Who Is Abbas?

It is rare in history for a human being to be created solely for the sake of serving the mission of another human. This is the legendary story of the unique and esteemed personality, Abbas ibn Ali, the brother of the Holy Grandson of the Seal of Prophets, Hussain ibn Ali. The life and death of Abbas testify to his absolute dedication to Hussain’s mission of serving and protecting the religion of Islam and highlights the remarkable attributes he embodied, most notably chivalry, loyalty, sacrifice, and devotion to the purified members of the Prophet’s family. He was not infallible, yet he exemplified the position of infallibility and manifested the best example of a righteous servant to God and His Prophet, which demonstrated itself on the Day of Ashura. As the standard-bearer and the backbone of Imam Hussain, Abbas sacrificed his life while fetching water to quench the thirst of the women and children in Imam Hussain’s camp.

If there are two sides of the same coin, Hussain and Abbas are two sides of that golden coin. It is no wonder that their twin shrines stand in unison with each other. Millions flock to his shrine every year to pay their respect and seek their needs at his door, given his lofty position as the “Door to Needs”. This book presents an introduction to this great saint in the history of Islam, who was a man of principle, morality, dedication, and unwavering faith in the face of tyranny.