Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem
Tonight is the night of 8th of
Moharram.
Surely tonight, we will shed
more tears. We will do more matam.
Tonight is a very tragic night,
it is the night of Hazrat Abbas.
Abbas! Who was Abbas(AS)?
Abbas, the Captain; Abbas, the
Commander; Abbas, the brave and strong warrior; Abbas, the Alamder -
flag bearer; Abbas, the faithful brother; Abbas, the guardian of Umme
Kulthoom and Bibi Zainab; Abbas, Sakina's dearest uncle; Abbas, son of
Ummul Baneen; Abbas, the lion son of Ali.
Abbas (AS)was like his father,
Ali(AS). He had all the qualities of his great father. Abbas (AS)was
brave, strong, wise, loving, obedient and faithful.
His father, Ali(AS), on his
dying bed, gave Abbas' hand to Hussain(a.s) said:
My son Abbas, Hussain(a.s) is
the son of Bibi Fatima(s.a). Abbas, you are my son. Abbas, Hussain(a.s)
is your master. You are Hussain(a.s)’s slave. Abbas, take care of
Hussain(a.s)."
Since that day, Abbas(AS) had
fulfilled Hussain(a.s)'s every wish like a faithful slave.
Abbas treated Hussain(a.s) like
his master.
He always treated Bibi
Kulthoom(SA) and Bibi Zainab (SA)with great respect.
He followed Hussain(a.s) like a
shadow.
Abbas was with Hussain(a.s) in
Karbala.
Hussain(a.s) knew Abbas was
like their father, Ali(AS), a brave and strong warrior.
He would tell Abbas(AS):
"My brother Abbas(AS) keep your
sword in its place. Don't take your sword out to fight. We have come to
save Islam. Abbas(AS), we have come to teach true Islam. We will teach
Islam - not with our swords but with our character. Patience Abbas(AS),
patience"
When Yazid's men pulled out
Hussain(a.s)'s tents from the river bank, Abbas became very angry. He
pulled out his sword and wanted to fight there and then. Hussain(a.s)
said:
"No Abbas, no! Be patient. We
have not come here to fight, Abbas(AS).
Imagine a warrior like Abbas(AS),
asked not to pull his sword out, after being treated so badly. That
needs great patience.
Ashura came. Ali Akber(AS) gave
his last Adhan. Everyone in Hussain(a.s)'s camp prayed Fajr Namaaz.
The battle of Karbala began.
One-by-one, Hussain(a.s)'s companions went to the battlefield and were
martyred.
Everytime a body was brought to
the tent, Abbas went to Hussain(a.s) and said:
Master, now allow me to go to
the battlefield. Enough, Master, enough. Let me go and fight those
beastly men, Master."
Every time, Hussain(a.s) calmed
Abbas (AS)down by saying:
"No Abbas, no! How can I let
you go? You are the captain of my army. You are my right hand man, Abbas.
You are mu support, Abbas. Where would I be without you, Abbas? No
Abbas(AS), no."
Abbas' three brothers went to
the battlefield and were martyred.
Auno - Mohammed went to the
battlefield and were martyred.
Qasim (AS)went. His body was
trampled and torn to pieces,
Abbas (AS)became very restless
and could not take it anymore. Somehow, he must get permission.
Abbas walked to Umme Kulthoom
and Zainab's tent and then turned back.
He knew they won't let him go.
Abbas walked to Hussain(a.s)'s
tent several times and back again. How could he persuade Hussain(a.s) to
let him go?
Abbas is restless. Abbas wants
permission to fight.
Just then, little Sakina(SA),
with her mashk, came to Abbas. "Uncle Abbas, look at my mashk. It is
very dry. AL-ATASH, uncle. Sakina is very thirsty, uncle Abbas."
Abbas thought of a way to get
permission from Hussain(a.s).
He picked up little Sakina and
went to Hussain(a.s)'s tent.
Abbas sat in front of
Hussain(a.s), with Sakina on his lap.
Abbas didn’t have to say
anything.
Hussain(a.s) looked at Abbas
and then at Sakina(SA) and her mashk.
Hussain(a.s) understood Abbas'
expression.
"Abbas, how can I say no, now?
You have brought Sakina with you. Go Abbas, go. Go and fill Sakina’s
mashk with water.
One request, Abbas, leave your
sword with me!
Remember, Abbas(AS), you are
not going to the fight. You are just going to get water for Sakina(SA)."
