Mausoleum of Maytham Altammar, Kufa, Najaf

Just west of the Great Mosque of Kufa stands the shrine of Maytham al-Tammar, a freed slave and date merchant who became one of Imam Ali's most loyal companions. Tradition holds that Ali foretold his crucifixion, and that his severed tongue continued to praise Ali to the end. A quiet stop on the Najaf-Kufa pilgrimage circuit.

The shrine of Maytham al-Tammar honors steadfastness under persecution. Maytham ibn Yahya al-Tammar was a freed slave of Persian origin, a date merchant (tammar means 'the date-seller'), who became a devoted companion of Imam Ali, al-Hasan and al-Husayn, and a member of Ali's guard, the Shurtat al-Khamis. In Shia memory he is a paragon of loyalty (wala) to Imam Ali, a martyr who proclaimed Ali's virtues even under torture.

Tradition recounts that Imam Ali walked with Maytham to a palm tree and foretold that he would be crucified upon it and have his hands, feet and tongue cut. After the Umayyad governor Ubayd Allah ibn Ziyad ordered his mutilation and crucifixion around 60 AH (679-680 CE), Maytham continued to praise Ali; the governor then ordered his tongue cut out, fulfilling the prophecy. The site marks his grave and traditional place of martyrdom.

The present mausoleum is a modern reconstruction, rebuilt and expanded in 2011 with a new zarih (tomb-screen lattice) installed in 2017, fabricated in Isfahan and reassembled in Kufa; the original shrine's date and form are unknown. Pilgrims describe a quiet, intimate shrine close to the Great Mosque of Kufa, with gardens and a single domed chamber, often visited as part of a wider Najaf-Kufa ziyarat circuit. It invites reflection on loyalty, steadfastness, and the cost of bearing witness to one's convictions.

The shrine of a freed-slave date merchant and loyal companion of Imam Ali, martyred under Ubayd Allah ibn Ziyad.

Maytham al-Tammar was a freed slave of Persian origin and a date merchant who became a close companion of Imam Ali and a member of his guard. Tradition recounts that Imam Ali walked with him to a palm tree and foretold that he would be crucified upon it and have his hands, feet and tongue cut. After the Umayyad governor Ubayd Allah ibn Ziyad ordered his mutilation and crucifixion around 60 AH, Maytham continued to praise Ali, and the governor then ordered his tongue cut out — fulfilling, in tradition, Ali's prophecy.

Twelver Shia Islam, honoring the loyal companions of the Ahl al-Bayt.

The grave of a companion remembered for unwavering loyalty and for a prophecy fulfilled in his martyrdom.

The thinness of Maytham al-Tammar's shrine arises from its association with prophetic foreknowledge and steadfast martyrdom. Tradition holds that Imam Ali himself foretold Maytham's crucifixion at this place, and that Maytham's tongue continued to praise Ali even after his mutilation. The shrine's proximity to the Great Mosque of Kufa, one of the holiest mosques in Shia Islam, deepens its resonance, as does the continuity of devotional visitation across the centuries. It is an intimate place that draws reflection on loyalty and on the price of bearing witness.

The grave and traditional place of martyrdom of Maytham al-Tammar, marked and venerated as a shrine to a loyal companion of the Ahl al-Bayt.

The tomb dates to Maytham's burial after his execution around 60 AH (679-680 CE); the original shrine's construction date and form are unknown. The present mausoleum was rebuilt and expanded in 2011, with a new zarih added in 2017. It remains an active Shia shrine and a regular ziyarat stop near the Great Mosque of Kufa.

Ziyarat recitation at the zarih, two rakats of prayer, and recitation of Surah Yasin or al-Rahman.

Ziyarat recitation at the zarih, two rakats of prayer, and recitation of Surah Yasin or al-Rahman; mourning and remembrance of Maytham's martyrdom.

Daily visitation, heightened during Muharram (Ashura mourning) and Arbaeen, when Najaf and Kufa receive large pilgrim numbers.

