Ziyad]], was ordered by [[Yazid]], the [[Ummayad]] caliph, to arrest Maytham and execute him. Ibn Ziyad then asked the chief of Maytham's tribe to surrender Maytham or be killed. Maytham was arrested on his way back from [[Mecca]] to [[Kufa]], probably in [[Qadisiyya]]. In the prison of Kufa, he met [[Mukhtar al-Thaqafi]] and foretold Mukhtar's release from prison. | According to the first account, the governor of [[Kufa]], [[Ibn Ziyad]], was ordered by [[Yazid]], the [[Ummayad]] caliph, to arrest Maytham and execute him. Ibn Ziyad then asked the chief of Maytham's tribe to surrender Maytham or be killed. Maytham was arrested on his way back from [[Mecca]] to [[Kufa]], probably in [[Qadisiyya]]. In the prison of Kufa, he met [[Mukhtar al-Thaqafi]] and foretold Mukhtar's release from prison. | ||
According to the second account, Maytham, along with some businessmen from Kufa, went to Ibn Ziyad to protest the injustice of his agent in the bazaar. There, ‘Amr b. Hurayth, the commander of the Kufian army, called Maytham a liar and a partisan of the liar (meaning [[Imam 'Ali | According to the second account, Maytham, along with some businessmen from Kufa, went to Ibn Ziyad to protest the injustice of his agent in the bazaar. There, ‘Amr b. Hurayth, the commander of the Kufian army, called Maytham a liar and a partisan of the liar (meaning [[Imam 'Ali (a) ]]). In response, Maytham called himself a truthful partisan of the truthful one. Ibn Ziyad then ordered Maytham to curse Imam 'Ali (a) and praise [[Uthman b. ‘Affan]] and threatened to cut off his arms and legs if he didn't. Maytham chose martyrdom. He told Ibn Ziyad that Imam 'Ali (a) had said Ibn Ziyad would cut off his tongue. Ibn Ziyad wanted to prove the words Imam 'Ali (a)to be wrong; therefore, he ordered the cutting of Maytham's arms and legs only, and hung him beside the house of ‘Amr b. Hurayth. | ||
After being hung, Maytham miraculously called people loudly to gather around him and listen to some narrations from Imam 'Ali (a). He then talked about the virtues of [[Bani Hashim]] and the evil of the [[Umayyads]]. | After being hung, Maytham miraculously called people loudly to gather around him and listen to some narrations from Imam 'Ali (a). He then talked about the virtues of [[Bani Hashim]] and the evil of the [[Umayyads]]. | ||
| Line 49: | Line 49: | ||
==Death== | ==Death== | ||
[[File:Portal of tomb of Maytham al-tammar.jpg|thumbnail|300px| Portal of tomb of Maytham al-Tammar]] | [[File:Portal of tomb of Maytham al-tammar.jpg|thumbnail|300px| Portal of tomb of Maytham al-Tammar]] | ||
Some sources report that after being hung, he was struck by a spear in his stomach, and said, "[[Allah-u Akbar]]", before blood gushed out from his mouth and nose. He passed away in [[Zul Hijjah]] 60 AH, before the arrival of [[Imam Husayn | Some sources report that after being hung, he was struck by a spear in his stomach, and said, "[[Allah-u Akbar]]", before blood gushed out from his mouth and nose. He passed away in [[Zul Hijjah]] 60 AH, before the arrival of [[Imam al-Husayn (a) ]] in [[Iraq]]. | ||
Under the orders of Ibn Ziyad, Maytham's body was left hanging for a few days. Finally, some date sellers stole his corpse and buried him in the lands of the Murad tribe. | Under the orders of Ibn Ziyad, Maytham's body was left hanging for a few days. Finally, some date sellers stole his corpse and buried him in the lands of the Murad tribe. | ||
| Line 61: | Line 61: | ||
[[Category:The companions of Imam ʿAli(a)]] | [[Category:The companions of Imam ʿAli(a)]] | ||
[[Category:The companions of Imam al-Mujtaba(a)]] | [[Category:The companions of Imam al-Mujtaba(a)]] | ||
[[Category:The companions of Imam Husayn(a)]] | [[Category:The companions of Imam al-Husayn(a)]] | ||
[[Category:Shiʿa hadith transmitters]] | [[Category:Shiʿa hadith transmitters]] | ||
[[Category:Shurtat al-khamis]] | [[Category:Shurtat al-khamis]] | ||