Hazrat Fatima bint-e-Hazm bin Khalid

13th Jamadi-us-Sani - the death anniversary of Hazrat Fatima bint-e-Hazm bin Khalid (also known as Umm-ul-Baneen) – the wife of Imam Ali(a.s.) and mother of Hazrat Abbas(a.s.)

Hazrat Fatima binte Hazam bin Khalid Ibn-e-Rabi'e Ibn-e-Amer Kalbi belonged to the clan of Banu Kilah, which was one the noblest families amongst the Hashimites and famous for the bravery and valour of its warriors.

She was born in 5 A.H. Some years after the martyrdom of Hazrat Fatima Zahra(s.a.), Imam Ali(a.s.) expressed his desire to his brother Aqil bin Abi Talib(a.s.) to marry a women of a brave and warrior tribe. Hazrat Aqeel was a very knowledgeable in tribe genealogy and he immediately proposed the name of Hazrat Fatima binte Hazam bin Khalid and the marriage took place soon after.

Much earlier during 8 A.H., Imam Ali(a.s.) had been given the prophecy by Prophet Mohammad(sawaw) of a brave son who would be martyred alongside with his brother Imam Hussain(a.s.) on the day of Ashura. Eversince then, Imam Ali(a.s.) had been waiting for the birth of that son which came in the person of Hazrat Abbas(a.s.).

Hazrat Umm-ul-Baneen came to the house of Imam Ali(a.s.) knowing very well that before her the chief of the women of paradise, Hazrat Fatima Zahra(s.a.) was living in that house. She served Imam Ali(a.s.) in the same manner as Hazrat Umm-e-Salma had served the Holy Prophet(sawaw) after the demise of Hazrat Khadija(a.s.). Immediately stepping in  the house, she vowed herself to act as a slave of the children of Hazrat Fatima(s.a.). Her sincerity was much respected by the children of Hazrat Fatima(s.a.) that they always gave her a high status and respect.

Fatima Binte Hazam was an accomplished and cultured lady, and bore Hazrat Ali's four sons, Abbas, Abdullah, Jafer and Usman. The meaning of 'Ummul Baneen' is 'Mother of Sons'. All of her sons were martyred along with Imam Husain. After their martyrdom, she requested people not to call her 'Ummul Baneen' ever again. When Imam Husain(A.S.) was leaving Madinah for Iraq Hadrat Ummul Baneen asked her four sons, Hadrat Abbas(A.S.), Abdulla, Ja'far and Usman to sacrifice their lives in the sacred cause of Imam Husain(A.S.).

On 10th Muharram 61 A.H.,the day of martyrdom of Imam Husain(a.s.) and his 72 faithful companions at the battlefield of Karbala when Hadrat Umme Salamah witnessed that the earth in the bottle given to her by the Holy Prophet(sawaw) had turned into blood she raised the cry of "Ya Husain" Ya Husain" and declared that Imam Husain(a.s.) has been martyred according to the prophecy foretold to her by the Holy Prophet(sawaw) about the martyrdom of Imam Husain(a.s.).

Then Ummul Baneen gathered women of Madinah in her house and all cried for the martyrdom of Imam Husain(a.s.).This was the first ever Majlis conducted after the martyrdom of Imam Husain(a.s.). Ummul Baneen had such sincerity toward the Holy Prophet's progeny that she loved Imam Hussain(a.s.) more than her own children. A feeling which was from the bottom of her heart. It was to the extent that when she received the news stating the martyrdom of her four children, she said: "Tell me about Hussain (A.S.)" and when she received the news of Imam Hussain (A.S.)'s martyrdom she said: "All of the arteries of my heart are torn. May all of my children and what ever that exists under this azure heaven be sacrificed for the sake of Imam Hussain (a.s.).

The First Noha Recitor of the martyrdom of Imam Hussain(a.s.)

After the arrival of Imam Sajjad(a.s.) and Hazrat Zainab(s.a.) in Madinah Hadrat Ummul Baneen used to gather women in her house and used to narrate them how Imam Husain(a.s.) and his companions were martyred by Yazidi forces.

Hadrat Ummul Baneen was a great poet and she is considered as the first Noha (lamentation poetry) and marsia reciter for the martyrdom of Imam Husain(a.s.).She used to visit regularly the famous Jannat al-Baqi cemetery in Madinah and recite her Nohas in a very sad voice that everybody present there used to weep bitterly. Her poetry on the events of Karbala are recorded in the book mentioned below.

She transformed the Jannat al-Baqi cemetery in Madinah as "the Centre of Azadari of Imam Husain(a.s.)". The Nohas recited by Hadrat Ummul Baneen for the martyrdom of Imam Husian(a.s.) are recorded in history and are considered as masterpieces in Arabic literature.

It is recorded in historical accounts that Hazrat Ummul Baneen died on 13th Jamadi us-Sani 64 A.H. and was buried in the Jannat al-Baqi cemetery in the holy city of Madinah.

Hazrat Abbas(a.s.)

4th of Shaban, the birth anniversary of Alamdar-e-Lashkar-e-Imam Hussain(a.s.) - Hazrat Abbas (a.s.) ibn-e-Imam Ali (a.s.).

Birth and Childhood

Although not an Imam nor regarded as one of the Masoom individuals (he is not within the circle of the 14 Infallibles), Hazrat Abbas ibne Ali (a.s.) possesses a great position in Islam.  Born in the immaculate family of the Prophet Muhammad(sawaw), he was the half-brother of two Imams – Hasan (a.s.) and Hussain (a.s.).

