Maytham was born at Nahrawan near Kufa. He was from Persia. A woman from Bani Asad bought him. One day, Imam Ali ('a) bought and gave him his freedom.

Maytham lived a simple life. He sold dates in the market of Kufa. Two things grew in his heart: faith in Islam and love for Imam Ali ('a). Imam Ali ('a) taught him that Islam was the only way to freedom. He ('a) liked Maytham because he was a good man. The Imam went to Maytham's shop and taught him about Islam.

Imam Ali ('a) bought Maytham from a woman belonged to Bani Asad. The Imam asked Maytham: “What's your name?”

“Salim,” He answered.

The Imam said: “Allah Apostle (S) has told me that the Persians call you Maytham”1

Imam Ali (‘a) bought Maytham as a servant and then freed him. He asked him what his name was; “Salim”, he said: “But I heard the Prophet (S) saying that your true name was Maytham”2

Maytham was astonished because no one knew his real name. So, he said: “Allah and His Apostle are truthful”3

Maytham said: “He was correct, and you are also correct. My true name is Maytham”

Imam Ali ('a) said: “Then stay with the name mentioned by the Holy Prophet (S) and give up the other name”

Imam Ali ('a) bought and freed him, but he put a bond of love around his neck so that he remained with him up to the last moment of his life. Even death could not break this bond.4

Whoever goes to the desert at night will see the sky full of stars. His heart will be afraid of Allah. Imam Ali ('a) went to the desert at night to say his prayers. He took a friend of his to that desert to teach him a lesson about Islam.

Sometimes, Imam Ali ('a) took Maytham to the desert. He told him about future matters. The Imam had learnt future matters from our Master Muhammad (S).

Maytham listened to Imam Ali's (‘a) words. When the Imam (‘a) said his prayers Maytham said them behind him. He listened with awe to the Imam's (‘a) prayers.

Maytham was brilliant. He got his knowledge from Imam Ali (‘a) (‘a). One day he said to Abdullah Ibn Abbas, the nation's scholar: “Ask me whatever you want about the Qur'an explanation. I've learnt everything from Imam Ali” So, Ibn Abbas sat before Maytham to learn lessons about the Qur'an explanation.5

Maytham was a wonderful man. With his remarkable ability he gradually secured an honourable position among the companions of Imam Ali ('a). He became aware of the realities and could understand their fine distinctions. He had great love for Imam Ali (‘a). He was as fond of him as a thirsty plant is of rain. He took his inspiration from Imam Ali (‘a). With him he lived and in him he remained fully absorbed. Imam Ali ('a) was the light of his heart and the rejoicing of his soul; and he was not willing to lose this rejoicing even to gain all the wealth of the whole world.

One day Imam Ali ('a) said to Maytham “After my death you will be hanged. A spear will be thrust into your body. On the third day your beard will be stained with the blood of your nose and mouth. You will be hanged beside the house of Amr Ibn Hurayth along with nine others. The gallows on which you will be hanged will be the shortest. Come along I'll show you the date-palm from the branches of which you will be ultimately hanged” And then he showed Maytham the tree.

Years passed and Imam Ali ('a) was martyred. The Umayyads gained power over the people. Maytham went out from time to time to look at the tree; offered his prayers and spoke to it thus “Tree, may Allah bless you! I have been created for you and you are growing for me”

In the year of his martyrdom Maytham had the honour of visiting Ka'bah, the House of Allah. There, he met Umme Salama, the Mother of the Faithful. “I've often heard your name from the Holy Prophet (S). He recommended you to Ali,” she said.

Maytham asked about Imam Husayn ('a) and learnt that he had left the city. “Convey my regards to him”, he said, “and tell him that it will not be long before he and I see each other in the presence of our Lord”

Umme Salama ordered perfume to be brought. She applied it to the beard of Maytham. Then she said to him. “Before long your beard will be painted with your own blood” (because of your love for the Prophet and his progeny).

Maytham then went to Kufa, where Ibn Ziyad's agents arrested him. When he was produced before Ibn Ziyad, the following dialogue took place between them:

Ibn Ziyad: “Where is your Allah?”

Maytham: “He is lying in wait for the oppressors, and you are one of them”

Ibn Ziyad: “What did your master Ali say about me and you?”

Maytham: “He said that you will hang me along with nine others, and my gollows will be shorter than those of others”

Ibn Ziyad: “I would like to go against what your master said and kill you in some other way”

Maytham: “How can you? He learnt that from the Prophet and the Prophet learnt it from Allah. Can you go against Allah? I even know the place of my martyrdom. I also know that I am the first Muslim in whose mouth a bridle bit will be laid”

Ubaydullah Ibn Ziyad was enraged. He ordered that for the time being Maytham might be taken back to prison. It was in this very prison that Maytham gave Mukhtar Thaqafi the good news of his release and said: “In revenging for the Doyen of the Martyrs you will kill Ibn Ziyad” And so it was.

