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'{{Refimprove|date=October 2010}} {{Infobox person | honorific_prefix = | name = Maytham ibn Yahyā <br> {{small|{{lang-ar|ميثم ابن يـحيى التمار}}}} | honorific_suffix =Titles: al-Tammar {{small|{{lang-ar|التمار}}}} | image = | image_size = 220px | alt = | caption = | birth_name = | birth_date = <!-- {{Birth date and age|YYYY|MM|DD}} --> | birth_place = | disappeared_date = <!-- {{Disappeared date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}} (disappeared date then birth date) --> | disappeared_place = | disappeared_status = | death_date = 23 Dhul-Hijjah 60 H (September 24, 680 AD). | death_place = [[Kufa]], [[Iraq]] | death_cause = | body_discovered = | resting_place = | resting_place_coordinates ={{coord|32|00|25|N|44|20|19|E|region:IQ_source:kolossus-fawik}} | monuments = | residence = | nationality = | other_names = | ethnicity = <!-- Ethnicity should be supported with a citation from a reliable source --> Persian | citizenship = | education = | alma_mater = | occupation = [[Phoenix dactylifera|Date]] Sales Man | years_active = | known_for = Being a companion of [[Imam Ali]] | notable_works = | style = | influences = [[Prophet Muhammad]] and [[Imam Ali]] | influenced = | home_town = | movement = | opponents = Enemies of [[Allah]], [[Islam]], [[Prophet Muhammad]], and the [[Ahl al-Bayt]] | religion = [[Islam]] | denomination = <!-- It's referenced correctly! He was a supporter of Ali and therefore entitles him to be labelled as such! --> [[Shia]] | spouse = | children = | parents = Father: Yahyā | relatives = | awards = | module = | module2 = | footnotes = | box_width = }} '''Maytham ibn Yahyā al-Tammār''' ({{lang-ar|'''ميثم ابن يـحيى التمار'''}}) was an early Islamic scholar, a companion and disciple of [[Ali|Ali ibn Abi Talib]] and a forefather of [[Sufism]].<ref>{{cite book|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=Be5DeNM8d1EC&pg=PA55&dq=Maytham+al-Tammar&hl=en&sa=X&ei=1J_PUbyWDI_LsgbSkIGYAQ&ved=0CGMQ6AEwBw#v=onepage&q=Maytham%20al-Tammar&f=false |title=Shiʻite Islam |first=Muhammad Husayn |last=Tabatabaei |authorlink=Muhammad Husayn Tabatabaei |year=1977 |publisher=SUNY Press |edition=2nd |isbn=9780791494608 |page=55}}</ref> ==Birth== Unfortunately, not a lot is known about Maytham's birth. Except for the fact that he is the son of Yahyā . Hence, ibn Yahyā (means son of Yahyā). (Please add if you know) ==Maytham's Titles== (will add section soon) Mawali or Mawla (a slave of persian origin living in Kufa) Tammer means dates. Maytham had a market store where he would sell dates. ==Prophecy About Maytham al-Tammar== Prophet Muhammad use praise Maytham al-Tammar and he would tell Imam Ali that one day your going to have a group of loyal companions (one of whom was Maytham). [[Umm Salama]], a wife of Prophet Muhammad, narrates, "There are many nights I heard [[Rasulallah]] (Prophet Muhammad) praising (Maytham al-Tammar) in front of [[Ali ibn Abi Talib]]. In the middle of the night Rasulallah would tell Ali, Ali you know your going to have some loyal companions and of those loyal ones, you'll have Maytham al-Tammar. He will be a loyal companion unlike others.<ref>Nashawani, Ammar. "Biography of Maytham Al-Tammar." YouTube. Jaffari Community Centre, 29 Nov. 2011. Web. 05 July 2013. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27Dv7P78xiI>.</ref> With that said Maytham did not live in [[Madina]]. He was thousands of miles away and never even met Imam Ali. ==Freedom From Slavery== After the time of Prophet Muhammad, Imam Ali became [[Caliph]] in the year 656. As the new caliph (after [[Uthman ibn Affan]]'s death), Imam Ali moved the Islamic capital from [[Medina]] to [[Kufa]]. Moving to Kufa, Imam Ali use to go around (Kufa) and if he encountered a slave he would try to free him/her.<ref>Nashawani, Ammar. "Biography of Maytham Al-Tammar." YouTube. Jaffari Community Centre, 29 Nov. 2011. Web. 05 July 2013. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27Dv7P78xiI>.