He preferred his brother to himself...

He preferred his brother to himself; he did well, and sacrificed himself for his brother until he lost his two hands for the sake of this. Thus, instead of his two hands, Allah will give him two wings with which he will fly with the angels in Paradise, just like Ja’far ibn Abi-Talib.

In the sight of Allah the Blessed, the Exalted, al-’Abbas enjoys a peculiar rank for which all the shahids will be hopeful for if they had its like on the day of Resurrection.” [^1] The previous statement of Imam Zayn ul-Abidin (a) includes the most significant sacrifices that al-’Abbas did towards his brother - Imam al-Husayn (a). For the sake of his brother, al-’Abbas sacrificed his two hands and went on resisting until he was felled.

For these great sacrifices, God will grant al-’Abbas an unparalleled rank that all martyrs will wish for if they had its like. Imam as-Sadiq Imam as-Sadiq (a) used to praise his uncle al-’Abbas and pay tributes to his heroic situations during the battle of at-Taff: “My uncle al-’Abbas was clear-sighted and steadfastly faithful.

He fought along with his brother al-Husayn, did very well and was martyred.” [^2] Imam as-Sadiq in the previous statement refers to the noblest characteristics that al-’Abbas enjoyed. Clear-sightedness Clear-sightedness originates from being well-advised and intellectually genuine. It is attached to self-purity and simple-hearted nature and is enjoyed only by those who are free from control of passions. In the personality of al-’Abbas, this characteristic was very clear.

It was the principal motive that incited him to support and follow Imam al-Husayn (a) in order to climb up to the summit of honor and glory. Hence, his great personality has lasted forever and shall remain so as long as man is submitted to the human values whose summits and climaxes have been attained by al-’Abbas. Steadfast faith Imam as-Sadiq (a) testified to the unmatched character of his uncle al-’Abbas when he attached the characteristic of steadfast faith to him.

This steadfast faith provoked al-’Abbas to challenge the enemies in the fields of jihad and sacrifice himself for his religion. Fighting along with Imam Al-Husayn The testimony of jihad is the best proof on the perfection of personality. Hence, Imam as-Sadiq (a) ascribes this great virtue to the personality of al-’Abbas because of the latter’s self-evident fighting for the sake of his brother, Imam al-Husayn (a).