Abbas ibn Ali
Encyclopedia
Al-‘Abbās ibn ‘Ali (born 4th Sha‘bān
26 AH
– 10 Muharram
61 AH; approximately May 15, 647 – October 10, 680) was the son of ‘Alī ibn Abī Tālib
and fourth Rashidun Caliph
) and Fātimah bint Hizam al-Kilabiyyah (commonly known as: Ummul Banīn – Mother of the Sons).
Al-‘Abbās is revered by Muslims for his loyalty to his half-brother Husayn ibn ‘Alī
, his respect for the Ahl al-Bayt
, and his role in the Battle of Karbalā
. He was known as the greatest warrior in Arabia and mirrored the strength of his father, ‘Alī ibn Abī Tālib.
. He was the son of Ali ibn Abi Talib and Fatimah AlKilabiyya. Abbas had three brothers, Abdullah ibn Ali
, Jafar ibn Ali
, and Uthman ibn Ali. Abbas lived 34 years. Narratives state that he did not open his eyes after he was born until his brother Husayn ibn Ali took him in his arms.
Abbas married a distant cousin, Lubaba bint Ubaydillah. They had three sons, Fadl
, Qasim
, and Ubaydullah.
. In 657 CE, Abbas's father Ali 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-quick swordsmanship. Seeing his great ability, Muawiya's soldiers mistook him for Ali because of his similar mastery of the 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". He was trained by his Father Ali
in the art of battle, which is why he resembled his father in the battlefield.
. After succeeding his father Muawiya ibn Abu Sufyan as Caliph, Yazid ibn Muawiyah required Husayn to pledge allegiance to him, but 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 invited Husayn to teach them about Islam. After initially sending his cousin, Husayn too made his decision after the advice of his cousin. But by the time Husayn arrived near Kufa, his cousin had been killed . 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.
river was occupied by Yazid's Army to prevent the camp of Hussien 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 spear, and a bag for water in his hands. He was also given the authority to hold the standard (liwa') 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 (The essence of this event was to illustrate that Abbas conquered the Euphrates river, held it with his mighty hands, yet still did not drink. They claim that until this very day the water from Euphrates river circles the grave of Abbas) . 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 master"). According to Shia tradition, Abbas fell first onto his face before he let the standard fall.
He was killed on Friday, 10 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 7th 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 (see Remembrance of Muharram). Fadl ibn Abbas and Qasim ibn Abbas also laid down their lives at Karbala. Ubaydullah ibn Abbas lived to continue the lineage of Abbas with five sons of his own.
‘Abbās was buried at that ground where he fell from his horse in Karbalā, Iraq
. The Al-‘Abbās Mosque
was built around his grave, to which millions of pilgrims visit and pay homage every year.
. This horse belonged to his other half brother Hassan ibn Ali. Abbas retained control over the horse and presented it to Husayn. http://archive.mumineen.org/publications/Humble_Tribute/page5.html
. The king considered the horse to be very important and its superiority over other horses was evident by the fact that its genealogical tree was also maintained. It was initially named as "Murtajis". The name "Murtajis" comes from Arabic name "Rijis" which means thunder (lightning).
Sha'aban
Sha'aban is the eighth month of the Islamic calendar.This is the month of ‘separation’, so called because the pagan Arabs used to disperse in search of water...
26 AH
Islamic calendar
The Hijri calendar , also known as the Muslim calendar or Islamic calendar , is a lunar calendar consisting of 12 lunar months in a year of 354 or 355 days. It is used to date events in many Muslim countries , and used by Muslims everywhere to determine the proper day on which to celebrate Islamic...
– 10 Muharram
Muharram
Muharram is the first month of the Islamic calendar. It is one of the four sacred months of the year in which fighting is prohibited...
61 AH; approximately May 15, 647 – October 10, 680) was the son of ‘Alī ibn Abī Tālib
Ali
' |Ramaḍān]], 40 AH; approximately October 23, 598 or 600 or March 17, 599 – January 27, 661).His father's name was Abu Talib. Ali was also the cousin and son-in-law of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, and ruled over the Islamic Caliphate from 656 to 661, and was the first male convert to Islam...
and fourth Rashidun Caliph
Rashidun
The Rightly Guided Caliphs or The Righteous Caliphs is a term used in Sunni Islam to refer to the first four Caliphs who established the Rashidun Caliphate. The concept of "Rightly Guided Caliphs" originated with the Abbasid Dynasty...
) and Fātimah bint Hizam al-Kilabiyyah (commonly known as: Ummul Banīn – Mother of the Sons).
Al-‘Abbās is revered by Muslims for his loyalty to his half-brother Husayn ibn ‘Alī
Husayn ibn Ali
Hussein ibn ‘Alī ibn Abī Ṭālib was the son of ‘Alī ibn Abī Ṭālib and Fātimah Zahrā...
