Hatim al-Tai | |
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 A page from Hatim al-Tai book includes adu'a for OttomanSultan Abdülaziz | |
| Born | Ḥātim bin ʿAbd Allāh bin Saʿd aṭ-Ṭāʾiyy |
| Died | c. 578 Tuwarin, Ha'il |
| Occupation | Poet, Knight, Chieftain |
| Language | Arabic |
| Nationality | Arab |
| Period | Pre-Islamic era |
| Genre | Poetry |
| Notable works | Qissa-e-Hatem-tai |
Hatim al-Tai (Arabic:حاتم الطائي, 'Hatim of theTayy tribe'; died 578), full nameḤātim bin ʿAbd Allāh bin Saʿd aṭ-Ṭāʾiyy (Arabic:حاتم بن عبد الله بن سعد الطائي) was anArabknight, chieftain of theTayyitribe of Arabia, ruler ofShammar, andpoet who lived in the last half of the sixth into the beginning of the seventh century.[1][2][3] Although he was considered a well-established poet in his time, today he is best known for hisaltruism.[4] Additionally, he is known to be a model of Arabmanliness.[5]
Al-Tai is associated with theLakhmid court inHira, especially under its most famous kingAl-Mundhir III ibn al-Nu'man.[6] Stories about his extremegenerosity have made him an icon among Arabs up until today, as evident in the proverbial phrase "more generous than Hatim" (Arabic:أكرم من حاتم,romanized: ʾakram min Ḥātim). According to Arab writer and poetIbn Abd Rabbih, he was one of three people who reached the highest point of generosity in the pre-Islamic era, the other two wereKa'b ibn Mama and Harim ibn Sinan al-Murri.[7] Al-Tai's generosity and chivalry have become proverbial not only in Arabic but also inPersian.[8]
Al-Tai lived inHa'il in the present-daySaudi Arabia and was mentioned in someHadiths attributed to Muhammad (SAWW).[9] He died in 578 AD,[10] and was buried inTuwarin,Ha'il. His tomb is described in theArabian Nights.[11] His nameHatim means 'blackcrow' in Arabic.[12]
He lived in the sixth century CE and also figures in theArabian Nights stories. The celebrated Persian poetSaadi, in his workGulistan (1259) wrote: "Hatim Taï no longer exists but his exalted name will remain famous for virtue to eternity. Distribute the tithe of your wealth in alms; for when the husbandman lops off the exuberant branches from the vine, it produces an increase of grapes".[13] He is also mentioned in Saadi'sBostan (1257).[14] According to legends in various books and stories, he was a famous personality in the region of Ta'i (present day Ha'il) and is also a well-known figure in the rest of the Middle East as well as the Indian subcontinent, featuring in many books, films and TV series inArabic,Persian,Urdu,Turkish,Hindi,Kashmiri and various other languages.[citation needed]
He is associated with theLakhmid court inHira, especially under its most famous kingAl-Mundhir III ibn al-Nu'man.[15]
It is said that he used to give away everything he possessed except for his mount and weapons.[16]
Rozat-ul-Sufa mentions that "In the eighth year after the birth of his eminence the Prophet (Muhammad), diedNoushirwan the Just, and Hatemtai the generous, both famous for their virtues",[17] around 579 CE. According to the 17th-century orientalistD'Herbelot, his tomb was located at a small village called Anwarz, in Arabia.[18]
One of his works is a poem which has been translated into English as "On Avarice".[19]
Outside Arabia, the tales of Hatim are also popular inPersia,India, andPakistan.[20]
Qissa-e-Hatem-tai (قصۂ حاتم طائی), alternativelyDastan-e-Hatem-tai (داستانِ حاتم طائی), meaning "The Tale of Hatemtai" is very popular in Persia and theIndian subcontinent. Sayad Haider Bakhsh Haidri, the author of the Qissa-e-Hatim Tai, writes in his introduction that he has taken the story from "someone’s" Persian text, but has amplified and extended it at suitable points "to please the listeners."[20] Multiple films (see below) have been made about Hatim based on this story, which narrates seven of his fantastic adventures in seven chapters.
The books on the story usually consist of a short introduction describing his ancestry and character and tells the seven episodes based on seven riddles, asked by a beautiful and rich woman named Husn Banu (حسن بانو), who will marry only the person who is able to obtain answers to all seven of them.[21] The riddles are:
A king, who falls in love with her but unable to find answers, tells the generous Hatemtai, whom he meets by chance, all about it. Hatim undertakes the quest to find the answers and help the king marry her.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) "But come with old Khayyam, and leave the Lot
Of Kaikobad and Kaikhosru forgot:
Let Rustum lay about him as he will,
Or Hatem Taiy cry Supper--heed them not."
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