Maytham Al-Tammar

Miytham ibn Yaḥyā al-Tammār al-Asadī al-Kūfī or Miytham al-Tammar was an early Islamic scholar, a companion and disciple of Ali ibn Abi Talib.

Birth and early life Maytham ibn Yaḥyā was born at Nahrawān, an area near Kūfa. He was the son of Yaḥyā, hence, ibn Yaḥyā (which means son of Yaḥyā).

Early life A lady from Banu Asad bought Maytham (as a slave).

Maytham's titles As a slave of 'Nabataean' (Aramaic-speaking) origin living in Kufa, Maytham originally was a (a non-Arab client of an Arab tribe). But after Maytham was freed from the shackles of slavery, he no longer was addressed as a . The second and most famous title given to Maytham was al-Tammār, stems from the Arabic word Tammār. In Arabic, Tamr means dates (a type of fruit). In Hebrew, Tamar means palm tree, date palm, or dates. Maytham received the title al-Tammar because he owned a market store in Kufa where he would sell dates and other types of fruit. Al-Kūfī simply means a person from Kufa.

Freedom from slavery After the time of Muhammad and the death of Uthman, Ali succeeded him as the fourth Rashidun Caliph, in the year 656 AD. As the new caliph, Ali moved the Islamic capital from Medina to Kufa for two reasons: to keep Mu'awiya I in check, The only thing that differentiates a human is their Taqwa. Islam called for a gradual emancipation of slaves. Meaning that masters/owners should not just set slaves free but they should help them build a foundation financially so that they (slaves) could support themselves. Thus, Imam Ali took Maytham under his wings after he freed Maytham. Moreover, a person who frees a slave is showered with blessing and would be protected from hell fire.

Maytham's first encounter with Ali

After Ali set him free, he greeted Salim by the name Maytham.

The Counterfeit Money Incident The caliph, Ali, would at times visit the market place of Kufa. 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 Ali)." Among these religious scholars was Maytham al-Tammar. It is documented that Ali would take Maytham to a nearby desert in the middle of the night to teach him about future affairs/matters/events. Maytham and Mukhtar would hold conversations in prison but later on the orders of Ubayd-Allah ibn Ziyad he was ordered to be hanged for creating mischief. 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 Ali, 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 Husayn ibn Ali came to Iraq." Husayn entered Sharraf, on the border of Iraq and Hejaz on the 25th of Dhu'l-Hijja 60 AH.

Violence at Maytham al-Tammar's Shrine In 2006, a suicide bomber detonated his vehicle implosive explosive device near the shrine of Maytham al-Tammar in Kufa, Iraq. He detonated his vehicle bomb in between two vans carrying Iranian pilgrims. Twelve innocent civilians were killed and 37 more were injured as a result of the car bomb. Out of the 12 killed 8 were Iranians and out of the 37 that were injured 22 of them were Iranian.