, his respect for the Ahl al-Bayt
Ahl al-Bayt
Ahl al-Bayt is an Arabic phrase literally meaning People of the House, or family of the House. The phrase "ahl al-bayt" was used in Arabia before the advent of Islam to refer to one's clan, and would be adopted by the ruling family of a tribe. Within the Islamic tradition, the term refers to the...
, and his role in the Battle of Karbalā
Battle of Karbala
The Battle of Karbala took place on Muharram 10, in the year 61 of the Islamic calendar in Karbala, in present day Iraq. On one side of the highly uneven battle were a small group of supporters and relatives of Muhammad's grandson Husain ibn Ali, and on the other was a large military detachment...
. He was known as the greatest warrior in Arabia and mirrored the strength of his father, ‘Alī ibn Abī Tālib.
Early life
Abbas ibn Ali ibn Abu Talib was born on 4 Shaban 26 AHHijra (Islam)
The Hijra is the migration or journey of the Islamic prophet Muhammad and his followers from Mecca to Medina in 622 CE. Alternate spellings of this Arabic word are Hijrah, Hijrat or Hegira, the latter following the spelling rules of Latin.- Hijra of Muhammad :In September 622, warned of a plot to...
. He was the son of Ali ibn Abi Talib and Fatimah AlKilabiyya. Abbas had three brothers, Abdullah ibn Ali
Abdullah ibn Ali
Abdullah ibn Ali was the son of the first Shia Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib and Fatima bint Hizam, commonly known as Ummal Baneen.- See also :*Ali ibn Abu Talib*Fatimah Kelabiya*Abbas ibn Ali*Hasan ibn Ali ibn Abu Talib*Hussain ibn Ali ibn Abu Talib...
, Jafar ibn Ali
Jafar ibn Ali
Jafar ibn Ali was the son of the first Shia Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib and Fatima bint Hizam, commonly known as Ummal Baneen.He died at the age of eighteen in the Battle of Karbala .-See also:*Ali ibn Abu Talib*Fatimah Kelabiya*Abbas ibn Ali...
, and Uthman ibn Ali. Abbas lived 34 years. Narratives state that he did not open his eyes after he was born until his brother Husayn ibn Ali took him in his arms.
Abbas married a distant cousin, Lubaba bint Ubaydillah. They had three sons, Fadl
Fadl ibn Abbas
Fadl ibn abbas was a brother of Abdullah ibn Abbas and was a cousin of Prophet Muhammad.He is well regarded by Shi'as since he refused to give his oath of allegiance to Abu Bakr, unless Ali did so, Fadl was very beautiful and handsome he was well known with this and as a very wealthy man, he also...
, Qasim
Qasim ibn Abbas
Qasim ibn abbas was the son of Abbas ibn Ali and Lubaba bint Ubaydillah. He and his brother al-Fadl ibn al-Abbas were killed in the Battle of Karbala...
, and Ubaydullah.
Battle of Siffin
Abbas's debut as a soldier was in the battle of SiffinBattle of Siffin
The Battle of Siffin occurred during the First Fitna, or first Muslim civil war, with the main engagement taking place from July 26 to July 28. It was fought between Ali ibn Abi Talib and Muawiyah I, on the banks of the Euphrates river, in what is now Ar-Raqqah, Syria...
. In 657 CE, Abbas's father Ali and Muawiya ibn Abi Sufyan
Muawiyah I
Muawiyah I was the first Caliph of the Umayyad Dynasty. After the conquest of Mecca by the Muslims, Muawiyah's family converted to Islam. Muawiyah is brother-in-law to Muhammad who married his sister Ramlah bint Abi-Sufyan in 1AH...
, 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-quick swordsmanship. Seeing his great ability, Muawiya's soldiers mistook him for Ali because of his similar mastery of the 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
Ali
' |Ramaḍān]], 40 AH; approximately October 23, 598 or 600 or March 17, 599 – January 27, 661).His father's name was Abu Talib. Ali was also the cousin and son-in-law of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, and ruled over the Islamic Caliphate from 656 to 661, and was the first male convert to Islam...
then introduced Abbas by saying, "He is Abbas, the Moon of the Hashimi family". He was trained by his Father Ali
Ali
' |Ramaḍān]], 40 AH; approximately October 23, 598 or 600 or March 17, 599 – January 27, 661).His father's name was Abu Talib. Ali was also the cousin and son-in-law of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, and ruled over the Islamic Caliphate from 656 to 661, and was the first male convert to Islam...
in the art of battle, which is why he resembled his father in the battlefield.
Battle of Karbala
Abbas showed his loyalty to Husayn at the Battle of KarbalaBattle of Karbala
The Battle of Karbala took place on Muharram 10, in the year 61 of the Islamic calendar in Karbala, in present day Iraq. On one side of the highly uneven battle were a small group of supporters and relatives of Muhammad's grandson Husain ibn Ali, and on the other was a large military detachment...
