Personalities

He was a noble Companion (of the Prophet). The Apostle of Allah, may Allah bless him and his family, honoured him when he (ie, Adi) came to him. He was a great leader, sillful orator, and fearful hero. He became Muslim in the year 9 A.H , and his Islam became well. Adi, said: "When I came to Ndina, the people received me and said: Adi, b. Hatam! The Apostle of Allah, may Allah bless him and his family, said to me: Adi, be Muslim and you are safe. I (i.e., Adi) said: 'I have religion. I am more knowledgeable than you you in your,'said the Prophet, I think that that the shortcoming which you see from those who are around me prevent you (from adopting Islam), and you see that people has gathered against us. He (ie, the Prophet) said Have you seen al-Hira. No, I haven't I said, but I know where it is. You are about to take the howdah (al-Za'ina) out of it without neighborhood till you circumambulate the Kaaba, and you will conquer for us the treasures of Kasra, b. Hurmoz, he said Kasra b. Hurmoz? I asked. Yes, he said, and, and the property will be very much to the extend that the man will worry who will accept his alms.' 'Adi said:" Thus I have seen two(things): the howdah (al-Za'ina), and I was among the first horsemen who attacked the treasures of Kasra. I swear by Allah, the third (thing) will come.1 Also he (ie, Adi) said: A group of my people and I came to Umar. He allorted (money) for all persons and turned away from me. Thus I met him face to face and said: Do you know me? He (ie, Umar) said: Yes, you believed (in Allah) when they disbelieved (in Him), you knew (Him) when they denied (Him), you were loyal when htey deserted, and you walked forward (the enemy) when they turned away(from him). Indeed the first alms that made happy the Companions of the Apostle of Allah, may Allah bless him and his family, was the alms of Tay."2 He (ie, Adi) said: "From the day when I became Muslim, I had perfomed the ritual ablutions before the prayers were established.3

At the Battle of Siffin, A'idh b. Qays al-Hazmari al-Ta'i disputed with Adiover the standard. The banu of Hazmar were more in number than the banu of Adi,4 the tribe of Hatam.

Thus Abd Allah b. Khalifa al-Ta'i addressed them before Ali, peace be on him: "Banu Hazmar, do youwant to compete with Adi unjustly? Is there a person like Adi among you or is there a person like his father among your fathers? Wasn't he the protector of water-skin? Wasn'the the son of the one who took the fourth of booty and son of the one who was the most generous of all the Arabs? Wasn't he the son of the one whose horse was very quick, and who protected his neighbor? Wasn't he the one who did not betray, was not ignorant, was not miserly, was not dissolute, did not remind anyone of a favor, and was not cowardly? Give me an example of you fathers like his father! Or give me an example of yourselves like him! Isn't he (ie, Adi) the best of you in Islam? Wasn't he your representative who came to the Apostle of Allah, may Allah bless him and his5 family? Wasn't he your commander at the Battle of al-Nakhayla, the Battle of al-Qadisiya, the Battle of al-Mada'in, the Battle of Jalawla, the Battle of Nahawand, and the Battle of of Taster? There is a great deference between you and him! By Allah, no one of your people requests like you have requsted."

So 'Ali, peace be on him, said to Abd Allah b. Khalifa al-Ta'i: "Bin Khalifa, that is enough O people, come to me! Let the group of Tay come to me too. Thus they all came to him. Then Ali, peace be on him, asked: 'Who was your chief during these battles?' Adi, they replied. So b. Khalifa said to Ali: Commander of the faithful, ask them: Aren't they satisfyed to hand over the leadership to Adi? Ali did (that). Yes, they answered. Therefore Ali said to them: Adi is the most of appropriate of you (for carrying ) the standard. Thus hand it over to him."

Zyyad sent for Adi in the year 51 A.H Adi was in his mosque called the mosque of Adi in Kufa. Thus he was brought out of mosque and was imprisoned. So all the Kufans, who belonged to the Yemen, Rabi'a, and Mudar, rushed to support Adi, b. Hatam. They came to Zyyad and spole to him concerning Adi. They said (to Zyyad): "Why have you done this towards 'Adi b. Hatam, the Companion of the Apostle of Allah, may Allah bless him and his family?"

