Al-'Abbas (a): Difference between revisions

He (a) is considered the exemplar of dignity, bravery, generosity and following the infallible Imam (a). In Karbala, he (a) was the standard-bearer and water-supplier of the army of his brother, Husayn b. Ali (a) and thus he (a) is also known among Shia as Saqqa [the water-supplier] of the plain of Karbala.

According to reports, after the caravan of Imam al-Husayn (a) faced with the problem of the shortage of water, Abbas (a) once on the 7th of Muharram succeeded to bring water for the family and companions of Imam al-Husayn (a). On the Day of ‘Ashura, he (a) once again went towards Euphrates to bring water; but on his return, they shot his leather bottle, cut his hands and martyred him.

== His Lineage, Kunyas, Titles ==

The father of Abbas (a) was the first Imam of Shia, Imam Ali (a) and his mother was Fatima whom Imam Ali (a) married years after the martyrdom of Lady Fatima al-Zahra (s) and she was then known as Umm al-Banin.

Abu al-Fadl is the most famous kunya of Abbas (a). They say that the cause of attributing this kunya to Abbas (a) was his great moral virtues and merits. Abu al-Qasim is another kunya of Abbas (a) which is adopted from the Ziyara of Arba’in where Jabir Ansari addresses him, “Peace be upon you, O Aba al-Qasim; Peace be with you O Abbas b. Ali (a); Peace be with you, O Abbas b. Ali (a)”.

== His Titles ==

* Qamar bani Hashim

* Bab al-Hawa’ij

* Tayyar

* Al-Shahid

* Saqqa

Abbas (a) was born on 4th of Sha’ban 26 AH in Medina and was martyred in the event of ‘Ashura on 10th of Muharram 61 AH in Karbala.

During Abbas’s (a) childhood, his father and brothers Hasan (a) and Husayn (a) were with him and he (a) benefitted from their knowledge and insight. About his son’s progress, Imam Ali (a) said, “Indeed, Abbas (a) my son acquired knowledge in childhood and like a young pigeon which takes water and food from his mother, gained knowledge from me.”

In the early days he (a) started speaking, Imam (a) told him, “Say one!” Abbas said, “one.” Imam continued, “say two!” Abbas (a) refused and said, “I feel ashamed to say ‘two’ with the tongue I have called God’s Oneness.” Then Imam Ali (a) seeing the future of Abbas (a) became gloomy and wept. When his wife asked why he (a) was weeping, Imam Ali (a) answered, “Abbas’s (a) hands will be cut on the way of assisting Husayn (a). He (a) then informed about the position and dignity of his son as, “God, the Almighty with give him two wings to fly in paradise like his uncle Ja’far b. Abi Talib (a).”

With especial care and attention, Imam Ali (a) taught Abbas (a) Islamic manner and morality and educated him based on Islamic teachings. During 14 years and 47 days of living with his father Imam Ali (a), Abbas (a) was always with him and during difficult days of caliphate, did not leave him even for a moment. Abbas (a) attended the battle of Siffin in 37 AH and there are reports about his bravery in the battle.

Abbas (a) married Lubaba, daughter of ‘Ubayd Allah b. Abbas b. ‘Abd al-Muttalib and found two sons called Fadl and ‘Ubayd Allah.

The progeny of Abbas (a) continued through ‘Abayd Allah who had two sons called Abd Allah and Hasan. Abd Allah did not have children, but Hasan had five sons called ‘Ubayd Allah, who was the ruler of Mecca and Medina for a while and also the judge in both cities; Abbas, who was famous for his eloquence and making speech; Hamzat al-Akbar and Ibrahim Jurdaqa who was among scholars of fiqh and literature and pious people and the last one of them, Fadl. Each of the children of Hasan had knowledgeable children among who are Muhammad b. Ali b. Hamza b. Hasan b. ‘Ubayd Allah, the hadith scholar of the third century AH.

On the evening of Tasu’a, Shimr sent a safe conduct for Abbas (a) and his brothers, but Abbas (a) ignored it, until Imam al-Husayn (a) asked him to reply to Shimr. Abbas (a) told Shimr, “What are you saying?” he said, “you and your brothers are safe to go.” Abbas (a) answered, “May your hands be cut and curse [of God] be upon your safe conduct. O the enemy of God! Do you order that I leave our brother and master Husayn (a), son of Fatima (s) and join the cursed, sons of the cursed?! You give us safe conduct while the son of the Prophet (s) [Husayn b. Ali (a)] is not safe?!”

On the 7th of Muharram, when ‘Ubayd Allah ordered ‘Umar Sa’d to subdue Husayn (a) and his companions and prevent their access to the water of Euphrates, Imam (a) called Abbas (a) and sent 30 horsemen with 20 foot soldiers with him to fill leather bottles with water and return to the camp.

On the day of ‘Ashura, he (a) went again to Euphrates to bring water by the order of Imam (a), but when they filled their leather bottles, on the way back to the tents, they shot his leather bottle and martyred him.

On the eve of ‘Ashura, Abbas (a) took the responsibility of guarding the tents of Imam al-Husayn (a). Even though, he (a) had taken one night permission from the enemy before battle, but Abbas (a) was walking around tents and guarding them as a matter of caution, when Zuhayr came to him.

Zuhayr told Abbas (a) about how Imam Ali (a) proposed to Umm al-Banin and mentioned the intention of Imam Ali (a) from marriage and said, “O Abbas! Your father wanted you for a day like today; behold not to fail to fulfill your duty!” Abbas (a) became angry about such words and told him, “Zuhayr! Do you want to lionize me with such words?! By God I swear, I would not fail to assist and support my brother until death. I will show you that tomorrow in a way that you would have never seen in your life!”

