Al-Abbas

Al-Abbas ibn Ali was the son of the fourth sunni Caliph and the first Shi'ah Imam, Ali ibn Abi Talib and Fatima bint Hizam, commonly known as Ummul Banin. Al-Abbas is particularly revered by Shi’a Muslims for his loyalty to his half-brother and third Shi’a Imam, Husayn ibn Ali, his respect for the Ahl al-Bayt, and his role in the battle of Karbala. Al-Abbas was married to Lubaba bint Ubaydillah ibn Abbas ibn Abdil Muttalib. He had three sons, and their names are al-Fadl ibn al-Abbas, Qasim ibn al-Abbas, and Ubaydullah ibn al-Abbas. Two of them were killed during the Battle of Karbala. The family lineage of Al-Abbas ibn Ali was succeeded by Ubaydullah ibn al-Abbas. Ubaydullah then had five sons: Abdullah ibn Ubaydillah, Abbas ibn Ubaydillah, Hamza ibn Ubaydillah, Ibrahim ibn Ubaydillah, and al-Fadl ibn Ubaydillah. It has been recorded that the Angel Gabriel informed Muhammad what would happen to his grandson Husayn ibn Ali at Karbala. Muhammad, Fatima Zahra, and Ali were saddened by this, so Ali wished for a son to help Husayn ibn Ali at Karbala. He asked his brother, Aqeel ibn Abi Talib, to search for a wife from courageous descent. Aqeel pointed out Fatimah Kelabiya better known as Ummul Baneen, who was descended from the honored lineage of Hezam ibn Khalid ibn Rabi’e ibn Amer Kalbi. Ali ibn Abu Talib did not marry Ummul Baneen (or any other woman) during the lifetime of Fatima Zahra. Abbas ibn Ali ibn Abu Talib was born on 4 Shaban 26 AH. He was the son of Ali ibn Abi Talib and Fatimah bint Qalabiyya. Abbas had three brothers, Abdullah ibn Ali, Jafar ibn Ali, and Uthman ibn Ali. Abbas lived 34 years. It is said that he did not open his eyes after he was born until his brother Husayn ibn Ali took him in his arms. Abbas learned the art of war from his father Ali who was one of the most skillful warriors and military strategists in world history. Abbas never considered himself equal in rank or stature to his half-brother Husayn. On the contrary, Abbas considered his brother Husayn to be his master. Abbas did not like anyone working for Husayn except himself. This devotion can be gauged by the following event: At the Mosque of Kufa, Ali ibn Abu Talib, Husayn, Qambar (a companion of Ali), and Abbas were sitting. Husayn asked Qambar to bring water because he was thirsty. Abbas stopped him and said, “I will bring the water for my master myself”. Abbas was young at that time. When Ali ibn Abu Talib saw this he started crying. When he was asked why he was crying he said "I foresee a day when Husayn and his family will be thirsty and Abbas wouldn't be able to get them the water they desperately need". Abbas's debut as a soldier was in the battle of Siffin. In 657 CE, Abbas's father Ali - defender of Islam (the Caliph of the time) and Muawiya ibn Abi Sufyan, governor of Syria, were locked in a struggle for Islam. One of the main battles of this conflict was at Siffin - a place near the Euphrates river. During the course of the battle, Abbas entered the battlefield wearing the clothes of his father, who was known to be a deadly skilled warrior. Abbas killed many soldiers on the other side with his lightning swordship. For this reason, Muawiya's soldiers mistook him for Ali because of his similar deadly art of war. However, Ali himself soon appeared on the battlefield. Muawiya's soldiers were astonished to see him, and were confused about who the other person was. Ali then introduced Abbas by saying, "He is Abbas, The Moon of the Hashimi family". Abbas showed his loyalty to Husayn at the Battle of Karbala. After succeeding his father Muawiya ibn Abu Sufyan as Caliph, Yazid ibn Muawiyah required Husayn to pledge allegiance to him. Husayn refused to do so, saying: "I am the grandson of the messenger of Allah and Yazid is a drunkard, womanizer who is unfit for leadership. A person like me does not pay allegiance to a person like him". In 60 AH (680 CE), Husayn left Medina, with a small group of his companions and family, to travel to Kufa. The people of Kufa said that they would support Husayn if he claimed the Caliphate. On the way, Husayn and his group were intercepted. They were forced into a detour and arrived in Karbala on the 2nd of Muharram, 61 AH. Husayn's camp was surrounded and cut off from the Euphrates
river. The camp ran out of water on the 7th of Muharram.

The Euphrates river was occupied by Yazid's Army to prevent the camp of Husayn from getting water. Shias believe that Abbas, because of his skill and bravery, could have attacked Yazid's army, occupied the river, and retrieved water for the camp alone. However, Abbas was not allowed to fight. He was only allowed to get water. Thus, he went to the river to get water for Husayn’s 4 year old daughter Sakina bint Husayn. Sakina was very attached to Abbas, who was her uncle. To her, Abbas was the only hope for getting water. Abbas could not see her thirsty and crying "Al-Atash" (the thirst). When Abbas entered the battlefield, he only had a dagger, and a bag for water in his hands. He was also given the authority to hold the standard in the battle. Once he had made it to the river, he started filling the bag with water. Shias emphasize that Abbas's loyalty to Husayn was so great, that Abbas did not drink any water because he could not bear the thought that Sakina was thirsty. After gathering the water, Abbas rode back towards the camp. On his way back, he was struck from behind and one of his arms was amputated. Then, he was stuck from behind again, amputating his other arm. Abbas was now carrying the water-bag in his mouth. The army of Yazid ibn Muawiyah started shooting arrows at him. One arrow hit the Bag and water poured out of it. At that moment, Abbas lost all hope. One of Yazid's men hit his head with a mace and Abbas fell off his horse without the support of his arms. As he was falling, he called, "Ya Akkha" ("Oh Brother"). According to shia tradition, Abbas fell first onto his face before he let the standard fall.

He tossed on the burning sand with excruciating pain. He called for his master. HusaynImam". He was killed on Friday, 10th Muharram 61 Hijri on the banks of the river Euphrates). Hence, he is called Hero of Al-Qamah (another name for the river Euphrates). His death is generally mourned on the 8th night of Muharram. Shia Muslims mourn the death of all martyrs of Islam associated with Husayn in the month of Muharram, the first of the Islamic calendar, mainly in the first ten days. After the battle of Karbala ended, the dead bodies of the slain warriors were lying about without heads. The enemy forces decided to run their horses over the bodies. They did this in order to inflict the maximum possible humiliation on the households of Muhammad and Ali. Abbas was buried at that ground where he fell from his horse in Karbala, Iraq. Millions of pilgrims visit the shrine and pay homage to it every year. The real grave of Abbas is beneath the masoulem, and is present in the shrine. Environmental effects have caused the Euphrates river's direction to change. Nearly 1400 years after the battle of Karbala, the river is flowing across the grave of Abbas, making a circle around it. It is said that the Euphrates has come to Abbas now.