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
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