Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib

Al-Abbas ibn Abd al-MuttalibTemplate:Efn (Template:Circa) was a paternal uncle and sahabi (companion) of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, just three years older than his nephew. A wealthy merchant, during the early years of Islam he protected Muhammad while he was in Mecca, but only became a convert after the Battle of Badr in 624 CE (2 AH). His descendants founded the Abbasid dynasty in 750.<ref name="encyclopedia">Template:Citation</ref>

Early years

Abbas, born around 565 CE, was one of the younger sons of Abd al-Muttalib. His mother was Nutayla bint Janab of the Namir tribe.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> After his father's death, he took over the Zamzam Well and the distribution of water to the pilgrims.<ref>Ibn Ishaq, Sirat Rasul Allah. Translated by Guillaume, A. (1955). The Life of Muhammad, p. 79. Oxford: Oxford University Press.</ref> He became a spice merchant in Mecca,<ref>Ibn Ishaq/Guillaume, p. 113.</ref> a trade that made him wealthy.<ref>Ibn Ishaq (Guillaume) pp. 309–310.</ref> Within this role, he managed a caravan network to and from Syria, where he eventually recruited and trained Muhammad as an apprentice for leading the northern leg of the journey.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Conversion to Islam

During the years when the Muslim religion was gaining adherents (610–622), Abbas provided protection to his kinsman but did not adopt the faith. He acted as a spokesman at the Second Pledge of Aqaba,<ref>Ibn Ishaq (Guillaume) p. 203.</ref> but he was not among those who emigrated to Medina.

Having fought on the side of the polytheists, Abbas was captured during the Battle of Badr. Muhammad allowed al-Abbas to ransom himself and his nephew.<ref name="Wahba2000">Template:Citation</ref>

Ibn Hisham said that Abbas had become a secret Muslim before the Battle of Badr;<ref>Ibn Ishaq (Guillaume) p. 309.</ref> but a clear statement to that effect is missing from Tabari's citation of the same source.<ref>Alfred Guillaume's footnote to Ibn Ishaq (1955) p. 309.</ref><ref>Tabari, Tarikh al-Rusul wa'l-Muluk. Translated by McDonald, M. V. (1987). Volume 7: The Foundation of the Community, p. 68. Albany: State University of New York Press.</ref> It is said by some authorities that he converted to Islam shortly after the Battle of Badr.<ref name="Annotated1998">Template:Citation</ref>

It is elsewhere implied that Abbas did not formally profess Islam until January 630, just before the fall of Mecca, twenty years after his wife Lubaba converted.<ref>Ibn Ishaq (Guillaume) pp. 546–548.</ref> Muhammad then named him "last of the migrants" (Muhajirun), which entitled him to the proceeds of the spoils of war. He was given the right to provide Zamzam water to pilgrims, a right which was passed down to his descendants.<ref name=encyclopedia/>

Abbas immediately joined Muhammad's army, participating in the Conquest of Mecca, the Battle of Hunayn and the Siege of Ta'if. He defended Muhammad at Hunayn when other warriors deserted him.<ref name="Tabari pp. 24-25">Tabari (Landau-Tasseron) pp. 24–25.</ref> After these military exploits, Abbas brought his family to live in Medina, where Muhammad frequently visited them<ref>Ibn Saad, Tabaqat vol. 8. Translated by Bewley, A. (1995). The Women of Madina, p. 194. London: Ta-Ha Publishers.</ref> and even proposed marriage to his daughter.<ref>Ibn Ishaq (Guillaume) p. 311.</ref>

Later Abbas fought in the expedition to Tabuk.<ref name="Tabari pp. 24-25" />

Family

Abbas had at least five wives.

