Hatim al-Tai

Hatemtai (also Hatem at-Ta'iy i.e. Hatim of the Tayy tribe), formally Hatem ibn Abdellah ibn Sa'ad at-Ta'iy (Arabic: حاتم بن عبد الله بن سعد الطائي) was a famous pre-Islamic (Jahiliyyah) Arabian poet, and the father of the Sahaba Adi ibn Hatim and Safana bint Hatem. He was a Christian,^[1] and belonged to the Ta'i Arabian tribe. Stories about his extreme generosity have made him an icon to Arabs up till the present day, as in the proverbial phrase "more generous than Hatem" (Arabic: أكرم من حاتم).

Biography

At-Ta'iy lived in Ha'il (now in Saudi Arabia). He was mentioned in some Hadiths by the Islamic Prophet Muhammad. He died in 578.^[2] He was buried in Toran, Ha'il . The tomb is described in the Arabian Nights.^[3]

He lived in the sixth century CE, a legendary personality famous for his generosity, goodness and adventures^{[citation needed]}. He also figures in The Arabian Nights . According to legends in various books and stories, he was a famous personality in Tai (Najd province in the central part of the Arabian Peninsula, now in Saudi Arabia). He is also a well-known figure in the rest of the Middle East as well as India & Pakistan.

He travelled to dangerous, distant places to solve seven questions that he faced, in the cause of justice and truth, and to help the poor and the weak.

Many books have been written about him in different countries and languages. Several movies and TV Series have been produced about his adventures.

Rozat-ul-Sufa mentions that “In the eighth year after the birth of his eminence the Prophet, died Noushirwan the Just, and Hatem Tai the generous, both famous for their virtues.”,^[4] around in 579 CE. According to D'Herbelot, his tomb is still present at a small village called Anwarz, in Arabia.^[5]

Works

Poems:

On Avarice

Name

Hatem is a common name among Muslims, mostly among the Bohris. Some people say that Hatem means "Generous". Another definition of the name Hatem is "Determined".

Qissa-e-Hatem Taiy

Qissa-e-Hatem Tai is very popular in South Asia. Multiple movies (see below) about Hatem Tai are based on this story.

It consists of a short introduction describing his ancestors and his own virtues. In seven chapters, seven of his adventures are given.

The stories are based on seven questions, asked by a beautiful and rich woman Husn Banu, who will marry only the person who will obtain answers to these questions^[6]:

' What I saw once, I long for a second time.'
' Do good, and cast it upon the waters.'
' Do no evil; if you do, such shall you meet with.'
' He who speaks the truth is always tranquil.'
' Let him bring an account of the mountain of Nida.'
' Let him produce a pearl of the size of a duck's egg'
' Let him bring an account of the bath of Bad-gard.'

A prince falls in love with her and wanders around, not knowing where to go or what to do. By chance he meets Hatem Tai, to whom he tells his story. Hatem undertakes to find the answers to the questions.

Movies

Hatimtai (1990) - A Bollywood Hindi movie starring Jeetendra [1]. video clip
Hatamtai (1967) - A Pakistani Urdu movie starring Muhammad Ali.
Hatimtai (1956) - A Bollywood Hindi movie starring Jayraj and Shakila [2].
Hatimtai (1933) - A Bollywood Hindi movie starring Pran [3].
Many other old and regional versions were also produced.

TV series

Dastaan-e-Hatimtai - An Indian TV Series aired on DD National.
Hatim - An Indian TV Series on Star Plus in 2003-4

References

^ Biography of Sheikh Bahi Dadiza (Arabic)
^ Kitab al-Aghani by Abu al-Faraj al-Isfahani
^ E. J. Brill's First Encyclopaedia of Islam, 1913-1936
^ http://persian.packhum.org/persian/pf?file=08501030&ct=0
^ http://books.google.com/books?id=s_4KV4Ixq4IC&pg=PA132&dq=Hatim+Tai#PPA132,M1
^ Persian Portraits: A Sketch of Persian History, Literature and Politics by F. F. Arbuthnot