At last, Maytham was taken to the place where he was to make supreme sacrifice; to the place of his spiritual rise; the place from which he was to soar to the greatest heights of human spirituality. He was hanged beside the house of Amr Ibn Hurayth from the tree that he already knew. The people gathered round him, and on the gallows, he found a good opportunity to tell them of the virtues of Imam Ali ('a). He spoke and moved the hearts of the people. He made them acquainted with the truth.

Ibn Ziyad was informed that Maytham was defaming him whereupon he ordered him to be gagged so that he might not utter a word further. As Imam Ali ('a) had foretold, a spear was thrust into Maytham's body. “Allahu Akbar”, he cried. At the end of the third day the blood from his mouth and nose flowed down and coloured his beard. May peace of Allah be upon him!6

Another Account Of The Maytham At-Tammar

It was dawn. As usual, Maytham went to the date-palm trunk. He splashed it with water. The good ground sent out a sweet smell. Maytham said two rakat's. Then he put his back against the date-palm trunk. Maytham had visited the date palm for more than twenty years. It had not been a mere dry trunk. It had been a tall date palm before twenty years.

Days, months, and years passed. Maytham said two Raka'as near the date palm. Then he addressed it: “Allah has created you for me. And He has created me for you. Maytham liked that date palm. He watered it when it was green”

One day, he came to the date palm. He found it a dry trunk. He cut the top of the trunk. That tall date palm became a mere short trunk. Still Maytham went on visiting that dry trunk. What was the relationship between him and that date palm?

Amru Ibn Huraith was a leader from Kufa. Maytham said to him: “I'll be your neighbour. Treat me kindly”

Amru said: “Do you want to buy Ibn Masoud's house or Ibn al-Hakim's?” Maytham kept silent.

Amru Ibn Harith was puzzled. He wondered: What does Maytham mean? Days and years passed. Unjust rulers succeeded each other over Kufa. They treated its people rudely. Ziyad Ibn Abeeh became a ruler over Kufa. He began killing Imam Ali's companions. He carried out Mu’awiya orders. Mu’awiya was full of spite. He ordered people to abuse Imam Ali.

The ruler appointed a man to look after the market. The man was unjust. The people complained of his bad treatment. The people were afraid of the man. Thus, they went to Maytham. They asked Maytham to go with them to the prince. They said to him: Maytham, come with us to the prince. Maytham went with them. He met the prince and told him about the rude treatment in the market. A policeman in the palace was displeased with Maytham's words. He said to the prince: “Your Highness, the Prince, do you know this man?”

The prince said: “No! He's a liar! The supporter of a liar!”

The policeman meant that Maytham was one of Imam Ali's companions.

Maytham said: “Surely, I'm truthful! I'm the supporter of a truthful man. Really, he's Amir al-Mu’minin! (the Commander of the Faithful)”

Habeeb Ibn Mudhahir was a good companion. After our Master Muhammad's demise, Habeeb had a close relationship with Imam Ali. One day, Maytham was riding a horse. Habeeb Ibn Mudhahir was riding a horse, too. They met each other before Bani Asad. They had a short talk. Bani Asad listened to their talk. Habeeb said with a smile: “I predict that a bald man with a big belly will sell melons at Dar al-Rizk. The man will be killed for the love of his Prophet's family”

Maytham said: “I know that a red man with two plaits would appear. The man will support the son of the daughter of his Prophet (S). The man will be beheaded. His head will be carried through the streets of Kufa”

The two friends saw each other off. Meanwhile, Bani Asad said: “They are liars” In the meantime, Rasheed al-Hajry passed by Bani Asad, He asked them about Habeeb and Maytham. Bani Asad said: “They've just gone away” Then Bani Asad told Rasheed about Habeeb's and Maytham's predictions.

Rasheed said with smile: “May AIlah have mercy on Maytham, He's forgotten to say: The person who brings the head will be given an extra hundred dirhams” Rasheed went away while Bani Asad were astonished at his words. Then they said: “Rasheed is a liar; too!”

Days passed by then in Muharram, 61 A.H., Bani Asad saw Habeeb's head. It was tied to a long spear. They saw Ibn Ziyad's policemen carrying the head and walking through the streets of Kufa.

Mu’awiya Ibn Abu Sufyan died. His son Yazeed succeeded him. Yazeed was a young man aged 30. He drank alcohol. He amused himself with dogs and monkeys.

So, Imam Husayn ('a) refused to pay Yazeed homage. Meanwhile, the Kufans were tired of Mu’awiya's persecution. Thus, they sent Imam Husayn ('a) many letters. In their letters, they asked the Imam to come to save them from the Umayyad persecution.

The spies told Yazeed about the situation in Kufa. Yazeed had a spiteful Christian doctor called Sergon. He asked the advice of the doctor. Sergon advised him to appoint Ubaidullah Ibn Ziyad a ruler over Kufa.

