Perpetual peace be unto 'Abdillah...

Perpetual peace be unto 'Abdillah, the one who was still breastfeeding [^70] اَبَا عَبْدِ اللهِ Aba 'Abdillah Sometimes however, someone is attributed with an agnomen (kunyah) not because he is the father of so and so, but because he enjoys a certain quality. For example, one who is well known for his open-handedness and generosity is called Abu Jawad.

In this context, a number of commentators of this exalted ziyarah, opine that one of the reasons why the holy Imam ('a) was given the agnomen Abu 'Abdillah was his extreme submissiveness to Allah. In other words, he was the true servant of Allah. Traditions indicate that Imam al-Hussein ('a) was given the agnomen after his birth by Almighty Allah himself through the revelation of the Arch Angel Gabriel, which subtly alludes to the submissive state of Imam ('a) ever since his birth: Previous…