HAZRAT ABBAS (A.S.)

Name:                Abbas (meaning lion)

Titles:                 Sakka e Sakina (Water carrier for Sakina)

                           Qamr e Banu Hashim (Moon of the Hashimites)

Kuniyya:            Abul Fazhl

Birth:                 4th Sha'ban

Father:              Imam Ali (A.S.).

Mother:            Fatima binte Hizaam Kilabiyya (Ummulbanin )

Children:          3 sons - Fazhl, Qasim & Ubaydullah

Fatima binte Hizaam (Ummulbanin) came from a family of brave warriors. Imam Ali (A.S.) wanted a brave son who would help Imam Husayn (A.S.). He married Fatima binte Hizaam later to be known as Ummulbanin which means mother of sons.

She had four sons , all of whom were martyred in Karbala.

The first person Hazrat Abbas (A.S.) saw when he opened his eyes at birth was Imam Husayn (A.S.) who was then 23 years old.

Once when he was a young child he was sitting in the mosque of Kufa with Imam Ali (A.S.) and Imam Husayn (A.S.) who asked one of the servants to bring some water. Before the servant could get up , Hazrat Abbas (A.S.) ran out to fetch water. When he returned he was drenched as he was finding it difficult to balance the cup of water. Imam Ali (A.S.) looked on with tears in his eyes for he knew what was to happen in Karbala in 61 A.H..

Imam Ali (A.S.) trained his sons from a young age. When Hazrat Abbas (A.S.) was only thirteen he fought side by side with his father in the battle of Siffeen.

Before Imam Ali (A.S.) died he put Hazrat Abbas (A.S.) in the care of Imam Husayn (A.S.) Hazrat Abbas (A.S.) always served Imam Husayn (A.S.) as a master rather then as a brother.

In Kerbala he was the flag bearer of Imam Husayn's (A.S.) army. As was the custom of Arab warfare the one who carried the flag (alam) had a unique honour . It was he who planned the tactics the army would use and also guarded the tents. He was killed whilst getting water for the thirsty children.

He married a lady called Lubaba and they had three sons. Fazhl and Qasim were martyred in Karbala but Ubaydullah was very young and remained with his grandmother Ummulbanin in Madina. He grew up to be a great scholar and so was his son Hasan through whom Hazrat Abbas's generation continued.