Hazrat Abbas (A.S.), the Hope of Imam Ali (A.S.)

Hazrat Abbas is the hope of Imam Ali (as); He is the wish and desire of Imam Ali (as); He is the answered prayer of Imam Ali (as). History tells that:

The first wife of Imam Ali (as) was the beloved daughter of the Holy Prophet (saww) – Sayyida Fatima al-Zahra (as). Together, they were blessed with 4 children: Hasan, Husayn, Zaynab, Umm Kulthoom and Muhsin (who was martyred whilst still in the womb of his mother).

After the martyrdom of Sayyida Fatima (as), when our first Imam (as) intended to remarry, he (as) took his son al-Husayn (as) and visited his brother Aqeel (as).

Aqeel, in those days, was very well known about the family trees of the Arabs and their backgrounds. Our Imam (as) came to him and said, “O Brother Aqeel! Marry me to a woman who belongs to a tribe, which is well known for its courage and bravery. I want Allah (SWT) to bless me with a son from her womb who inherits the bravery and helps this son of mine in Karbala”.

Saying this, he (as) pointed towards al-Husayn (as).

Aqeel proposed to our Imam (as) the name of Fatima, daughter of Hazam, who belonged to the tribe of Banu Kilaab –well known for its courage and bravery during those days. Fatima was not an ordinary woman. She was a staunch lover and follower of Ahlul-Bayt (as) and she was very well aware of their status. Coming into this house, therefore, was the greatest honour for her. The day she stepped into the house of Ali (as), Fatima made it very clear to Imam Hasan (as) and Imam Husayn (as) that she had not come to replace their mother. Rather, she had come to them as their slave and hoped that they would accept her as that. Her love and respect for Imam Hasan (as) and Imam Husayn (as) was more than that for her own children. They were always foremost in her heart! The following incident shows the extent of love and respect she had for Imam Husayn (as):

One incident is about the time when she received the news stating the martyrdom of her four children, she said: "Tell me about Husayn (A.S.)"

And when she received the news of Imam Husayn (as)'s martyrdom she said:

"All of the arteries of my heart are torn. May all of my children and what ever that exists under this azure heaven be sacrificed for the sake of Imam Husayn (as).

Imam Ali (as) married Fatima bint Hazam and together they were blessed with four sons: Abdullah, Ja’ffar, Uthman and Abbas. It is because of the 4 sons that Fatima became known as Ummul-Baneen, meaning ‘the mother of sons’.

The Wish and Prayer of Imam Ali (A.S.) Was Fulfilled

One of the bravest of the Holy Prophet's followers Ja’ffar al-Tayyar, the brother of Imam Ali (as). In the battle of Muta, Ja’ffar Tayyar carried the Banner of Islam and in that battle he was out-numbered by the enemies and killed. When the news reached the Holy Prophet he cried and prayed for Ja’ffar’s soul and the angel Jibrael came down and consoled (the Prophet), saying "Ja’ffar was a brave and loyal soldier. God has given him everlasting life, and in place of two arms which were cut off in the battle, the Lord has given him a pair of wings".

Imam Ali (as), who was sitting near the Holy Prophet at that time, said, "Please pray to God that I should die fighting for the cause of Islam and become a martyr." But the Holy Prophet said, "O Ali, your death has already been decreed. You shall die in the mosque during your prayers, but the Almighty will give you a son who will die in the battle on Ashura day".

From that time Ali (as) eagerly awaited the birth of that son. This prophecy was made true on 4th Sha’ban in the year 8 A.H. when Imam Hasan (as) was 5 years old and Imam Husayn (as) was 4.