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Maytham al-Tammār al-Asadī al-Kūfī (d. 60/680) was a devout and loyal companion of Imam Ali (a) . Although there isn't a lot 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.

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.

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 (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 (a). Imam Ali (a) taught him the secrets of the position of succession.

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 Shi'a theologian and wrote some early theological books.

Maytham foretold the death of Mu'awiya, the martyrdom of Imam al-Husayn (a), his own execution and the release of Mukhtar b. Abi 'Ubayd al-Thaqafi from prison.

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 (a) 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 of 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".

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Other featured articles: Al-Kafi (book) – Imam al-Hasan b. Ali al-Askari (a) – Al-'Abbas (a)