In the Name of God, the All-Merciful, the All-Compassionate
Today is the 4th of the blessed month of Sha'ban on which in the year 26 corresponding to 647 AD, a radiant boy was born in Medina to the Commander of the Faithful, Imam Ali (peace upon him). The boy was destined to earn lasting fame as Qamar-e Bani Hashem or the Moon of the Prophet's clan, the Hashemites. He was none other than Abu'l-Fazl Abbas (peace upon him), the immortal standard-bearer of the epic of Karbala, where he loyally served his brother, Imam Husain (peace upon him), whose birthday, as you know, we celebrated yesterday.
Please stay with us for a special feature on Hazrat Abbas (peace upon him), whose birthday is marked in the Islamic Republic of Iran as Rouz-e Janbazaan or the Day of those fearlessly risking their life and limbs for a noble cause, as was the case of Iran's Muslim combatants in the 1980s during the 8-year holy defence when the US had imposed the war on Iran through its agent Saddam.
The epic of Karbala, will remain incomplete if the name of Abu'l-Fazl al-Abbas (peace upon him), the valiant brother of Imam Husain (peace upon him) is not mentioned. Born of a different mother, that is, the virtuous Fatema al-Kelabiyya, he was 22 years younger than Imam Husain (peace upon him), and out of respect for the Noblest-Ever Lady, Hazrat Fatema az- Zahra (peace upon her), he always called the Prophet's grandsons "My Lords" and never used the fraternal term "brother." Loyal to the very core, he spurned the offer of amnesty and political posts by the enemy, and proved to the world that he was born for a cause, lived for a cause and died for a cause, in the full bloom of manhood at the age of 35 years. The immortal standard-bearer who, while trying to fetch water for the thirsty camp, lost both his hands, his eye, and finally his life, ensured that the flag of true Islam will always fly high.
No wonder, the Moon of the Hashemite Clan, whose shrine in Karbala stands as a perennial sentinel to that of Imam Husain (peace upon him), is invoked by the faithful to this day during supplications to God as the Bab al-Murad or the Gateway of Needs.
As we said earlier, Qamar-e Bani Hashem means Moon of the Hashemite Clan. This epithet was not merely an indication of the tall and handsome physical stature of Hazrat Abbas (peace upon him). As a matter of fact, the ‘Resplendent Moon’ that he was, in every sense of the term, the radiance of Abbas did not end with his 35-year life when in the state of thirst he refused to drink a drop of the waters of the Euphrates even after gaining control of the River Bank in a lightning attack that put the enemies to flight. The reason was that his brother and the children in the camp were all thirsty.
Therefore, he filled the goatskin water-carrier with the elixir of life while he himself remained thirsty. His goal was to carry the water to the Imam's camp, but alas, on the way he was surrendered on all sides by the cowardly Omayyad forces. First his right hand was severed by an assassin ambushing him from behind a palm tree. Then he lost his left hand in the same manner. Nonetheless, he continued to spur his horse with the goat-skin water-carrier hanging around his neck. Fate did not will that he succeed in his selfless endeavours. Soon the goat-skin was pierced by a volley of arrows as a result of which all the water was drained. With his heart broken, Hazrat Abbas (peace upon him) continued to resist and preferred to drink the elixir of martyrdom.
He has thus remained immortal, true to the words of the Holy Qur’an, which say that those killed in the Way of God Almighty should never be considered dead since they are alive and receive sustenance from their Lord. This God-granted immortality has earned Abbas the title of Bab al-Murad or the gateway that grants the needs of those that knock at his blessed threshold.
To be more precise, the light of Hazrat Abbas (peace upon him) glows more serenely than the moon, providing succour to hearts and soothing restless spirits. Look at his fruitful life. He was virtue personified. He was the personification of faith and loyalty. He was the embodiment of valour and acknowledged by all as one of the greatest swordsmen of his age. At the same time, he was a picture of patience and piety with full cognizance of God, the Prophet, and Wilaya or Divinely-decreed authority of his father, Imam Ali (peace upon him), of his brothers, Imam Hasan and Imam Husain (peace upon him), and his young nephew, the future Imam Zain al-Abedin (peace upon him).
If in his early teens, he had proved his mettle on the battlefield during the Siffin War, his prudence, wisdom and handling of crucial public affairs became a byword, during the twenty years that he was entrusted grave social responsibilities, first by Imam Hasan and then by Imam Husain (peace upon them).
No wonder, the martyrdom of this prop of pristine Islam, literally broke the back of Imam Husain (peace upon him). Hazrat Abbas was an institution and still is. He transcends time and space as could be vouched by all those who invoke his name for speedy solution to their problems during supplications to God Almighty. The reason is obvious. He had imbibed the nectar of Islamic teachings from the very sources of Islam itself.
We congratulate you once again on this auspicious occasion, and we present you an interesting poem on the dynamic personality of the Moon of the Hashemite Clan composed by Iran's contemporary English language poet, Dr. Hasan Najafi.
Whomever life’s pressing tyranny consigns
In the horizon of hope your name shines.
By your powerful Fidelity, Truth is impressed
Your very name is irresistible storm of each breast.
As your figure was the charm of every sight
Your name Abbas is the charm for souls’ flight.
You are the courage and bravery’s wonder
Your name is the battle’s applauding thunder.
To every needy you are the Door of his needs
You are the path whereon fidelity proceeds.
You are the Moon (of Bani Hashem) still hang high
Your radiance is never past under any sky.
In your love pour in pilgrims each day,
To pay tribute at your shrine and to God pray.
Who can repress the pilgrims’ affectionate chants?
Their prayers are answered as all boons God grants.
To new heights your pilgrims’ wishes tower,
Love reciprocates love; love so pure grants power.
Unconquered are you, nor by pleasures nor by pain
To all corners of the Earth extends your domain.
Hindus, Christians, Muslims all crowd your door;
They ask you comply, they extend the bowls; you pour.
You lighten the load of life and ease a weary mind
And bestow hope to disappointed human kind.
To the clock of loyalty you provided the hours
The greatest show of fidelity was yours.
Beauty feels proud when it sees itself in your figure,
Horse prances with pride when it sees you its rider,
The earth feels obliged when you the pacer,
In you is belief that attracts one to see or hear.
As if winds over air or air over winds rode
Such seraphic, ethereal it was when you strode.
You are son of the Greatest Brave of all time,
Cowardice does not exist in your clime.
Fidelity, loyalty, sincerity are the fruits of your garden,
You chose martyrdom over worldly wealth that is forgotten,
Water is ashamed in whatever flow be its run;
Thirsty you entered and thirsty was your return.
Your carriage, your candour, all in you majestic --
Indeed, of Ali’s qualities you are an immortal classic.
In the fair of fidelity you are an example grand,
You gave both the arms but didn’t give hand in Yazid’s hand.
