Birthday of the resplendent moon of the Hashemite clan
Apr 10, 2019 05:03 UTC
Heartiest felicitations to you for the second successive day in this blessed month of Sha’ban, of which today is the 4th – an important occasion to celebrate. Since today is the birthday of the Immortal Standard Bearer of Karbala, Abu’l-Fazl Abbas (AS) let us present you an interesting feature on this valiant son of Imam Ali (AS) and the brother of Imam Husain (AS).
Before we present you our special feature titled: “Birthday of the Resplendent Moon of the Hashemite Clan”, here is an immortal aphorism from the Commander of the Faithful, Imam Ali (AS) on building impeccable manners to contemplate upon.
“Adab” (civility, affability, politeness) is the treasure of the mendicant, the helper of the helpless, colleague in assembly, companion in solicitude, reviver of the heart and the means towards the goal.”
It is said that a person, however sharp his intellect, who does not possess this noble trait, it is as if he is standing virtually without armour or any means of defence, whatever his claim to courage and valour be.
This wonderful characteristic called “Adab” in Islamic terminology, and its English equivalents of civility, affability, politeness, courteousness, good-breeding, good manners etc., is the hallmark of a true believer.
It completes faith and was taken to the heights of perfection by Prophet Mohammad (SAWA), and after him by the Infallible Imams of his Household. They set a practical example in this regard, and defined and inculcated this principle of Islam in their followers.
The Commander of the Faithful and the Leader of the Pious, Imam Ali ibn Abi Taleb (AS), who as the vicegerent of the Seal of Prophets, was the epitome of “Adab” in piety, patience, worship, valour, eloquence, wisdom, magnanimity, generosity, administrative affairs and the like, instilled this fundamental value into his children and into his disciples.
Without the least doubt, his two infallible sons and successors, Imam Hasan (AS) and Imam Husain (AS) – the Prophet’s grandsons – were divinely inspired and practical exemplars of this and all other humanitarian principles.
However the name that springs to mind when talking of “Adab” blended with patience, valour, foresight, piety, knowledge, and loyalty, is not that of any of his disciples, although Imam Ali (AS) trained many outstanding figures such as Malek Ashtar, Muhammad bin Abu Bakr, Maytham Tammar, and Kumayl ibn Ziyad.
The name that comes to the mind is that of one his exemplary sons, Abu’l Fazl al-Abbas (AS), the Flag-Bearer of the Epic of Ashura.
Today on the 4th of Sha’ban we are celebrating the birthday of this immortal hero who, though not an Imam, acts as a polestar for fractured hearts from all over the world.
How? Because God Almighty has bestowed on him the healing power of being “Bab al-Murad” or Granter of Boons for his selfless endeavour in defence of Islam and the cause of the Imam of his age, his brother, Imam Husain (AS).
He preferred martyrdom to an ignoble and unprincipled life, by bravely spurning the offer of wealth and worldly posts that the villain Shemr placed before him in Kabala, on condition of deserting the Prophet’s grandson.
Abbas, however, preferred that his lips remain parched even while filling the goatskin water-carrier after having bravely fought his way to the River Euphrates, because children in the camp were thirsty.
He preferred the severance of both of his hands to ensure that the flag of Islam will forever flutter high, rather than surrendering to the cowardly foes that ambushed him on his return from the river.
He preferred glorious death with an eye pierced with arrow and head struck from behind by the mace of a dastardly enemy, rather than return to the camp without water.
The name Abbas (AS), thus evokes memories of faith, fraternity and fealty, which he brilliantly displayed throughout his fruitful 35-year life right since his birth in 26 AH till the crowning moment on the afternoon of 10th Muharram 61 AH.
Hazrat Abbas (AS) was born for a cause, lived for a cause and died for a cause.
As a matter of fact, his father had married the noble and brave lady Fatema al-Kalabiyya so that Imam Husain (AS) would have an excellent lieutenant to rely upon in the events leading to history’s most heart-rending tragedy.
Tall, of handsome stature and gifted with courteousness, Hazrat Abbas (AS) earned the epithet of “Qamar Bani Hashen” (or Moon of the Hashemite Clan) in the lifetime of his father while in his teens.
Thereafter, for the next 21 years he continued to shine resplendently, by ably discharging the duties entrusted to him as dispenser of social services and charity works by Imam Hasan and later by Imam Husain (peace upon them).
It was not for no reason that Imam Husain (AS), on seeing him martyred, sank to the ground on his martyrdom, saying: “My back has been broken.”
We are not sure what thoughts flashed across the mind of the Martyr of Karbala at this crucial moment and whether he recalled the tragic scene of the funeral of his elder brother Imam Hasan (AS) 11 years earlier when he had pacified the valorous, loyal and affable Abbas (AS) from taking prompt action against the ruffians who not just prevented the elder grandson of the Prophet from being laid to rest beside his grandfather but committed the sacrilege of shooting arrows at the bier.
Today when all those who had made the folly of offending the Ahl al-Bayt have vanished into oblivion, the Moon of the Hashemite Clan shines all the more brightly for his valorous affability and unquestionable obedience to the Word of God and to the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (SAWA).
This is why we salute Hazrat Abbas (AS) with the following phrases when visiting his shrine in Karbala:
"O the Son of the Commander of the Faithful! I bear witness that you resigned yourself to the Will of Allah, sincerely accepted as true, faithfully kept your promise, and proved yourself a reliable friend, with regards to the Prophet's grandson (Imam Husain)."
AS/MG
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