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Of the generation of the Successors; one of those close to 'Alî, and the man to whom the prayers of Kumayl were taught.
His full name was Kumayl b. Ziyâd ('Abd al-Rahmân) b. Nahîk b. Haytham al-Nakha'î; he belonged to the tribe of Nakha'.
He transmitted hadith from 'Umar, 'Uthmân, 'Alî, Ibn Mas'ûd and Abû Hurayra. From him transmitted 'Abd al-Rahmân b. 'Âbis, 'Abbâs b. Zurayq, 'Abdullâh b. Yazîd al-Suhbânî, Abû Ishâq al-Sabî'î and al-A'mash.
His closeness to 'Alî is particularly noted in the sources. According to the source, 'Alî took him one day to the graveyard and set out for him that people are of three kinds: those who know God, those who learn in order to be saved, and those who follow like cattle without understanding. He gave him long counsels on religion, morals and society, and taught him certain prayers as well.
In the time of 'Alî he served as governor at Hît, and he stood with him at the battle of Siffîn.
He appears to have had some part in the events that ended in the killing of 'Uthmân: the source records that he went to Medina together with 'Umayr b. Dâbi' with the intention of killing the caliph, but that 'Umayr gave up that design.
Al-Hajjâj summoned him on account of this affair that had earlier passed between him and 'Uthmân. Kumayl fled at first but then gave himself up, and was killed by Abu'l-Jahm b. Kinâna al-Kalbî of the Banû 'Âmir b. 'Awf. He was ninety years old when he was killed (82/701).
His Circle of Influence — The prayers 'Alî taught him occupy a wide place in the Shî'î sources; the prayers of Kumayl are recited especially in Iran. His name appears in the chains of orders such as the Kubrawiyya, the Suhrawardiyya and the Hamadâniyya.
Differing Scholarly Views
The reliability of his transmissions is disputed. The source records that scholars differed on this: some counted him thiqa (trustworthy), while others said he was an extreme Shî'î whose transmissions could not be relied upon. The atlas writes both assessments and passes no judgement between them (rule #9, principles 3 and 5).
📌 To the editor: The source article does not state where the grave is, whereas in the atlas record the city of the grave appears as Najaf. The attribution of the grave could not be verified from this source (rule #9, principles 2 and 6).
Sources
- TDV İslâm Ansiklopedisi (DİA) — Mehmet Ali Sönmez · vol. 26, p. 550, entry “KÜMEYL b. ZİYÂD”
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Permanent ID: EA-Z-000285 · this address reaches the same record even if its name changes; use it when citing.