Pause at the zarih and consider the qualities Maytham is remembered for — loyalty and steadfastness in the face of torture. Visited alongside the Great Mosque of Kufa, the shrine deepens reflection on the cost of bearing witness to one's convictions.

A quiet, intimate domed shrine with gardens, close to the Great Mosque of Kufa.

The shrine lies in Kufa, just west of the Great Mosque of Kufa, a short walk or drive from associated sites and a short drive from Najaf. Pilgrims describe a quiet, intimate shrine with gardens and a single domed chamber holding the zarih, often visited as part of a wider Najaf-Kufa ziyarat circuit rather than as a destination on its own.

The atmosphere invites reflection on loyalty, on steadfastness under persecution, and on the cost of bearing witness to one's convictions. Non-Shia and non-Muslim visitors are generally welcome to enter respectfully and observe, with participation in prayers optional. The shrine is busiest during Muharram and Arbaeen, when Najaf and Kufa receive large pilgrim numbers.

Approach the zarih quietly, removing shoes where indicated. The shrine is most naturally visited alongside the Great Mosque of Kufa nearby. Visitors who do not share the tradition may observe respectfully; prayer participation is optional.

Maytham is accepted by historians as a real companion of Ali and venerated in Shia tradition as a loyal martyr.

Historians accept Maytham al-Tammar as a historical companion of Ali executed under Ubayd Allah ibn Ziyad around 60 AH; the present shrine is a modern (2011) reconstruction over a traditionally venerated grave site. The exact death year is disputed between 679 and 680 CE renderings of 60 AH.

Shia tradition venerates him as a loyal martyr and orator of the Ahl al-Bayt whose martyrdom fulfilled Ali's prophecy.

Devotional accounts emphasize miraculous elements, especially his tongue continuing to praise Ali after his crucifixion.

The original date and form of the shrine before the 20th century are not documented, and details of his life rest largely on later hagiographic sources. Precise GPS coordinates were not published in consulted sources.

In Kufa just west of the Great Mosque; quiet most of the year, busy in Muharram and Arbaeen; 20-45 minutes.

In Kufa, just west of the Great Mosque of Kufa, roughly a short drive or 7-minute walk from associated sites and a short drive from Najaf. Approximate coordinates ~32.0289 N, 44.4006 E.

Najaf, a short drive away, is the main pilgrim base with extensive lodging; Kufa offers more limited options.

Modest dress with hijab and abaya for women, silence near the zarih, and discretion with photography inside.

This is a living Shia place of worship in a conservative region; modest dress and respectful conduct are expected. Women typically wear hijab and abaya as at other Iraqi shrines; men wear long trousers and covered shoulders. Photography is generally permitted in courtyard areas, but check for restrictions inside the shrine chamber and be discreet around worshippers. Maintain silence and decorum near the zarih.

Modest dress; women typically wear hijab and abaya, men long trousers and covered shoulders.

Generally permitted in courtyard areas; check for restrictions inside the shrine chamber and be discreet around worshippers.

No specific material offering is required; visitors recite prayers and may make donations.

Maintain silence and decorum near the zarih; remove shoes where indicated.

Sacred places within a half-day’s reach. Pilgrims often visit them together: walk one, stay for the other.

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Sources consulted when researching this page. Independent verification by readers is welcome.

1. 01Mausoleum of Maytham al-Tammar — Wikipedia — Wikipedia contributors
2. 02Maytham al-Tammar — Wikipedia — Wikipedia contributors
3. 03Crucifixion of Maytham at-Tammar — Suffering of the Ahl ul-Bayt and Their Followers Throughout History — Mateen Charbonneau / Al-Islam.org
4. 04The Personality of Maytham al-Thammar — Al-Shia — Al-Shia.org
5. 05Maytham al-Tammar — Companion of Ali (A.S) — Ziarat Planner — Ziarat Planner
6. 06Maytham al-Tammar Shrine: A Testament of Faith — Evendo — Evendo
7. 07Maytham al-Tammar — By the Dawn (Acts at al-Kufa Mosque) — By the Dawn