Abbas gave his sword to
Hussain(a.s). He kissed Sakina (SA)and put her down. He said:
"Sakina, pray for me, pray that
I get water for you."
Abbas then went to Zainab(SA).
"Sister Zainab(SA), give me
permission to go to the battlefield."
"Brother Abbas(AS), I used to
hear that my hijab would be looted. Abbas(AS), I used to say, how dare
could anyone snatch my hijab when I have eighteen brothers. Now Abbas(AS),
that you are going, I believe that my hijab will really be looted."
Abbas(AS) went to the
battlefield.
In one hand Abbas carried the
Alam of Hussain(a.s)'s army and in the other he held a spear and
Sakina's mashk. He had no sword to fight but had a spear for protection.
He headed for River Furaat.
Yazid's soldiers saw Abbas
coming. They had seen Abbas fight and knew he was like his father,
Ali(AS). They were scared,
The few who dared to attack
Abbas were killed by his spear.
Abbas (AS)reached the river and
filled Sakina's mashk.
He then asked his faithful
horse to drink water. The horse looked towards Hussain(a.s)'s camp and
seemed to say:
"Master, are you sure that the
water will reach Sakina(SA)? Master, how can I drink when Sakina (SA)and
Ali Asghar (AS)are thirsty? Let us first give them water, and then I
will drink some."
Abbas(AS), with his Alam in one
hand and his spear and Sakina's water-filled mashk in the other, rode
back.
Umar Saad, Yazid's commander,
ordered his men to stop Abbas taking water to Hussain(a.s)'s tents.
The enemies surrounded Abbas(AS).
They fired arrows from all directions.
Abbas(AS) was hit with many
arrows. He was bleeding.
Just then, a soldier came from
behind and struck his sword on Abbas' shoulder. Abbas (AS)gripped the
mashk with his teeth, as his arm and spear fell to the ground.
Another soldier came and struck
his sword into Abbas' other shoulder. The Alam and the other arm fell to
the ground.
Imagine, Abbas(AS) on his horse
- No arms - holding Sakina's mashk between his teeth.
Water must reach Sakina(SA).
Abbas(AS), still had the strength to go on.
Sakina’s mashk is still filled
with water.
An arrow was shot. It hit
Sakina's mashk. The water began to pour out.
Abbas lost all his strength as
the water poured out from Sakina's mashk. He fell from his horse and
cried out:
"Master, come to me. Master let
me see you for the last time."
Hussain(a.s) heard Abbas. He
was heartbroken. With his hands on his back he cried out:
"Son, Ali Akber, my back is
gone. My support is gone. My Alamdar is gone."
Hussain(a.s) and Ali Akber
rushed to the battlefield.
Hussain(a.s) saw his brother
lying on the ground.
Imagine how Hussain(a.s) felt
when he saw his brother lying on the ground - covered with blood, both
arms severed.
He placed Abbas' head on his
lap.
"My brother, Abbas? You are
leaving me too. Abbas, what will I do without you? My support, Abbas, I
am finished without you. My brother Abbas, can I do anything for you?"
"Yes, Master. When I came to
this world, I saw your face first. Now, as I am going from this world,
Master, I would like to see your face for the last time."
'Abbas, why can't you see me?"
"Master, my eyes are covered
with blood."
Imam Hussain(a.s) cleaned Abbas'
eyes. Abbas gazed at Hussain(a.s).
"Abbas, I have a wish too. All
your life you have called me Master. Once, brother Abbas, just once,
call me brother."
Abbas said:
"Hussain(a.s), my brother, do
not take my body to the tents. I am ashamed of myself. I don't want
Sakina to see me. I don't want my sisters Kulthoom and Zainab to see me
like this. I don't want Kulthoom and Zainab to cry."
Abbas took his last breath and
died on Hussain(a.s)'s lap.
Poor Hussain(a.s)? What should
he do now?
Hussain(a.s) picked up the Alam
and tied Sakina's mashk to it.
Sakina saw the Alam coming. She
shouted:
"Children, come children. My
uncle Abbas is coming with water. I will give all of you water. Come
children, come."
Hussain(a.s) reached the tent.
He cried out:
"Z-A-l-N-A-B…….Help me,
Zainab(SA)…….The Alam has come……But the Alamdar has not…"
INNA LILLAHE WA INNA ELAIHI
RAJEOON!
WE ARE FROM GOD AND TO GOD WE
RETURN!