Wednesday, July 2, 2014

DISCIPLE AND COMPANION OF IMAM ALI (A.S.) - MAYTHAM AL-TAMMAR (R.A.)

Maytham bin Yahiya was an early Muslim scholar, a companion and disciple of Imam Ali (a.s.). He was born in Nihrawan, Iraq, an area near the historic city of Kufa.
A lady from Banu Assad bought Maytham as a slave and he was with her till the apparent caliphate of Imam Ali (a.s.).
Maytham had three titles; Mawali, Tammar, and al-Kufi. Mawali means a slave of Persian origin. Tammar is derived from the root word “Tammer” means dates. Tammar means a person selling dates. Maytham owned a market store in Kufa selling dates and other fruits. The meaning of al-Kufi is self-evident.
Prophecy about Maytham al-Tammar: According to the historical records, The Noble Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.) told Imam Ali (a.s.) that one day he (Ali) would have a group of loyal companions (including Maytham). Ummul Momineen Umm Salma narrates: “There are many nights, I heard Rasul Allah praising Maytham al-Tammar in front of Ali ibn Abi Talib saying he would be a loyal companion unlike others.” Maytham did not live in Madinah at that time and was thousands of miles away in Iraq, and never met during the life time of the Prophet until his (Imam Ali’s) caliphate.
Freedom from slavery: Commander of the Faithful, Imam Ali (a.s.), when he became the Caliph of Muslims, moved the capital from Madinah to Kufa. Imam Ali (a.s.) would earn his living independent of Muslim treasury (Bait-ul-Maal). H e would go around the city and buy the slaves and set them free. Islam established that slavery is immoral and that all humans are equal in the perspective of Allah. The only thing that differentiates humans is “Taqwa”. Islam called for a gradual emancipation of slavery. One day, Imam Ali (a.s.) saw a lady from Banu Assad, had a male slave of Persian origin, Saalim. They started negotiations, and the lady started with an asking price of 50 dinars. Imam Ali (a.s.) gave her 50 dinars; she changed the price to 100 dinars. Ultimately she agreed on 500 dinars. After buying Saalim, he set him free.
Imam Ali (a.s.) called Salim by his original name, Maytham. Maytham was surprised that his original name was only known to his mother.  He was impressed by Imam Ali (a.s.)’s great knowledge at the first encounter!
Incident of counterfeit money: Imam Ali (a.s.) used to visit Maytham at his market shop of dates and sit with him. This was the height of humility! The Caliph of the Muslim world was sitting next to date seller. Once, while Imam Ali (a.s.) was at his shop, he asked Maytham to take a break and he will take care of his shop. A shopper came and bought four dates or as per some narrations dates worth four dinars. He gave counterfeit money. When Maytham returned and saw the fake money, he was upset. Imam Ali (a.s.) advised him to be patient and that the shopper will come back! And he did come back and complained that the dates were bitter. Imam Ali (a.s.) replied to him that the dates were bitter because your money was bitter (fake). The man was surprised and astonished, but took his fake money and went away.
Teachings of Imam Ali (a.s.): As the” Gateway of Knowledge” of the “City of Knowledge”, the Noble Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.), he taught and trained many Muslims and non-Muslims. Among these scholars was Maytham al-Tammar. He taught Maytham many secrets about faith, religion, and the world. In addition, he taught Maytham many branches of knowledge, including “Ilm-e-Manaya wal Balaya” (deep knowledge of future events) and “Ilm-e-Taweel” (interpretation and exegesis of the Glorious Qur’an). One day he told the nation’s scholar, Abdullah ibn Abbas: “Ask me whatever you want about the explanations of the Glorious Qur’an. I have learned everything from Imam Ali (a.s.)”
Similarly, Maytham said: “Ali ibn Abi Talib taught us the first lesson in life that whatever job you have as a human being, if your earning is halal, it’s a worship of Allah!” He had also composed a book on the Imamate. He is reported to be the first Shia theologian to uphold the principle of leadership chosen by Allah (Ahlul Bayt). According to the famous Tusi, he was the first to expound the imamate theological doctrine.
Prophecy of his death:  Imam Ali (a.s.) told him that he will be hanged for the love of the Imam on the tree next to the house of Amr ibn Huraith and that his tongue would be cut out because he would not stop praising the Imam. It is reported that he would go to that tree periodically and water it and pray near it saying: “O tree! You are for me and I am for you.” Ubaidullah ibn Ziyad became the governor of Kufa and arrested or killed all Shias. Maytham was also arrested and met Mukhtar al-Thaqafi  in the prison. He told Mukhtar: “My master Imam Ali had told me that you will avenge the Martyrdom of Imam Hussayn (a.s.) and that Ubaidullh’s head will be presented to you and you will kick his head!” He also told Abdullah ibn Harith: “You will rule Basrah!” Also, he told Amr ibn Huraith: “One day, I will be your neighbor; treat me kindly!”
The End: Ubaidullah ibn Ziyad summoned Maytham and asked: “Where is your Allah?” Maytham replied: “He is lying in wait for the oppressors, and you are one of them!” Ibn Ziyad asked Maytham to disown Imam Ali (a.s.) to which he refused. Ibn Ziyad threatened to kill him. Maytham said: “By Allah! Imam Ali had told me that you will kill me, cut my hands and my legs and my tongue.” Ibn Ziyad said: “Your Imam is a liar” Maytham was hanged but his tongue was still reciting the praises of Imam Ali (a.s.). Ultimately, the tyrant Ibn Ziyad ordered his tongue to be cut. One ponders on the quality of this so called Muslim!
The hanged body of Maytham was protected by Ibn Ziyad’s soldiers and would not allow it to be buried. One night, seven other date-sellers managed to take away his body and buried it.
Sources:
                Master and mastership                                                         by Ayatullah Mutaza Mutahhari (r.a.)
                Maytham Al-Tammar                                                           by Kamal al-Sayyid
                WIKIPEDIA


No comments:

Post a Comment