The Martyrdom of Abbas and other sons of Imam Ali

According to Hafiz Jalaluddin[1], Own son of Imam Ali (a.s) and Asma’ bint Umais, a stepbrother of Imam Husain (s), was present and fought valiantly for Imam Husain (a.s). He prevailed over Salih bin Sayyar and his brother Badr bin Sayyar in a single combat, but while he was thus engaged, Khalid bin Talha came from behind and dealt a mortal blow and Own was martyred. Abbas (a.s), one of the four stepbrothers of Imam Husain (a.s), was born to Imam Ali (a.s) and Ummul Banin bint Hizam bin Khalid bin Rabi’a. Three of them, Uthman, Ja’far and Abdullah had earlier in the day fought the enemy and attained martyrdom. Abbas (a.s) was now very anxious to face the enemy. He was a renowned warrior and had fought alongside Imam Ali (a.s) even when he was only twelve years old. The enemy ranks were terrified of facing him. Earlier in the preceding night Shimr, who claimed that Ibn Ziyad, the governor of Kufa, was distant relative of Ummul Banin, produced ibn Ziyad’s letter, offering enormous wealth and property to Abbas in addition to a high post in Yazid’s army. Abbas tore and scattered the letter of guarantee and refused to be enticed saying that he was least interested in worldly wealth or power and that he was fighting for the just and noble cause of Imam Husain (a.s) against the tyrants and hypocrites. When Abbas approached, Imam Husain (a.s) did not permit to fight against the enemy. Instead, he permitted him only to fetch water from the river Euphrates to quench the thirst of the children in the camp. Abbas came out of the camp and addressed the enemy soldiers saying: “O you vile and base men of ignoble birth, would you deny the basic need of water to the children of the Holy Prophet’s grandson al-Husain, while you claim to be Muslims and hope for the Holy Prophet’s intercession before God? What sin have these children committed that you seek to kill them? How do you justify denying water to children and women? Your conscience is dulled by the lure of wealth and you have forsaken the Islamic tenets. The curse of God is forever upon you for your evil nature.”   [1] Roudhatul Ahbab.

Hearing these words, the enemy attacked Abbas (a.s) from all sides. Abbas repelled the onslaught and the enemy soldiers took to their heels. Murad, a veteran soldier from Yazid’s army, became infuriated and called upon his men to stop running, as he, an accomplished soldier, would singly face Abbas (a.s). When Murad attacked with his lance, Abbas (a.s.) dexterously evaded it at the very last moment, wrenched it from Murad’s hands and struck his horse with such force that Murad was thrown down and his horse was disabled. Shimr shouted at Suraqa to take and give Murad another horse called Tawia. Abbas (a.s) frustrated this plan by killing Suraqa and taking the horse Tawia. Abbas (a.s) left his own horse at Imam Husain’s camp and riding Tawia, went back to the fight. Murad, in mortal danger, shouted at his men to come to his rescue saying, “Abbas, riding my horse Tawia, will kill me with my own lance.” Hearing the pitiful cries of the wretch, Shimr accompanied by Sinan bin Anas, Khouli bin Yazid al-Asbahi, Jameel bin Malik and several horsemen went forth to rescue Murad. But, before the rescue party could reach Murad, Abbas (a.s) overtook them and killed Murad with Murad’s own lance. Scattering the enemy contingent, Abbas (a.s) reached the banks of the Euphrates and asked the horse to drink water. The faithful animal turned away its head as if refusing to taste water. Abbas (a.s) then raised a handful of water up to his mouth to show to the world that he had command over the river then. Abbas (a.s) filled the leather bag with water and started towards Imam Husain (a.s) camp, anxious to deliver water to the thirsty children. Fearing that water might, after all, reach Imam Husain’s camp, the enemy soldiers rallied. Unable to face him with sword or lance, the archers were pressed into service. While Abbas (a.s) was busy avoiding the arrows, one of the soldiers came from behind and severed his right arm. Abbas (a.s) caught the leather bag by his left hand. Another vile soldier of Yazid slunk behind and cut his left hand. Abbas (a.s) caught the leather bag by teeth, intent on saving the bag of water. An arrow then pierced the leather bag and water flowed out of it. At that moment, an arrow struck Abbas (a.s) in the eye, blinding him completely, while simultaneously he was clubbed from behind with brute force. Finding that his object of procuring water to Imam Husain’s children failed, frustrated Abbas (a.s) had no desire to live, and he fell down from his horse. Imam Husain (a.s) fought and scattered the enemy and reached Abbas (a.s), whose face and eyes were completely covered with blood. As a