Many companions of Imam Ali ('a) supported Imam Husayn ('a). Many Muslims supported him, too. Ubaidullah Ibn Ziyad arrived in Kufa, He began arresting and imprisoning Imam Husayn ('a)'s supporters. Maytham, Mukhtar al-Thaqafi, Abdullah Ibn al-Harith were in the same prison.

Imam Husayn ('a) died a martyr for Islam. The prisoners felt pain for him. Mukhtar said to his two friends: “Be ready to meet Allah! After Imam Husayn's killing, Ubaidullah Ibn Ziyad will kill the Imam's supporters!”

Abdullah Ibn al-Harith said: “Yes, he will kill us sooner or later!”

Maytham said: “No, he won't kill you. My dear Imam Ali has told me that you (Mukhtar) will get revenge of Imam Husayn's killers. And you will kick Ubaidullah's head with your foot” Then Maytham said to Abdullah Ibn al-Harith: “You'll rule Basrah”

Maytham deeply believed in Allah. He was not afraid of the unjust. People were afraid of Ibn Ziyad. They shook with fear when they saw him. But Maytham did not pay attention to him. He knew that Ubaidullah's death was certain. He knew that the unjust would not stay alive forever.

Mu’awiya and his son Yazeed prevented people from loving Imam Ali. The police arrested and killed the Imam's companions. Imam Ali ('a) had told his companions about the Umayyad police. One day he said to Maytham: “The Umayyad will order you to disown me. Will you do that?”

Maytham said: “No, I won't!” Maytham thought that to disown Imam Ali meant to disown Islam. And to disown Islam meant to disown Allah.

The Imam said: “Surely, you'll be killed!”

Maytham said: “I'll be patient! Death is little for Allah!”

The lmam said: “You'll be with me in Paradise”

Ubaidullah Ibn Ziyad ordered the police to bring Maytham. He said to him: “I've heard that you're a companion of Ali's!”

Maytham said: “Yes”

Ubaidullah Ibn Ziyad said to Maytham: “Will you disown him?”

Maytham said: “No, I won't!”

Ubaidullah Ibn Ziyad said: “Surely, I'll kill you!”

Maytham said: “By Allah, Imam Ali has told me that you will kill me! He has told me that you will cut my hands, legs, and tongue!”

Ibn Ziyad stormily said: “Your Imam is a liar!”

Maytham jeered at that foolish person (Ubaidullah). Ibn Ziyad ordered the police to tie Maytham to the date-palm trunk near the house of Amru Ibn Huraith. Besides, he ordered them to cut off his hands and legs. Maytham was tied to the date palm trunk.

Amru Ibn Huraith saw him. Amru remembered Maytham's words: “I'll be your neighbour. Treat me kindly” So, Amru Ibn Huraith ordered one of his daughters to sweep the ground around the date-palm trunk. He also ordered her to splash it with water.

A person looked at Maytham and said: “Disown Ali to save your soul!”

Maytham said with a smile: “By Allah, this date palm has been created for me! And I've been created for it!”

Thus, people knew the secret of Maytham's visit to the date palm throughout the long years.

Maytham addressed the people: “People, if you want to hear some information about Ali Ibn Abi Talib, then come to me”

The people crowded around Maytham. He began teaching them various kinds of knowledge. The spies told Ubaidullah Ibn Ziyad about Maytham's words. Ibn Ziyad ordered a policeman to cut off Maytham's tongue.

Maytham said: “Amir al-Mu’minin has told me about that”

The policeman cut off his Maytham's tongue. Another policeman stabbed him with a sword. Thus, this warriors's life was put out like a candle!

Maytham did a lot of good for people. The people loved him very much. They wanted to take Maytham's body to bury it. But the police strictly prevented them from approaching it. One night, seven dates-sellers came. They saw the policemen burning a fire. Two of them sawed the trunk. The seven dates-sellers carried Maytham's body outside Kufa. They buried it at a known place. Then they came back home.

Six years passed and Mukhtar announced his revolution in Kufa. His army met Ubaidullah's on al-Khazir Riverbank. Ibrahim al-Ashtar could behead Ubaidullah Ibn Ziyad. Some fighters brought Mukhtar the head of Ubaidullah. He stood up and kicked Ubaidullah's head. He remembered Maytham's words in prison; “Mukhtar, you'll get out of prison. You'll get revenge on Imam Husayn's killers”

Days passed and Imam Husayn's killers perished. People have cursed them throughout history. Today, when a visitor leaves the Holy City of Najaf and goes to see Kufa, on the way he sees a beautiful dome. That dome decorates Maytham's shrine.7

• 1. Maytham At-Tammar by Kamal Syyed.
• 2. Master & Mastership by Allama Murtaza Mutahhari.
• 3. Maytham At-Tammar by Kamal Syyed.
• 4. Master & Mastership by Allama Murtaza Mutahhari.
• 5. Maytham At-Tammar by Kamal Syyed.
• 6. Master & Mastership by Allama Murtaza Mutahhari.
• 7. Maytham At-Tammar by Kamal Syyed.