</ref> One day, Imam Ali saw a lady (unfortunately the lady's name is not known) from [[Banu Asad]] who had a male slave of persian origin (Mawali). Imam Ali approached the woman and began to converse with her. :Imam Ali: "Oh lady, I want to buy that slave who is working for you." :Lady: "Who, Salim?" :Imam Ali: "Yes." :Lady: "Why do you want to buy him?" :Imam Ali: "No, I believe it is someone that I can purchase at the right price. You tell me the price, I will purchase him." :Lady: "50 [[Dinar]] and you'll have Salim." :Imam Ali gave her the 50 dinar. But then the lady tough if he is giving freely then I should raise the price. :Lady: "100 Dinar." :Imam Ali: "Here is 100 Dinar." :Lady: "150" :Imam Ali: "Here is 150 Dinar." :The lady kept raising the price. :A companion then asked Imam Ali: "O Amir al-Momineen (Imam Ali), who is this guy? What is he? He's originally a persian, his a slave, what the point of pay this much." :The lady kept raising the price all the way up to 500 dinars. :Imam Ali: "Thats how much I want him." :Lady: "Salim come here. This person has purchased you."<ref>Nashawani, Ammar. "Biography of Maytham Al-Tammar." YouTube. Jaffari Community Centre, 29 Nov. 2011. Web. 05 July 2013. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27Dv7P78xiI>.</ref> Imam Ali set him free in the way of [[Allah]]. === Maytham's First Encounter with Imam Ali === After Imam Ali set him free. The following dialog occurred. :Imam Ali: "[[As-salamu alaykum|Salamu alaykum]] Maytham." :Salim: "What did you say?" :<nowiki>Imam Ali: "Salamu alaykum Maytham."</nowiki> :Salim: "Nobody knows my name except my parents. How did you know my name?" :Imam Ali: "Do not worry, there are areas of knowledge that I may know, which you do not know. Come near me. I want you to come with me." :Salim: "How did you know my name? There is no one in [[Kufa]] that knows me by Maytham. My mother named me Maytham. Only a person of great knowledge knows that thats my original name." :Imam Ali: "Come with me do not worry."<ref>Nashawani, Ammar. "Biography of Maytham Al-Tammar." YouTube. Jaffari Community Centre, 29 Nov. 2011. Web. 05 July 2013. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27Dv7P78xiI>.</ref> It is said that Imam Ali told Salim, "Your name is Maytham, your Iranian, your from Iranian origin. Be proud of your Iranian origin."<ref>Razawi, Ali Abbas. "Maytham Al-Tammar." YouTube. N.p., 25 Jan. 2013. Web. 05 July 2013. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fl_Dm02aUA>.</ref> ==Maytham's Views of Imam Ali== Maytham viewed Imam Ali in a very positive light. He saw him as a humble and down to earth [[Caliph]], who sought to teach his fellow citizens manners, religion, and a good lifestyle. Maytham himself says, "Only Allah knows what lessons I learned from Ali ibn Abi Talib. I didn't find a human on this earth like Amir al-Momineen (Imam Ali). If you want to see the embodiment of humility, then see what I saw with Ali ibn Abi Talib.<ref>Nashawani, Ammar. "Biography of Maytham Al-Tammar." YouTube. Jaffari Community Centre, 29 Nov. 2011. Web. 05 July 2013. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27Dv7P78xiI>.</ref>He also says, "Ali ibn Abi Talib is the caliph of the state and I am a Tammar (date seller). Amir al-Momineen would come and sit by me. I would be there, I would sell dates. He would come and sit near me. Which king would sit next to a man selling dates. Whereas Ali ibn Abi Talib would come, sit near me. Look at the humility of the man (referring to Imam Ali)."<ref>Nashawani, Ammar. "Biography of Maytham Al-Tammar." YouTube. Jaffari Community Centre, 29 Nov. 2011. Web. 05 July 2013. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27Dv7P78xiI>.</ref> ==Teachings of Imam Ali== Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib took Maytham under his wings, he taught Maytham many secrets about faith, religion, and the world. In addition, he taught Maytham many branches of knowledge which included ''ilm-e-Manaya wal Balaya'' (the knowledge of death and future calamities) and ''ilm-e-Taweel'' (interpretation and exegesis of Quran). At times with the permission of his master, Maytham used to acquaint the public about the deep secrets learnt by him. At times on account of the frank speech of Maytham people used to think that Maytham had lost his head. They could hardly understand the depth of his words. Teachins narrated my Maytham : "Ali ibn Abi Talib taught us the first lesson in life that what ever job you have as a human being, if your earning wealth in [[Halal]] its a worship of [[Allah]] (God)."<ref>Nashawani, Ammar. "Biography of Maytham Al-Tammar." YouTube. Jaffari Community Centre, 29 Nov. 2011. Web. 05 July 2013. