Al-Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib (
Arabic: ٱلْعَبَّاسُبْنُ عَبْدِ ٱلْمُطَّلِبِ,
romanized: al-ʿAbbās ibn ʿAbd al-Muṭṭalib;
c. 566–653
CE) was a paternal uncle and
sahabi (companion) of the
Islamic prophetMuhammad, 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.[1]
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.[2] After his father's death, he took over the
Zamzam Well and the distribution of water to the pilgrims.[3] He became a
spice merchant in Mecca,[4] a trade that made him wealthy.[5] 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.[6]
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,[7] 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.[8]
Ibn Hisham said that Abbas had become a secret Muslim before the Battle of Badr;[9] but a clear statement to that effect is missing from
Tabari's citation of the same source.[10][11] It is said by some authorities that he converted to Islam shortly after the Battle of Badr.[12]
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.[13] 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.[1]
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.[14] After these military exploits, Abbas brought his family to live in Medina, where Muhammad frequently visited them[15] and even proposed marriage to his daughter.[16]
Later Abbas fought in the expedition to
Tabuk.[14]
Family
Abbas had at least five wives.
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.[17]
Fatima bint Junayd, from the Al-Harith clan of the
Quraysh tribe.[18]
Hajila bint Jundub ibn Rabia, from the Hilal tribe.[19]
^al-Tabari, Muhammad ibn Jarir (1998). Tarikh al-Rusul wa'l-Muluk: Biographies of the Prophet's Companions and Their Successors. Vol. 39. Albany: State University of New York Press. p. 24.
^Ibn Ishaq, Sirat Rasul Allah. Translated by Guillaume, A. (1955). The Life of Muhammad, p. 79. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
^Wahba, al-Mawardi Translated by Wafaa H (2000), The ordinances of government = Al-Aḥkām al-sulṭāniyya w'al-wilāyāt al-Dīniyya, Reading: Garnet,
ISBN1-85964-140-7
^Alfred Guillaume's footnote to Ibn Ishaq (1955) p. 309.
^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.
^Annotated (1998), The history of al-Ṭabarī = (Taʼrīkh al-rusul wa'l mulūk), Albany: State University of New York Press,
ISBN0-7914-2820-6