Ali wanted one issue...

Ali wanted one issue, to serve on his behalf at Karbala, God gave him three more along with the one desired by him and the Lady Ommol- Baneen gave four Sons to Ali:- Abbas 2. Jaffar 3. Othman 4. Abdullah. The birth of Abbas has been given by God, certain similarities with the birth of his father Ali.

When Ali was born, he did not open his eyes until came to him the Holy Prophet and took him in his lap and on the apostolic hands Ali opened his eyes for the first time in the world and looked first at the holy face of the Apostle of God and smiled. Similarly did Abbas for lie opened his eyes first when Husain came and took him in his lap and Abbas opened his eyes and looked first at the holy face of Husain and smiled.

When Ali was born, he was given to the Holy Prophet who adop- ted him as his son and Ali remained with the Apostle of God and was brought up by him. Similarly, Abbas was given to Husain and remained closely attached to Husain, and Abbas prided treating himself as the slave of Husain addressing Husain not as brother, though he was a brother, but as 'Syed wo Maula' My Chief and my Master.

In short, if the Holy Prophet had come into the world to present Islam and if Ali was given to him as an assistant and helper in the apostolic mission, Husain, had been sent by the Lord to save Isalm and re-establish it at Karbala and Abbas was given to Husain to assist him and to help him in the godly mission of apostolic nature.

In resonse to the desire of Ali the First Holy Imam or the Vicegercnt of God on earth, God had sent Abbas for Husain, as was sent Ali for the Holy Prophet, to exhibit exactly the same matchless bravery, wonderful valour, irresistible prowess and the amazing and the inimitable and ideal faithfulness to defend Husain and the truth at Karbala.

For the marked resemblance with his father, Abbas was popu- Iarly known as 'Haider-e-Thani', i.e., Haider (Ali) the Second ; and for his extraordinary handsome features, he was fittingly called the 'Qamar-e-Bani Hashim', i.e., The Moon of the Hashimites. Abbas is reported to be of such a well built and a tall stature that historians report that when he mounted a horse, his knees touched the ears of the steed and that the animal would proudly bear the commanding personality of its majestic rider.