Hatem al-Asamm

 

 

 

Abu `Abd al-Rahman Hatem ibn `Onwan al-Asamm ("the Deaf"), a native of Balkh, was a  pupil of Shaqiq al-Balkhi. He visited Baghdad, and died at Washjard near Termedh in 237 (852).

 

Anecdotes of Hatem the Deaf

 

Hatem the Deaf's charity was so great that when a  woman came to him one day to ask him a question and  at that moment she broke wind, he said to her, "Speak louder. I am hard of hearing." This he said in order that  the woman should not be put to shame. She raised her  voice, and he answered her problem. So long as that  old woman was alive, for close on fifteen years Hatem  made out that he was deaf, so that no one should tell the old woman that he was not so. After her death he gave his answers readily. Until then, he would say to  everyone who spoke to him, "Speak louder." That was why he was called Hatem the Deaf.

 

One day Hatem was preaching in Balkh.  "O God," he prayed, "whoever in this congregation today is the greatest and boldest sinner and has the  blackest record, do Thou forgive him."

 

Now there was present in that congregation a man who robbed the dead. He had opened many tombs and  stolen the winding-sheets. That night he went about his usual business of robbing the dead. He had actually removed the earth from a grave when he heard a voice  proceeding out of the tomb.

 

"Are you not ashamed? This morning you were pardoned at Hatem's gathering, and tonight you are at  your old business again?"

 

The grave-robber jumped out of the tomb, and ran  to Hatem. He told him what had happened, and  repented.

 

Sa'd ibn Mohammad al-Razi reports the following.  For many years I was a disciple of Hatem, and in all  that time I only once saw him angry. He had gone to  the market, and there he saw a man who had seized  hold of one of his apprentices and was shouting.

 

"Many times he has taken my goods and eaten them,  and does not pay me the price of them." 

 

"Good sir, be charitable," Hatem interposed. "I know nothing of charity. I want my money," the  man retorted.

 

All Hatem's pleading was without effect. Growing angry, he took his cloak from his shoulders and flung it  to the ground there in the midst of the bazaar. It was

 

filled with gold, all true coin.

 

"Come, take what is owing to you, and no more, or  your hand will be withered," he said to the tradesman.  The man set about picking up the gold until he had  taken his due. He could not contain himself, and  stretched out the hand again to pick up more. His hand

immediately became withered.

 

One day a man came to Hatem and said, "I possess  much wealth, and I wish to give some of this wealth to  you and your companions. Will you accept?"

 

"I am afraid," Hatem answered, "that when you die  I shall have to say, `Heavenly Provider, my earthly provider is dead.'"

 

Hatem recalled, "When I went out to the wars a  Turk seized me and flung me to the ground to kill me.

 

My heart was not concerned or afraid. I just waited  to see what he would do. He was feeling for his  sword, when suddenly an arrow pierced him and he  fell from me. `Did you kill me, or did I kill you?' I  exclaimed."

 

When Hatem came to Baghdad the caliph was told,  "The ascetic of Khorasan has arrived." The caliph  promptly sent for him.

 

"O caliph the ascetic," Hatem addressed the caliph  as he entered.

 

"I am not an ascetic," replied the caliph. "The whole world is under my command. You are the ascetic."

 

 "No, you are the ascetic," Hatem retorted. "God  says, Say, the enjoyment of this world is little. You are  contented with a little. You are the ascetic, not I. I will  not submit to this world or the next; how then am I an  ascetic?"