Abbas ibn Ali (647–680)
Born 647 CE, died 680 CE.
Al-Abbas ibn Ali (Arabic: الْعَبَّاس اِبِنْ عَلي, c. 15 May 647 – 10 October 680 CE), also known as Abu al-Fadl (Arabic: أَبو الْفَضْل, lit. 'father of virtue'), was a son of Ali and Umm al-Banin, a half-brother of both Hasan and Husayn, Husayn's standard-bearer in the Battle of Karbala, and one of his principal supporters. His fame and popularity extend across the Muslim world, particularly among Shia Muslims. Abbas is highly revered for his loyalty to Husayn, his courage, and his death while attempting to obtain water from the Euphrates river for Husayn's thirsty children and companions. Abbas accompanied Husayn during his journey from Medina to Kufa, and ultimately to Karbala. He desperately attempted to reach the Euphrates to fetch water for the besieged family of Muhammad, and was killed in the process on 10 Muharram 61 AH (10 October 680 CE), the day known as Ashura. Abbas’s heroic death at the Battle of Karbala contributed to the development of a legendary figure revered among both Shia and Sunni Muslims. It is said that Abbas was the son of Ali who most closely resembled his father, inheriting his boldness and bravery.
Text from the Wikipedia article Abbas_ibn_Ali, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.