Al-'Abbas (a): Difference between revisions

Shi'a considers Abbas among the children of Imams (a) holding the highest positions. Shi'a speak of his merits and mourn for him especially on the Day of [[Tasu'a]] (9th of [[Muharram]]).

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

On the day of Ashura', he (a) went again to the Euphrates to bring water by Imam's (a) order . However, when he filled a leather water pouch, on the way back to the tents, they shot his leather water pouch and martyred him.<ref>Pīshwāyī, ''Maqtal-i jāmiʿ-i Sayyid al-shuhadāʾ'', vol. 1, p. 838</ref>

On the evening of [[Tasu'a]], [[Shimr]] went near the tents of the caravan of Imam al-Husayn (a), and offered a safe-conduct for sons of [[Umm al-Banin]], including al-'Abbas,<ref>Balādhurī, ''Ansāb al-ashrāf'', vol. 3, p. 183</ref> but al-'Abbas ignored him, until [[Imam al-Husayn (a)]] asked him to reply to Shimr. Al-'Abbas told Shimr, "May your hands be cut and curse [of God] be upon your safe conduct. O the enemy of God! Do you suggest us leave our brother and master al-Husayn (a), son of [[Fatima (a)]] 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?!"<ref>Ibn Aʿtham, ''al-Futūḥ'', vol. 5, p. 94; Māzandarānī, ''Maʿālī l-sibtayn'', vol. 1, p. 433; Abū Mikhnaf, ''Waqʿat al-ṭaff'', p. 219-220 </ref>

Shimr called al-Abbas his nephew because Shimr and al-'Abbas' mother, Umm al-Banin, were from the same tribe i.e. Banu Kilab.

Zuhayr told al-Abbas about how Imam Ali (a) proposed to [[Umm al-Banin]] and mentioned that the intention of Imam Ali (a) from marriage was having brave sons, and said, "O al-'Abbas! Your father wanted you for a day like today; behold not to fail to fulfil your duty!" Al-'Abbas 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!"<ref>Bīrjandī, ''Kibrīt al-aḥmar'', p. 386; Muẓaffar, ''Baṭl al-ʿalqamī'', vol. 1, p. 97</ref>

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 troops for defence. They consisted of thirty-two horsemen and forty foot-soldiers.

In the first hours of the battle, four troops of Imam al-Husayn (a) with the names of [[Amr b. Khalid al-Saydawi]], [[Jabir b. al-Harith al-Salmani]], [[Mujammi' b. 'Abd Allah al-'Aidhi]], and [[Sa'd Mawla of 'Amr b. Khalid al-Saydawi|Sa'd, the freed slave of Amr b. Khalid]] made a group attack on the army of Kufa.

The enemy besieged them. When the ring of siege was so tightened that they completely disconnected from Imam's (a) army, al-'Abbas rushed towards them alone and succeeded to break the siege and rescue the four.<ref>Amīn, ''Aʿyān al-Shīʿa'', vol. 7, p. 430; Ṭabarī, ''Tārīkh al-umam wa l-mulūk'', vol. 5, p. 446; Māzandarānī, ''Maʿālī l-sibtayn'', vol. 1, p. 443</ref>

: "When al-'Abbas b. Ali (a), may God's blessings be upon him, saw that many of his relatives were martyred, told his brothers [[Abd Allah b. Ali|Abd Allah]], [[Ja'far b. Ali|Ja'far]], and [['Uthman b. Ali|'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 any children.' Then 'Abd Allah went to battle and fought severely. Then he and [[Hani b. Thubayt al-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, [[Khawli b. Yazid]] shot an arrow toward him and dropped him down. Then, a man from Banu Darim attacked him and beheaded him.

About his martyrdom, [[Ibn Shahrashub]] wrote, "al-'Abbas 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' al-Juhani who had ambushed behind a palm tree was helped by Hakim b. Tufayl al-Sunbusi to hit the right hand of al-'Abbas and cut it. Al-'Abbas took the sword with his left hand and attacked them, but he (a) was weakened. Then Hakam b. Tufayl al-Ta'i, who had ambushed behind a palm tree, hit him on his left hand. Then al-'Abbas shouted,

In religious rituals of the first ten days of the month of Muharram, 9th of Muharram which is called the day of Tasu'a is dedicated to mourn for 'Abbas (a) and Shi'a hold mourning ceremonies for Abu l-Fadl al-'Abbas (a) in the mosques, gatherings and [[Tekyeh|Tekyehs]].

Due to the eminence of al-Abbas (a), [[Ta'ziya]]s and [[Shabih-khani]] plays, especial to al-Abbas (a), are held in different places. In these certain forms of Ta'ziya, special parts are played such as the separation of al-Abbas (a) from the children of [[Bani Hashim]], farewell to [[Imam al-Husayn (a)]], farewell to [[Lady Zaynab (a)]], war cries to the enemies, cutting of his arms, how he (a) was martyred and going of Imam al-Husayn (a) to him.

[[Imam al-Mahdi (a)]] said, "peace be with Abu l-Fadl al-'Abbas, 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 al-Ta'i from His mercy."<ref>Muẓaffar, ''Baṭl al-ʿalqamī'', vol. 2, p. 311</ref>