Maytham al-Tammār

Maytham al-Tammār al-Asadī al-Kūfī was a deeply faithful companion of Imām ʿAlī^(a). Despite scanty detailed records about his life, he is remembered as a Kūfan date-seller with remarkable virtues. He met his end at the hands of the Ummayad governor before the significant Event of Karbala unfolded.

Maytham was part of the Shurṭat al-Khamīs, Imām ʿAlī's special guards, who vowed unwavering loyalty and support to the Imām in all battles and tribulations. After the martyrdom of Imām ʿAlī^(a), Maytham transitioned into a committed companion of Imām Ḥasan^(a) and Imām Ḥusayn^(a). Imām Ḥusayn^(a) treated Maytham with great affection and kindness.

Imām ʿAlī^(a) had foretold Maytham's martyrdom and the specifics of his execution, assuring him of a place in paradise beside the Imām for his resistance against ʿUbayd Allah b. Zīyād, the Kūfa governor. Maytham even knew the palm tree he would be hung from, often praying beside it, watering it, and speaking to it.

When Maytham was hung, he audibly beckoned people to gather around him and shared Imām ʿAlī's narrations. He spoke of the virtues of Banū Hāshim and the wickedness of the Umayyads. Upon hearing this, Ibn Zīyād ordered Maytham's mouth to be gagged, making him the first martyr to be leashed in Islam. When the suggestion of cutting off his tongue was made, Maytham used his last moments to remind the people of Imām ʿAlī's prophecy.

Sources suggest that after his hanging, he was impaled with a spear in his stomach, managing to utter "Allah-u Akbar" before succumbing to his injuries, with blood pouring out of his mouth and nose. His martyrdom occurred in Dhūl Ḥijja, prior to Imām Ḥusayn's arrival in Iraq.

Ziyārah of Maytham al-Tammār

اَلسَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ أيُّهَا الْعَبْدُ الصَّالِحُ يَا مَيثَمَ بِنَ يَحيَى التَـمَّار

alssalāmu `alayka ayyuhā al`abdu al¥¥āli¦u ya maytham ibna yahya al-tammār

Peace be upon you, O righteous servant (of Allāh), O Maytham son of Yahya al-Tammār

المُطِيعُ لله وَلِرَسُولِهِ وَلِأَمِيرِ المُؤمِنِينَ وَلِفَاطِمَةَ وَالحَسَنِ وَالحُسَينِ(صَلَوَاتُ الله وَسَلَامُهُ عَلَيهِم)

almutee’u lillāhi wa liras£lih¢ wa li'am¢ri almu’min¢na wa li fāṭima wal¦asani wal¦usayni ṣalawātullahi wa salāmuhu `alayhim

who acted obediently for the sake of Allāh, His Messenger, the Commander of the Faithful, Fāṭima, al-Ḥasan, and Al-Ḥusayn, peace be upon them.

أشْهَدُ أنَّكَ قَدْ أقَمْتَ الصَّلاَةَ وَآتَيْتَ الزَّكَاةَ وَأمَرْتَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَنَهَيْتَ عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ

ashhadu annaka qad aqamta al¥¥alāta wa ātayta alzzakāta wa amarta bilma`r£fi wa nahayta `an almunkari

I bear witness that you performed the prayers, defrayed the poor-rate, enjoined the right, forbade the wrong,

وَجَاهَدْتَ فِي الله حَقَّ جِهَادِهِ وَعَمِلْتَ بِكِتَابِهِ مُقْتَدِيَاً بِالصَّالحِيِنَ وَمُتَّبِعَاً لِلنَبِيِّين

wa jāhadta f¢ allāhi ¦aqqa jihādih¢ wa `amilta bi kitābihi muqtadiyan bil ṣāliḥīn wa muttabi`an lil nabiyyīn

strove in the way of Allāh as it ought to be striven, and abided by His book, following in the footsteps of the pious ones and adhering (to the teachings) of the prophets

وأشْهَدُ أنَّكَ قُتِلْتَ مَظْلُوماً شَهِيدَاً فَلَعَنَ الله مَنْ ظَلَمَكَ وَمَنْ إِفَتَرَى عَلَيْكَ

wa ashhadu annaka qutilta maẓlūman shahīdan fa la`anallahu man ẓalamaka wa man iftara `alaya

I bear witness that you were martyred unjustly, may Allāh curse those who oppressed you and accused you falsely

وَلَعَنَ اللهُ مَنْ نَصَبَ لَكَ العَدَاوَةَ وَالبَغْضَاءَ إِلَى يَوْمِ القِيَامَةِ وَحَشَا اللهُ قُبُورَهَم نَارَاً وَأَعَدَّ لَهُمْ عَذَابَاً أَلِيماً

wa la`anallahu man nasaba lakal `adāwata bal baghdā’ ila yawmil qiyāma wa ḥasha quburahom nāran wa `a`dda lahom `athāban `alīma

May Allāh curse your enemies till the Day of Judgement and may He fill their graves with fire and prepare for them a painful punishment

جِئْتُكَ أَيُّهَا العَبْدُ الصَالِحُ زَائِرَاً قَبْرَكَ مُقِرَّاً بِحَقِّكَ مُعْتَرِفَاً بِفَضْلِكَ

ji`tuka ayyuhal `abdul ṣāliḥu za`iran qabraka muqirran bi ḥaqqika mu`tarifan bi fadlik

I have come to you O’ pious servant, visiting your grave while recognising your right and adhering to your grace

أَسْأَلُ اللهَ بِالشَأْنِ الذِي لَكَ عِنْدَهُ أَنْ يُصَلِّيَ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَآلِ مُحَمَّدٍ

as’alu allāha bilshsha’ni alladh¢ laka `indah£ an yu¥alliya `alā mu¦ammadin wa āli mu¦ammadin

I ask Allāh in the name of the standing that you enjoy with Him to send his blessings upon Muḥammad and his family

وَأَنْ يَقْضِيَ حَوَائِجَنَا فِي الدُنْيَا وَالآخِرَةِ وَيَجْمَعَنَا وَإِيَّاكُم فِي زُمْرَةِ الفَائِزِينَ مَعَ مُحَمَّدٍ وَآلِهِ الطَاهِرِينَ

wa an yaqdi ḥawa`ijana fil dunya wal `ākhira wa yajma`ana wa iyyakum f¢ zumrat alfa`izīn ma` mu¦ammadin wa `aalihi altāhirīn

and fulfil our needs in this world and the next, and unite us amongst the successful ones with Muḥammad and his purified household

وَاَلسَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا الشَّهِيدُ وَرَحْمَةُ الله وَبَرَكَاتُهُ

wasalamu `alayka ayyuhal shahīdu wa raḥmatullahi wa barakatuh

Peace and blessings be upon you O martyr

You can perform a two-unit prayer, dedicating it as a tribute to Maytham Tammār.