Maytham al-Tammar Remembered as Symbol of Loyalty to Imam Ali Before Karbala

Maytham al-Tammar Remembered as Symbol of Loyalty to Imam Ali Before Karbala
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On the 22nd of Dhu al-Hijjah in the year 60 AH, Maytham al-Tammar, one of the loyal companions and close disciples of Imam Ali, peace be upon him, was executed in Kufa for his devotion to the Ahlulbayt, peace be upon them.

Maytham ibn Yahya, known as al-Tammar because he sold dates in Kufa, was originally from the Nahrawan region. He was once enslaved by a woman from Banu Asad before Imam Ali, peace be upon him, purchased and freed him, later educating him in religious knowledge, interpretation, hadith, and spiritual insight.

Historical sources state that Imam Ali, peace be upon him, had foretold the manner of Maytham’s martyrdom, including that he would be hanged from a palm tree and have his tongue cut out.

In 60 AH, as Imam Hussein, peace be upon him, was on his way to Karbala, Maytham was arrested while returning from Hajj and taken to Ubaydullah ibn Ziyad in Kufa. He refused to disavow Imam Ali and instead praised him openly.

He was hanged, deprived of food and water, silenced with an iron bridle, and later martyred. His body was secretly buried by his companions between Najaf and Kufa.

Maytham al-Tammar remains remembered as one of the earliest martyrs of loyalty to Wilayah and the Ahlulbayt (peace be upon them).