Some years after the martyrdom of Hazrat Fatima Zahra (s.a.), Imam Ali (a.s.) expressed his desire to his brother Aqeel ibn-e-Abi Talib (a.s.) to marry a women of a brave and chivalrous tribe. Hazrat Aqeel was very knowledgeable in tribe genealogy and he immediately proposed the name of Hazrat Fatima binte Hazam bin Khalid and the marriage took place in 24 Hijrah. Hazrat Fatimah gave birth to Hazrat Abbas (a.s.) on the 4th Shabaan, 26th Hijrah.

Imam Hussain (a.s.) was very attached to Hazrat Abbas(a.s.). When Hazrat Abbas (a.s.) was born, Hazrat Ali (a.s.) asked Imam Hussain (a.s.) to recite the adhaan and the iqamah in the ears of the child. Just his his father had not opened eyes after birth until the Prophet Mohammad (sawaw) arrived, Hazrat Abbas (a.s.) also did not open his eyes until Imam Hussain (a.s.) arrived. When he was in the arms of Imam Hussain (a.s.), the infant smiled and raised his arms. There were tears in Imam Hussain's (a.s.) eyes. Was it because he knew that the child was trying to say: "O Mawla I have come and will happily give these arms and my life for you and Islam".

In early childhood Hazrat Abbas (a.s.) would follow Imam Hussain (a.s.) like a shadow. When Imam Hussain (a.s.) was thirsty, Abbas (a.s.) would rush to bring him water. When Imam Hussain (a.s.) felt heat, Abbas (a.s.) would fan him with the hem of his cloak.

Hazrat Abbas(a.s.) at Battle of Siffin

At the battle of Siffeen, Abbas (a.s.) was very young - hardly eleven years old. Imam Hussain (a.s.) was fighting in the battle field. When Hazrat Abbas(a.s.) saw an enemy soldier approaching Imam Hussain (a.s.) from behind, he took a sword and rushed into the battle field and killed the enemy, at the same time crying out in a loud voice, "How can any one dare attack my Mawla while I am alive." He continued to fight maintaining his position behind Imam Hussain (a.s.).

One day he appeared fully disguised, masked and armored, on the battlefield. When Ibn-e-Shasa, a brave and famous Syrian fighter saw this masked person, he asked one of his seven sons to slay him. Instead, the son was quickly put down. Similarly, the other six sons tried to fight this masked warrior, but they all met the same fate.

Finally lbn-e-Shasa himself came forward and the manner in which he was also beaten, made all the other people stare in disbelief. They then thought this masked fighter to be Hazrat Ali (a.s.), and no one dared to come forward to fight. But, when Hazrat Abbas (a.s.) removed the mask, people were surprised to note that he was not Ali, but instead, Abbas, the inheritor of Hazrat Ali's gallantry.

Muawiya saw this and asked, "Who is that boy?" When he was told he was Abbas ibne Ali, he said, "By God! No one can fight like that at that age except a son of Ali!"

His youth

Hazrat Abbas (a.s.) grew up to be a tall and handsome man. He was so tall, that when he sat on a horse his feet touched the ground. He was so handsome that he was known as Qamar-e-Bani Hashim, the Moon of the family of Hashim.

Hazrat Abbas (a.s.) was also a valiant warrior. It was said that Muawiya did not dare invade Madina because of five men who were with Imam Hussain (a.s.) and could, together with their Imam, conquer a whole army. These were Muhammad Hanafia, a brother of Imam Hussain (a.s.), Hazrat Muslim ibn-e-Aqeel (a.s.), Abdullah Ibn-e-Jaffer (a.s.), Hazrat Abbas (a.s.) and Hazrat Ali ibn-al-Hussain (a.s.), our fourth Imam, Zainul Abideen (a.s.).

When Imam Hussain (a.s.) decided to leave Madina in the month of Rajab 60 Hijrah, he did not encourage Muhammad Hanafia and Abdullah Ibn-e-Jaffer to accompany him. He wanted to make sure that no one at the time or in the future would suggest that Hussain (a.s.) wanted to fight for the khilafah.

Just before Imam Hussain (a.s.) left Madina, Ummul Baneen (a.s.) summoned all her four sons and said to them, "My sons you must remember that while I love you, Imam Hussain (a.s.) is your Master. If Imam (a.s.) or his sisters or his children get injured or hurt while you are still alive, I will never forgive you." There were tears in Hazrat Abbas's (a.s.) eyes as he promised his mother that he and his brothers would lay down their lives for Imam Hussain (a.s.) and his children.

Titles of Hazrat Abbas (a.s.)

1- Qamar-e-Banihashem (THE MOON OF BANIHASHEM'S PROGENY)

This was his most famous nickname. The reason behind that was his good looking face which was resembled to the moon.

2- Saqqa' (THE ONE WHO PROVIDES WATER)

This is another of his famous nickname. Since he was dealing with bringing water to Imam Hussein (A.S)'s camps and supplying Imam's thirsty children with water, he was given this nickname.

3- Hamel-ul-Lava' (THE ONE WHO CARRIES THE FLAGS)

This nickname was given to him because he was the one who carried the flag in Imam Hussein (A.S)'s troop.

4- Raees-e-Askar-al-Hussein (THE COMMANDER OF IMAM HUSSAIN (A.S.)'S TROOPS)

This nickname was given to him because he was the commander of Imam Hussain (a.s.)'s troops.

QASIDA MANQABAT HAZRAT ABBAS PART 1