Abūl Faḍl Al-ʿAbbās^(a)

Al-ʿAbbās b. ʿAlī, honorably known as Abūl Faḍl¹, Abūl Qāsim² and Qamar Banī Hāshim³, is the distinguished son of Imām ʿAlī^(a) and Ummul Banīn^(a). He held the critical roles of commander and standard-bearer in Imām Ḥusayn's caravan during the Battle of Karbalā.

Renowned for his dignity, bravery, generosity, and unwavering obedience to the infallible Imām^(a), he is cherished in Karbalā. There, he served as the flag bearer and the water supplier for his brother Ḥusayn b. ʿAlī's army. Because of these noble duties, he also earned the titles of Saqqa⁴ of the plain of Karbalā, Bāb al-Ḥawa'ij⁵, al-Ṭayyār⁶ and al-Shahīd⁷.

• In tribute to his memory, Imām Sajjād^(a) has said, "May Allah bestow mercy upon my uncle ʿAbbās. He offered the greatest sacrifice and fought a valiant battle until he lost his hands in service to his brother. Allah gifted him two wings like his uncle Jaʿfar al-Ṭayyār, enabling him to fly in paradise alongside angels. Truly, ʿAbbās holds a position in the sight of Almighty Allah that all martyrs would aspire to achieve on the Day of Judgment."

• In the opening of the ziyārah text of ʿAbbās b. ʿAlī^(a), Imām Ṣādiq^(a) proclaims, "Peace be upon you, O righteous and obedient servant of Allah and His Prophet, who showed loyalty to the Commander of the Believers, Ḥasan, and Ḥusayn."

• Imām Ṣādiq^(a) beautifully described ʿAbbās as a figure of profound insight, exceptional intelligence, robust faith, who displayed heroism alongside Imām Ḥusayn^(a), sacrificed himself, and martyred in the path of his Imām^(a). He submitted to the Prophet's successor, acknowledged the Imām^(a) of his era, and demonstrated unwavering loyalty, striving until his final moments.

• In a respectful salutation, Imām Mahdī^(a) said, "Peace be upon Abūl Fadl al-ʿAbbās, son of the Commander of the Believers^(a). He sacrificed his life for his brother, used this world as a stepping stone to the hereafter, and was martyred for his brother. He devotedly tried to provide water to the thirsty in the camp, losing his hands in the sacred struggle for Allah. May Allah distance his killers Yazid b. Raqad and Hakim b. Tufayl Ta'i from His mercy."