In the morning of ‘Ashura, when Imam al-Husayn (a) finished his prayer and worships, the enemy’s army held a military position and announced war. Imam (a) prepared his people for defense. They consisted of 32 horsemen and 40 foot soldiers.

Imam (a) appointed Zuhayr b. Qeyn on the right wing and Habib b. Mazahir on the left wing and gave the standard to Abbas (a) in the middle of his people.

In the first hours of the battle, four of the people of Imam al-Husayn (a) with the names of ‘Amr b. khalid Saydawi, Jabir b. Harith Salmani, Majma’ b. Abd Allah ‘Aidhi and Sa’d, the slave of ‘Amr b. Khalid made a group attack to the army of Kufa.

The enemy decided to besiege them. When the ring of siege was completed so that they completely disconnected from Imam’s (a) army, Abbas (a) rushed towards them alone and succeeded to break the siege and rescue the four.

Historians have narrated the martyrdom of Abbas differently:

Shaykh Mufid wrote, “when Abbas b. Ali (a), may God’s blessings be upon him, saw that many of his relatives were martyred told his brothers Abd Allah, Ja’far and ‘Uthman, ‘O sons of my mother! You go ahead so that I see you have purified your goal for God and the Prophet (s), since you do not have many children.’ Then Abd Allah went to battle and fought severely. Then he and Hani b. Thubayt Hadrami exchanged two hits of sword and Hani killed him. Then Ja’far b. Ali (a), may God’s blessings be upon him, went ahead and Hani killed him too. When ‘Uthman b. Ali filled the empty place of his brothers, Khuli b. Yazid shot an arrow toward him and dropped him down. Then, a man from Bani Darim attacked him and beheaded him.

The army of ‘Umar b. Sa’d rushed toward the camp of Imam al-Husayn (a) and besieged them. When Imam (a) became so thirsty went on the top of a hill and headed towards Euphrates while his brother Abbas (a) was walking ahead of him.

The army of Ibn Sa’d stopped them. Among them, there was a man from Bani Darim tribe who told the army, “Woe be to you! Stop him from reaching Euphrates and do not let him reach the water. Imam al-Husayn (a) said, “O God! Let him die thirsty!” That Darami man became angry and shot an arrow towards Imam (a) which hit Imam (a) under his chin. Imam (a) took the arrow out and put his hand on the wound. When his hand became full of blood, let them spill and said, “O God! I complain to you about what they do about the son of the Prophet’s (s) daughter.” He (a) then came back while he (a) was very thirsty. The army besieged Abbas (a) and separated him from Imam al-Husayn (a). He (a) fought them until he was martyred. Zayd b. Warqa’ Hanafi and Hakim b. Tufayl Sunbusi killed Abbas (a) after he (a) could move due to severity of his wounds.

About his martyrdom, Khwarazmi said, “Abbas (a) went to the battle and attacked the enemy while he (a) was making war cry and was martyred after he (a) killed some and wounded some others. Then Imam (a) came and sat with him and said, “Now my back was broken and solutions diminished.”

About his martyrdom, Ibn Shahr Ashub wrote, “Abbas (a) was the water-bearer, Qamar bani Hashim and the standard-bearer of Imam al-Husayn (a) who was elder than his brothers. He (a) went out of the camp to bring water. The enemy attacked him and he (a) fought them and dispersed them. Then Zayd b. Warqa’ Juhani who had ambushed behind a palm tree was helped by Hakim b. Tufayl Sunbusi to hit the right hand of Abbas (a) and cut him. Abbas (a) took the sword with his left hand and attacked them, but he (a) was weakened. Then Hakam b. Tufayl Ta’i who had ambushed behind a palm tree, hit him on his left hand. Then Abbas (a) shouted, “O my soul! Do not fear the unbelievers and be blessed by the mercy of great God and being with the noble Prophet (s); these people cut my left hand unjustly. My Lord will drop them in the flames of the hell.”

Then Hakam b. Tufayl Ta’i hit him on the head with a metal spear and martyred him.

Abbas (a) was around 34 at the time of martyrdom.

== Abbas (a) in the Words of Imams (a) ==

At the beginning of the Ziyarah text of Abbas (a), Imam al-Sadiq (a) said, “Peace be with you, O righteous and obedient servant of God and His Prophet (s), and obedient to the Commander of the Believers (a) and Hasan (a) and Husayn (a).”

Imam al-Sajjad (a) is narrated as, “May God have mercy upon my uncle Abbas (a). He (a) surely made sacrifice and did a great fight until his hands were cut and he sacrificed himself for his brother. God gave him two wings like his uncle Ja’far Tayyar to fly in the paradise together with angels. Indeed, Abbas (a) has a position before the Almighty God that all the martyrs would wish to reach on the Day of Judgment.”

Imam al-Sadiq (a): In some phrases, he (a) described Abbas (a) as, “[He (a) had] a impressive insight, great intelligence, deep and full faith, [he (a) made] Jihad in the company of Imam al-Husayn (a), sacrifice, martyrdom in the way of his Imam (a), submission before the successor fo the Prophet (s), approving the Imam (a) of his time, loyalty, striving until the last resorts, …”

Imam al-Mahdi (a)said, “peace be with Abu al-Fadl al-Abbas (a), son of the Commander of the Believers (a) who sacrificed his soul for his brother; used this world as a means for the hereafter and was sacrificed for his brother. He (a) was a guardian who tried hard to bring water to the thirsty of the camp and his both hands were cut in Jihad on the way of God. May God distances his killers Yazid b. Raqad and Hakim b. Tufayl Ta’i from His mercy.”

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[[id:Abbas bin Ali As]]