| Al-Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib Arabic: ٱلْعَبَّاسُ{{nbsp | |
| Known For: | Paternal uncle of Muhammad and eponymous ancestor of the Abbasid Dynasty |
| Father: | Abd al-Muttalib |
| Mother: | Natila bint Janab |
| Family: | Banu Hashim (Quraysh) |
Al-Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib (Arabic: ٱلْعَبَّاسُ{{nbsp;) 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.
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.[1] After his father's death, he took over the Zamzam Well and the distribution of water to the pilgrims.[2] He became a spice merchant in Mecca,[3] a trade that made him wealthy.[4] 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.[5]
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,[6] 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.
Ibn Hisham said that Abbas had become a secret Muslim before the Battle of Badr;[7] but a clear statement to that effect is missing from Tabari's citation of the same source.[8] [9] It is said by some authorities that he converted to Islam shortly after the Battle of Badr.
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.[10] 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.
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.[11] After these military exploits, Abbas brought his family to live in Medina, where Muhammad frequently visited them[12] and even proposed marriage to his daughter.[13]
Later Abbas fought in the expedition to Tabuk.
Abbas had at least five wives.
The known children of Abbas were:
The following were all the offspring of Lubaba.[20]
Other children
Abbas died in February 653 at the age of 89. He is buried at the Jannatul Baqee cemetery in Medina, Saudi Arabia.[25]
See also: Abbasid Caliphate, Abbasid dynasty and Caliphate. 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.[26]
Many other families claimed direct descent from Abbas, including the Kalhoras of Sindh, Daudpotas of Bahawalpur, Abbasi's of Murree Pakistan, Abbasi's of Bagh, Azad Kashmir the Berber Banu Abbas,[27] and the modern-day Bawazir of Yemen[28] and Shaigiya and Ja'Alin of Sudan.