By: Seyyed Ali Shahbaz

"Those who die for God live forever; those who fight against God perish forever.”
These words spoken by a God-fearing warrior in the heat of battle when a mortal enemy tried to tempt him with offers of wealth and posts if he switched sides and joined the service of the unjust regime, continue to ring in the ears of the believers, despite the passing of over a millennium and three-and-a-half centuries.
He was not an ordinary person, or else we would not have been celebrating his birth anniversary today on the 4th of Sha’ban.
He was a multisided genius, excelling in various spheres of life. For instance, his remarkable horsemanship had earned him the title of "Seyyed al-Forsaan” (Chief of Horsemen).
His administrative qualities in mobilizing courageous people had won him the epithet "Raees ash-Shuja’aan” (Leader of the Valiant).
His utmost care in ensuring that potable water, the elixir of life, ought to be available all the times, especially for children, and his personal efforts in procuring it on several occasions, even at the cost of life, brought him the appellation of "As-Saqqa” (Quencher of Thirst).
His chivalrous command of troops by leading them from the front, with himself carrying the banner has immortalized him as "Hamel ar-Raya” (Standard-Bearer – "Alamdar” in Persian, Turkish and Urdu)
His tall stature and exceptionally handsome features has eternalized him as "Qamar Bani Hashem” (Moon of the Hashemite Clan).
The identity of the radiant baby born this day should now be clear to the readers of this column.
It was the year 26 AH (647 AD), while Prophet Muhammad’s (SAWA) First Infallible Heir, Imam Ali ibn Taleb (AS), was praying in the Prophet’s Mosque in Medina that his loyal servant, Qanbar, hurriedly approached him, beaming with joy, to inform him of the birth of a son to his wife, Fatema bint Hezam al-Kelabiya, whom the Commander of the Faithful had married over a dozen years after the passing away of the Noblest Lady of All Times, the Prophet’s Immaculate Daughter, Hazrat Fatema az-Zahra (SA).   
The Commander of the Faithful, whose mother Fatema bint Asad had called him "Haider” or Valourous Lion and one of whose epithets was "Asad-Allah” or the Lion of God, named the son Abbas, which also means a Valiant Lion.
He hastened to his house and was doubly rejoiced on seeing the Prophet’s younger grandson, Imam Husain (AS), holding his newborn brother in his arms and reciting the "Azaan” in the right ear and the "Eqamah” in the left ear.
Tears flowed from the father’s eyes on beholding the two brothers, separated by an age-gap of 22 years but smiling at each other as the newborn opened his eyes and the first thing he saw was the radiant visage of Imam Husain (AS).
Imam Ali (AS), not just recalled his own first sight in the world of seeing the glowing eyes of his 30-year old cousin Prophet Muhammad (SAWA) on emerging from the holy Ka’ba in his mother’s arms, but his God-given vision pierced the veils of the future to see the heartrending sight 35 years later besides the River Euphrates in Karbala where Abbas lay on the ground, soaked in blood, his head smashed, an arrow in one of his eyes, and both of his arms severed from the body, having a last look at Imam Husain (AS), with the words "Farewell O Master”.
Salutations to Hazrat Abbas (AS) on his auspicious birthday that incidentally falls a day after the blessed 3rd of Sha’ban when Imam Husain (AS) was born 22 years earlier.
His birth had a purpose behind, since his father whom the Prophet had foretold of the tragic martyrdom of Imam Husain (AS) in order to salvage Islam and all humanitarian values, had longed for another son who would play the role of the loyal lieutenant, as he himself had served the Seal of Messengers.
Therefore, Hazrat Abbas (AS) was groomed from childhood for the lofty task ahead. Out of respect for Prophet Muhammad (SAWA) and Hazrat Fatema Zahra (SA), he used to address Imam Hasan (AS) as "Ya Seyyedi" or O my Lord, and address Imam Husain (AS) as "Ya Mowlai" or O my Master, since he was fully aware of their divinely-decreed positions as "Leaders of the Youths of Paradise".
He grew into a brave youth. On entering teenage he displayed his future greatness in one of the battle of the War of Siffeen by routing a body of Omayyad warriors, winning accolades from the Commander of the Faithful.
After his father’s martyrdom and the seizure of the caliphate through deceit by the rebellious governor of Syria, Mu’awiyya ibn Abu Sufyan, he stood steadfast beside Imam Hasan al-Mujtaba (AS) as the righteous leader of the Islamic Ummah. He was in charge of public welfare projects.
Ten years later, when the Prophet’s elder grandson was treacherously martyred through poisoning by Mu’awiyya, he loyally followed the path of Imam Husain (AS).
Throughout the next decade he accompanied Imam Husain (AS) like a shadow to ensure no harm will befall the Prophet’s Infallible Heir.
To be brief, in Karbala, he readied himself for immortal martyrdom, and would say: "Death under swords is glorifying when Paradise is the fruit.”
When Jareer bin Abdullah, who was distant cousin of the mother of Hazrat Abbas (AS) sent a letter to him to desert Imam Husain (AS) with promises of favours from the Omayyad regime, he with utter disdain he rejected the offer, and told the offer. His words to the despicable Shimr Ziljowshan are recorded in books of history. He said: "If I die in defending my Master, Husain, I shall consider myself most fortunate. O coward, remember that valiant die but once. Nobody is born to live eternally. By betraying my master, you have betrayed the Prophet, whose religion you profess to follow. On the Day of Judgement you will be doomed to eternal perdition.”
Today, the shrine of Hazrat Abbas (AS) stands like a sentinel to the shrine of Imam Husain (AS) in Karbala, as testimony of his faith and loyalty, although the "Saqqa” couldn’t fetch water to the thirsty camp of the Prophet’s Ahl al-Bayt.