Shahadat of Hazrat Meesam e Tammar (a.s)
 
World Ahlul Bayt Islamic League (WABIL) offers sincere condolences to Imam Mahdi (atfs), the Ahlul Bayt (as) righteous scholars and all believers on the martyrdom of Janabe Meesam e Tammar (as) a devoted companion of the Ahlul Bayt (as).
 
 
Meesam was the slave of a woman from the Banu Asad tribe. Imam Ali (as) freed him. On asking him his name (Saalim), Imam Ali stated that the Prophet (sawa) had told him that the Iranians called him Meesam. Nobody knew this information, and its revelation confirmed the truth of the Prophet and Imam Ali in Meesam’s heart. After that day he was a most devoted loyal companion.
 
 
Meesam was a date (tammar) seller in Kufa, hence his appellation.  He lived an extremely simple life, and he was personally taught many secrets of the faith by Imam Ali (as) including branches of knowledge of death. People often thought that Meesam had lost his mind on account of his very direct and frank speech. 
 
 
Imam Ali informed Meesam that he would be killed by hanging and his tongue would be cut, and even informed him of the tree he would be hanged from. It was next to the farm of Amr ibn Huraith. Meesam would go there often and stroke the trunk, and tell Amr enigmatically that one day they would be neighbours.
 
 
In 60 AH Meesam performed hajj then returned to Kufa. He was brought before Ibn Ziyad, and on proclaiming his love for his master Imam Ali (as) and that his master had told him how he would die, Ibn Ziyad had him imprisoned, challenging him that he would ensure the prophecy did not come to pass. Meesam met Mukhtar al-Thaqafi and Abdullah ibn al-Harith in prison, informing them both that they would not perish here, for Mukhtar would go on to avenge Karbala and Abdullah would rule Basrah one day. Both events came to pass years later.
 
 
On hearing of Meesam’s imprisonment, Yazid the tyrant ordered that he be hanged and crucified from the very tree that Meesam had been foretold about.  Meesam’s hands and feet were cut and he was hanged upside down from the tree for two days. He had the option to have his life spared if he denounced Imam Ali. But instead, he sang his praises and did not stop until his tongue was cut, and he finally attained martyrdom.
 
 
How brave are Islam’s heroes! People often overlook the love, devotion and suffering of the most loyal companions of the Prophet and his Ahlul Bayt (as), those who stood against those who usurped power from the Infallibles (as) and stood shoulder to shoulder with the Ahlul Bayt (as). The biography of Meesam e Tammar (as) teaches us that the depth and sweetness of love at the feet of Imam Ali (as) are worth more than the treasures of the entire universe if they were ever offered to us.
 
 
May we also follow the footsteps of Hazrat Meesam e Tammar, may we live simply, honestly, and with loyalty to the Prophet (sawa) and his Holy Progeny (as).
 
 
 
Sayed Mohammad Al-Musawi
World Ahlul Bayt Islamic League (WABIL)
London, UK
 

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