Hazrat Abul Fazl Abbas (a.s) is the son of Imam Ali (a.s) and Fatima Kelabia, known as Bibi Ummul Baneen (s.a).
Imam Ali (a.s) had prayed for a son who would help Imam Hussain (a.s) to save Islam. Allah answered his dua and Hazrat Abbas (a.s) was born on the 4th of Shaban 26 A.H. in Madina.
When his father Imam Ali (a.s) was told the good news, he immediately went into sajda to thank Allah. Then he took the baby in his arms and recited the Azaan in the baby’s right ear and iqamat in his left.
There was great joy and happiness in the family. Imam Ali (a.s) named the baby “Abbas.” It is given to one who is strong, fearless and brave. One of the meanings of Abbas is a lion that other lions fear. The name itself shows the majesty of this great personality.
The children of Bibi Fatima (s.a) celebrated and one by one they held the baby in their arms. Bibi Ummul Baneen (s.a) saw that the baby had not yet opened his eyes. But when Imam Hussain (a.s) came forward and took him, Hazrat Abbas (a.s) opened his eyes for the first time.
On the 7th day of the birth, following the tradition of the Prophet, a goat was sacrificed when the Aqeeqa was performed and the hair was shaved off the baby’s head. Alms were given in charity.
His mother took him in her arms saw how beautiful he looked,the “Moon of Bani Hashim.”
She then prayed :
“I seek the guard of the One (Allah) for him From the eye of every envious including the risings and the sitters
, the Muslims and the unbelievers, the comers and the goers and sons and fathers.”
One day, Bibi Ummul Baneen (s.a) saw Imam Ali (a.s) with Hazrat Abbas (a.s) on his father’s lap. What she saw next, amazed her. The Imam took the baby’s arms and started to kiss them again and again, while tears flowed from his eyes.
“Why are you crying, my Maula?” she asked. Imam Ali (a.s) said “these arms would be cut in the field of Karbala on the day of Ashoor.”
She started to weep.