Zyyad asked Adi to bring him Abd Allah b. Khalifa al-Ta'i. For he was a companion of Adi's, and for the police of Zyyad (al-Hamra) suffered from him very much. However, 'Adi refused that. Then Zyyad agreed with Adi on banishing b. Khalifa from Kufa.6

'Adi b.Hatam came to Mu'awiya. The latter respected the former, knew his wise patience during critical discords, his keen practice during adversities, his penetrating insight, and his many past experiences. Thus Mu'awiya held a talk with Adi, depending on his own (private talent) to which he resorted when he debated with the great figures from his opponents. He (i,e. Mu'awiya) asked Adi: "Adi, where are the Tarafat (ie., Adi's sons: Rarif, and Tarafa)? "They were killed before Adi b. Abu Talib at the Battle of Siffin, replied Adi. "Bin Abu Talib (ie, Ali) did not treat you with justice, for he advance your fons adn delayed his sons," said Mu'awiya. "Rather, I did not treat Ali with justice, for he was killed, and have remained (ali) after him, "said Adi. "Indeed a drop of the blood of Uthman has remained. Nothing removes it but the blood of a nobleman from the noblemen of the Yemen, said Mu'awiyua. Thus Adi said: "By 'Allah, our hearts with which we have hated you are still in our chests, our swords with which we fought against youare on our shoulders. If you approached us through a small span of treason, we would approach you through a span of evil! Indeed the cutting of the throat and the rattle of the middle of the chest are easier for us than hearing the insult towads Ali. Therefore, Mu'awiya, hand over the sword to him who has send it."

"These words were as a curshing defeat. Still he went on talking with Adi as if he had addressed him with nothing."7

"There is no good in clemncy that has no gestures that proctect its clearness from cloudiness."

Then Mu'awiya said to Adi: "Describe Ali for me." "I think it is better to forgive me," said Adi. "I will not forgive you," said Mu'awiya. Thus Adi, said the followingconcerning Ali, peace be on him:'

"By Allah, he was a discerning (man) with strong abilities. His words werejust, and his judgment was sound.Wisdom gushed out of his sides, and knowledge (gushed out) of his standpoints. He felt lonely because of the life in his world and its embellishment. He associated with night and its calmness. He rockoned Himself when he was alone, and thought over what had passed. Short clothes and horse living pleased him. He was among us like one of us. He answered us when we asked him. He approached us to him when we came to him.

Though he brought us nearer to him, and though he was nearer to us, we did not speak to him because of his prestige, nor did we look at himbecause of his greatness. When he smiled, (his teeth) were like the well- organized pearl. He regarded the people of religion as great. He had affection for the needy. The powerful one was was not afraid of his (ie, Ali's) oppression, nor was the weak one hopelss of his justice. I (ie, Adi) swear (by Allah) that I saw him one night at hsi prayer down. His tears were following on his beard. He was moving restlessly as the sick one does and was weeping as teh sad one does. It is as if I hear him now say:

"O world! O world! Get away from me.Why do you present yourself to me? Or are you eager for me? You may not get that opportunity to impress me. Deceive some other person. I have no concern with you. I have divorced you thrice wheerafter there is no restitution. Your life is short, you importance is little and your is little and you liking is humble. Als! The provision is little, the way is long, the journey is far, extending the goal is hard to get to."

When Mu'awiya heard these words of Adi, his eyes were full of tears and he said: "May Allah have mercy on Abu Al-Hasan. He was really so." Then he turned to Adi and said:" How do you feel in his absence? My grief is like that of a woman whose only child is butchered on her lap. Thus her tear5 does not cease, nor does herwilling became calm," Said Adi. "How do you remember him?" asked Mu'awiya. "Does the time let me forget him? asked Adi.8

I (i.e., the author) say: Adi b. Hatam died at the age of 120 years during the time of al-Mukhtar b. Abu 'Ubayd in the Year 68 A.H.9 Thus a noble self which is not created except in an angle died with him. A wise opinion that does not become ripe excep with a wise man, and truthful faith which is not known bu with a frind (of Allah) died with him, too.

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1. Ahmad Shahab al-Din al-Asqalani, al-Isaba fi Tamiz al-Sahaba, vol.4, p.228-29.

2. Ibid.

3. Ibid.

4. He was the fifth grandfather of Adi. Thus Adi, the Companion (of the Prophet) was b. Hatam b. Abd Allah b. Sa'ad b. al-Hashraj b. Umru' al-Qays b. Adi.

5. al-Tabari, Tarikh, vol.6, p.5.

6. Ibn al-Athir, al-Kamil fi Tarikh, vol.3, p.189.

7. Al-Mas'udi, Hamish b. al-Athir, vol.6, p.65.

8. Al-Bayqahi, al-Mahasin wa al-Masawi,' vol.1, p.33.

9. Husayn al-Buraqi, Tarikh, p. 388. Ahmed Shahab al-Din al-'Asqalani, al-Isaba fi Tamyiz al-Sahaba, vol.4, p.119.

Adopted from the book: "Sulh al-Hasan (a.s.)" by: "Sheykh Radi al-Yasin"