. After succeeding his father Muawiya ibn Abu Sufyan as Caliph, Yazid ibn Muawiyah required Husayn to pledge allegiance to him, but 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 invited Husayn to teach them about Islam. After initially sending his cousin, Husayn too made his decision after the advice of his cousin. But by the time Husayn arrived near Kufa, his cousin had been killed . On the way, Husayn and his group were intercepted. They were forced into a detour and arrived in Karbala on the 2nd of Muharram
Muharram
Muharram is the first month of the Islamic calendar. It is one of the four sacred months of the year in which fighting is prohibited...
, 61 AH. Husayn's camp was surrounded and cut off from the Euphrates
Euphrates
The Euphrates is the longest and one of the most historically important rivers of Western Asia. Together with the Tigris, it is one of the two defining rivers of Mesopotamia...
river. The camp ran out of water on the 7th of Muharram.
Martyrdom
The EuphratesEuphrates
The Euphrates is the longest and one of the most historically important rivers of Western Asia. Together with the Tigris, it is one of the two defining rivers of Mesopotamia...
river was occupied by Yazid's Army to prevent the camp of Hussien 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 spear, and a bag for water in his hands. He was also given the authority to hold the standard (liwa') 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 (The essence of this event was to illustrate that Abbas conquered the Euphrates river, held it with his mighty hands, yet still did not drink. They claim that until this very day the water from Euphrates river circles the grave of Abbas) . 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 master"). According to Shia tradition, Abbas fell first onto his face before he let the standard fall.
He was killed on Friday, 10 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 7th night of Muharram. Shia Muslims mourn the death of all martyrs of Islam associated with Husayn in the month of Muharram
Muharram
Muharram is the first month of the Islamic calendar. It is one of the four sacred months of the year in which fighting is prohibited...
, the first of the Islamic calendar, mainly in the first ten days (see Remembrance of Muharram). Fadl ibn Abbas and Qasim ibn Abbas also laid down their lives at Karbala. Ubaydullah ibn Abbas lived to continue the lineage of Abbas with five sons of his own.
‘Abbās was buried at that ground where he fell from his horse in Karbalā, Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
. The Al-‘Abbās Mosque
Al Abbas Mosque
The Al-‘Abbās Mosque or Masjid al-‘Abbās is the mausoleum of ‘Abbās ibn ‘Alī, located across from the Imām Husayn Mosque in Karbalā, Iraq. ‘Abbās was the brother Hasan and Husayn, and was the flag-bearer for Husayn in the Battle of Karbalā...
was built around his grave, to which millions of pilgrims visit and pay homage every year.
Why is Abbas called Ghazi?
Ghazi or Gha'Z (غازی) means "soldier who returns successfully from the battle". Although Abbas was killed at Karbala, he is known as Ghazi because, when he carried out the first strike against Yazid's army, his mission was to rescue the horse which was seized by Shimr during battle of SiffinBattle of Siffin
The Battle of Siffin occurred during the First Fitna, or first Muslim civil war, with the main engagement taking place from July 26 to July 28. It was fought between Ali ibn Abi Talib and Muawiyah I, on the banks of the Euphrates river, in what is now Ar-Raqqah, Syria...
. This horse belonged to his other half brother Hassan ibn Ali. Abbas retained control over the horse and presented it to Husayn. http://archive.mumineen.org/publications/Humble_Tribute/page5.html
Horse of Abbas
Abbas was given a horse named "Uqab" (Eagle). Shia claim that this horse was used by Muhammad and Ali and that this horse was presented to Muhammad by the King of Yemen, Saif ibn Zee Yazni, through Abdul MuttalibShaiba ibn Hashim
Shaiba ibn Hashim , better known as or Abd al-Muttalib, since he was raised by his uncle Muttalib, was the grandfather of Islamic prophet Muhammad.-Early life:...
. The king considered the horse to be very important and its superiority over other horses was evident by the fact that its genealogical tree was also maintained. It was initially named as "Murtajis". The name "Murtajis" comes from Arabic name "Rijis" which means thunder (lightning).
See also
- Shia Islam
- Ali bin Abi Talib
- Battle of KarbalaBattle of KarbalaThe Battle of Karbala took place on Muharram 10, in the year 61 of the Islamic calendar in Karbala, in present day Iraq. On one side of the highly uneven battle were a small group of supporters and relatives of Muhammad's grandson Husain ibn Ali, and on the other was a large military detachment...
- Sakina(Fatema Kubra)Sakinah bint HusaynSakinah bint Husayn 669-736) was the daughter of the early Islamic martyr Husayn ibn Ali. It is believed that there were two daughters of Husayn who were with him at the battle of Karbala, Sakinah and Sukayna ....
External links
- AL-ABBAS By Abu Talib At-tabrizi, Translated by Abdullah Al-Shahin, Edited by Ahmed Haneef
- Abbas an article by Encyclopædia IranicaEncyclopædia IranicaEncyclopædia Iranica is a project whose goal is to create a comprehensive and authoritative English language encyclopedia about the history, culture, and civilization of Iranian peoples from prehistory to modern times...
- Sacrifice and Courage of Hadrat Abbas
- HAZRAT ABBAS IBN ALI
- Personality of Hadrat Abbas