ABBAS BIN ALI (A.S.)

Parents:  Imam Ali bin Abi Talib (a.s.) & Fatima (Ummul-Baneen)

Birth:      4^th Sha’ban 26 A.H.

Titles:     Qamar Bani Hashim (The Moon of the Hashimites), ‘Abd

              Al-Saleh (The Pious Slave)  

Death:    10^th Muharram 61 A.H. (Day of ‘Aashura)

Buried:   Karbala, Iraq

After the death of Sayyida Fatima al-Zahra (a.s.), when Imam Ali (a.s.) intended to re-marry, he (a.s.) took his son al-Husayn (a.s.) to visit his brother Aqeel.

Aqeel was well known for his knowledge about the ancestry of the Arabs. So Imam Ali (a.s.) said to him, “O Aqeel! Suggest to me a woman for marriage who belongs to a family known for its valour and bravery so that Allah (SWT) blesses me with a child who could be of help to this son (al-Husayn) of mine in Karbala.”

Aqeel proposed the name of Fatima kilabiya. Ali married her and Allah (SWT) blessed them with four sons namely:

• ‘Abdullah
• Ja’ffar
• ‘Uthman
• Abbas

It was due to these four sons that Fatima (a.s.) –their mother-became known as Ummul-Baneen meaning ‘the mother of the sons’.  (Chauda Sitaare)

THE LOYALTY OF ABBAS (A.S.)

The loyalty of Abbas (a.s.) throughout his life towards Imam Husayn (a.s.) is well known in the history. There are many instances in his life, which proves that Abbas (a.s.) was devoted to his elder brother and the master al-Husayn (a.s.). On the night of ‘Aashura (10^th Muharram 61 AH), Imam Husayn (a.s.) gathered his relations and companions and addressed them. After praising Allah (SWT) he said to them what may be summed up as follows:

“O Believers! I do not know of any one who had followers more patient and devoted than you are to me, nor of any family more trusted and exalted than mine. May Allah give you the recompense that I owe you. I realize that this is our last night in this world. After this, I shall have to face the army of the tyrant. Therefore I allow you to leave me. I relieve you of all the obligations of your loyalty towards me. The darkness of night now encompasses us. Each one of you may take a member of my family along with you and go away leaving me here to face the enemy whose target is me alone and no one else. I have trust in Allah Who will ward off all evil from you as well as from me”.

On hearing these words, Abbas (a.s.) was the first to respond on behalf of the family. He said,

“You ask us to leave! Why should we do so? Only to survive after you? By Allah we may not live to see such an evil day when you are not among us in this world”.

After him, other relations also spoke in similar words and they were followed with supportive statements from the companions.

HIS FAMILY

The wife of Abbas (a.s.) was Lubaba, daughter of Ubaydullah bin Abbas bin Abdul-Muttalib (a.s.). Allah (SWT) blessed them with three sons:

Fazl (killed in Karbala)

Qasim (killed in Karbala)

Ubaydullah  (remained in Medina).

On the occasion of the birth of Hazrat Abbas bin Ali (a.s.), we extend our felicitations and greetings to Imam-e-Zamana (AJ) and to all the followers of Ahlul-Bayt (a.s.).

Mulla Mujaheedali Sheriff

mulla@almahdi.org.uk