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27Dv7P78xiI>.</ref> ==Prophecy of death== Once Ali ibn Abi Talib, told Maytham that he would be hanged on account of the love for the Imam of his time. He also gave the address and told him that he would be hanged in a farm next to the house of Amr lbn Huraith. The tree on which he would be hanged was the smallest of the ten trees existing in the farm at that time. Maytham was also informed that his tongue would be cut out because he would not stop praising his Imam of time (Ali ibn Abi Talib). After getting this information, it is recorded in history that, Maytham used to go to the tree pointed out by Ali ibn Abi Talib, clean the place and water the tree and offer prayers saying, "Oh tree! You are for me and I am for you. Months and years passed by, Ali was martyred then [[Hasan ibn Ali]] (the [[Imamah (Shi'a doctrine)|Second Shī`a Imām]]) was martyred and Maytham kept waiting for the time. ==Confrontation with ibn Ziyad== Finally on 60 [[Hijra (Islam)|A.H.]], when [[Ubayd-Allah ibn Ziyad]] was appointed as the Governor of [[Kufa]], things started to get complicated. Maytham then went to perform [[Hajj]] and thereafter returned to Kufa. One day, Ubayd-Allah ibn Ziyad, called him and asked him to come to his Court, and said, "Oh Maytham! Inform me where your Allah is?" Maytham immediately replied. "He is in quest of an opportunity to punish the transgressors." Ubayd-Allah ibn Ziyad then asked him about his connections with Ali ibn Abi Talib. Maytham replied that Ali ibn Abi Talib was his master and that he loved him. Ubayd-Allah ibn Ziyad then asked him, "Did your master tell you anything about your end?" Maytham replied, "Yes, he informed me that I would be hanged and that my tongue would be cut." Ubayd-Allah ibn Ziyad sent a roar of laughter and said, "I will see that your master did not tell you the truth. I will see that his prophecy is belied." Maytham said, "My master's words are true because he got that information from Allah. The Islamic Prophet Muhammad was informed by Jibril, and Jibril came with the message of Allah." ==Final days and death== Ubayd-Allah ibn Ziyad ordered Maytham to be jailed. Maytham escaped from jail and joined [[Al-Mukhtar]]. Al-Mukhtar had risen in revolt to avenge the massacre of [[Battle of Karbala|Karbala]]. Discussions took place between Al-Mukhtar and Maytham. Revenge was planned. But Maytham was caught by the order of Ubayd-Allah ibn Ziyad and was ordered to be hanged. Maytham was brought to the same tree to be hanged as pointed out by Ali ibn Abi Talib. Maytham began singing the praises of his master, and about a thousand people gathered to see Maytham being hanged. Even after being hanged, the tongue of Maytham went on singing the praises of Ali ibn Abi Talib. Ubayd-Allah ibn Ziyad was informed about this and the tyrant ordered that the tongue of Maytham to be cut and thus the prophecy of Ali ibn Abi Talib came true and Maytham died after his tongue was cut out. The book ''Nafasul Mahmoom'' states that "Maytham was martyred ten days before Imam Husain (a.s.) came to Iraq." Imam Hussein entered Sharraf, on the border of Iraq and Hijaz on the 25th of Dhul Hijjah 60AH. <ref>http://www.aimislam.com/ashura/nafasul.html#Martyrdom%20of%20Meesam%20bin%20Yahya%20at%20Tammar</ref> == See also == * Islamic Prophet [[Muhammad]] * [[Ali ibn Abi Talib]] * [[Hasan ibn Ali]] * [[Husayn ibn Ali]] * [[Ali ibn Hussayn]] * [[Muhammad al-Baqir]] * [[Ja'far al-Sadiq]] * [[Musa al-Kazim]] * [[Ali al-Rida]] * [[Muhammad al-Taqi]] * [[Ali al-Hadi]] * [[Hasan al-Askari]] * [[Muhammad al-Mahdi]] * [[Abbas ibn Ali]] * [[Muhammad ibn al-Hanafiyyah]] * [[Shiite]]s * [[Hashemite]]s * [[Ahl Al-Bayt]] * [[Nahj al Balagha]] * [[Misconceptions about the Shi'a]] * [[Sahaba]] ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== * [http://www.maaref-foundation.com/english/lib/pro_ahl/imam03_husain/nafasul_mahmoom/17.htm Martyrdom of Maytham] {{Ali's companions}} {{sahaba}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Meesam Tammar}} [[Category:Twelvers]] [[Category:Arab people]] [[Category:Sahabah favored by Shias]] [[Category:Sahabah]] [[Category:History of Islam]] [[Category:Iraqi Shia Muslims]] [[Category:Iraqi people of Iranian descent]]'