Maytham-al-Tammar (Meesam-e-tammar)

Biography.

Maytham ibn Yahya was born at Nihrawan, an area near Kufa. He was the son of Yahya. Hence, ibn Yahya (which means son of Yahya). Maytham ibn Yahya al-Tammar was an early Islamic scholar, a companion and disciple of Ali ibn abi Talib and a forefather of Sufism.
Meesam-e-Tammar was a slave belonging to a woman of Bani Asad. Imam Ali (as) purchased this slave from the woman and set him free in the way of Allah (SWT). He used to sell dates in Kufa Market and on this account he was known as Meesam-e-Tammar (tammar means Dates).