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 fourth 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. 
He was none other than the valiant standard-bearer of the immortal epic of Karbala, Abu’l-Fazl al-Abbas (AS).
was the year 26 AH (647 AD), while the Prophet of Islam’s First Infallible Heir, the Commander of the Faithful, 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. He informed him of the birth of a son to Fatema bint Hezam al-Kelabiya, whom Imam Ali (AS) 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.
The Imam hastened to his house and felt 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) recalled his own first sight in the world on emerging from his birthplace the holy Ka’ba in his mother’s arms, and seeing the glowing eyes of his 30-year old cousin Prophet Muhammad (SAWA).
At the same time the Imam’s God-given vision pierced the veils of the future. It saw the heartrending sight 35 years later in 61 AH besides the River Euphrates in Karbala, where Abbas would lie on the ground, soaked in blood, head smashed, an arrow in one of the eyes, and both 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 third 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 a son who would play the role of the loyal lieutenant, as he himself had served the Seal of Messengers.
Thus, Hazrat Abbas (AS), groomed from childhood for the lofty task ahead, used to address Imam Hasan (AS) as “Ya Seyyedi” (O my Lord), and Imam Husain (AS) as “Ya Mowlai” (O my Master), since he was fully aware of their Divinely-decreed positions as “Leaders of the Youths of Paradise”. 
This was indeed a form of respect for Prophet Muhammad (SAWA) and Hazrat Fatema Zahra (SA).
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, and winning accolades from the Commander of the Faithful.
After his father’s martyrdom and seizure of the caliphate through deceit by the rebellious governor of Syria, Mu’awiyyah 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 in 50 AH, when Mu’awiyyah treacherously martyred the Prophet’s elder grandson through poisoning, 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 befalls the Prophet’s Infallible Heir.
To be brief, in Karbala, Hazrat Abbas (AS) readied himself for immortal martyrdom and would often say, “Death under swords is glorifying when Paradise is the fruit.”
When Jareer bin Abdullah, a distant cousin of his mother, sent a letter to him to desert Imam Husain (AS) with promises of favours from the Omayyad regime, Hazrat Abbas (AS) rejected the offer with utter disdain. 
His words to the despicable Omayyad commander Shimr Ziljowshan, are recorded in books of history:
“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” could not fetch water to the thirsty camp of the Prophet’s Ahl al-Bayt.