1. Lubaba bint al-Harith (Arabic: لبابة بنت الحارث), also known as Umm al-Fadl, was from the Banu Hilal tribe. Umm al-Fadl claimed to be the second woman to convert to Islam, the same day as her close friend Khadijah, the first wife of Muhammad. Umm al-Fadl's traditions of the Prophet appear in all canonical collections of hadiths. She showed her piety by supernumerary fasting and by attacking Abu Lahab, the enemy of the Muslims, with a tent pole.<ref name=Roded1994>Template:Citation</ref>
2. Fatima bint Junayd, from the Al-Harith clan of the Quraysh tribe.<ref name="ReferenceA">Ibn Hajar, Isaba vol. 8 #11586.</ref>
3. Hajila bint Jundub ibn Rabia, from the Hilal tribe.<ref name="Ibn Hajar, Isaba vol. 2 #1904">Ibn Hajar, Isaba vol. 2 #1904.</ref>
4. Musliya, a Greek concubine.<ref name="ReferenceB">Ibn Saad, Tabaqat vol. 4. “Al-Abbas ibn Abdalmuttalib.”</ref><ref>Beheshti, M. (1967). Background of the Birth of Islam, chapter 5. Translated by Ayoub, M. M. (1985). Tehran: International Publishing Co.</ref>
5. Tukana, a Jewish woman from the Qurayza tribe, whom Abbas married after 632.<ref>Majlisi, Hayat Al-Qulub vol. 2. Translated by Rizvi, A Detailed Biography of Prophet Muhammad (saww), p. 1180.</ref> It is not known whether any of the children were hers.

The known children of Abbas were:

1. Al-Faraa, who married Qatn ibn Al-Harith, a brother of Lubaba. Her mother is not named.<ref>Ibn Hajar, Isaba vol. 5 #7129.</ref>

The following were all the offspring of Lubaba.<ref>Tabari (Landau-Tasseron) p. 201.</ref>

1. Al-Fadl.
2. Abd Allah.
3. Ubayd Allah. Ubayd Allah's daughter Lubaba married Abbas ibn Ali and had a son Ubayd Allah ibn Abbas ibn Ali.
4. Qutham.
5. Ma'bad.
6. Abd al-Rahman.
7. Umm Habib.

Other children

1. Al-Harith. His mother is said to have been either Fatima<ref name="ReferenceA" /> or Hajila.<ref name="Ibn Hajar, Isaba vol. 2 #1904" />
2. Awn, whose mother is not named.<ref>Ibn Hajar, Isaba vol. 5 #6279.</ref>
3. Mushir, whose mother is not named.<ref>Ibn Hajar, Isaba vol. 6 #8329.</ref>
4. Kathir, son of Musliya.<ref name="Tabari pp. 75-76">Tabari (Landau-Tasseron) vol. 39 pp. 75–76.</ref>
5. Amina, probably the daughter of Musliya.<ref name="ReferenceB" /><ref name="See also Majlisi Rizvi p. 1208">See also Majlisi (Rizvi) p. 1208.</ref>
6. Safiya, probably the daughter of Musliya.<ref name="ReferenceB" /><ref name="See also Majlisi Rizvi p. 1208" />
7. Tammam, the youngest, son of Musliya.<ref name="Tabari pp. 75-76" />

Death

Abbas died in February 653 at the age of 89 in Uthman era. He is buried at the Jannatul Baqee cemetery in Medina, Saudi Arabia.<ref>Tabari (Landau-Tasseron) vol. 39 p. 25.</ref><ref name=Photographs2007>Template:Citation</ref>

Descendants

Template:See The Abbasid dynasty founded in 750 by Abu al-ʻAbbās ʻAbdallāh as-Saffāh better known as As-Saffah claimed the title of caliph (literally "successor") through their descent from Abbas's son Abdallah.<ref name="Ref_">Ira Lapidus. A History of Islamic Societies. Cambridge University Press. 2002 Template:ISBN p.54</ref>

Many other families claimed direct descent from Abbas, including the Dhund Abbasi, A tribe in Pakistan and Azad Kashmir; the Berber Banu Abbas;<ref name="Brett1997">Template:Citation</ref> and the modern-day Bawazir of Yemen;<ref name="Ref_a">Web Site of the Bawazir Abbasid Hashimite Family</ref> and Shaigiya and Ja'alin of Sudan.<ref name="Nicholls1913">Template:Citation</ref>

See also

• List of Sahabah
• List of notable Hijazis