THE PUBLISHER'S WORD

Great personalities contribute strongly in the composition of perfect character through their model conducts and high standards. From this cause it has been important to introduce such characters to the seekers of perfection so that they will be acquainted with the qualifications that authorized such characters to attain perfection and become cynosures of humankind.
Ansariyan Publications is pleased to introduce to the gentle readers this book that deals with the personality of one of the heroes of Islam and the exemplary men through whose sacrifices, ideal situations, and high moral standards humanity proceeded many steps onwards. This perfect personality is al-Abbas ibn Ali upon whom the Imams (a) conferred the finest words of praise and laudation.
Through this book, the reader will find chapters covering the whole life account of al-Abbas in addition to a brief presentation of the historical circumstances that led him to be on the top in the list of the heroes of humanity in general and Islam in particular.
Undertaking the mission of the propagation for Islam, the team of the Ansariyan Publications beseech the All-benefactor Lord to grant them the ability to present other similar books dealing with other ideal personalities that contributed in elevating the Islamic spirit to levels befitting its perfection.
Thus, in the near future, the dear readers will have in possession similar books about other personalities.
Finally, we hope this book will add new knowledge and contribute, at any extent, in leading to human perfection. Ansariyan Publications, 2001.

DEDICATION

To the lady who was born by heroes and could carry all the qualifications of giving birth of a hero- the lady who preferred the children of the Prophet to her children- the lady who sacrificed her four sons for God- the lady whom God has made the door to the settlement of needs- the mother who fed her son with heroism, magnanimity, and altruism- the mother of al-Abbas, the righteous servant of God, I dedicate this modest work, hoping for acceptance.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

My deep appreciation is extended first of all to the owner of the idea of compiling a book approaching the personality of al-Abbas ibn Ali (a), Mr. Mohammad Taqi Ansariyan who assigned me for this holy task. It is surely a holy task since it deals with the great leader who represented all the meanings of heroism, loyalty, perseverance, and truthfulness.

Appreciation is also shown to Dr. Muhsin Jaffar who offered his considerable notes about the text of this book. I, too, would like to refer to the assistance that I received from Sheikh Abu-Alaa as-Saffar and Mr. Mohammad Gannan who supplied me with precious reference books upon which I relied throughout this work. And, finally, thanks to everybody who encouraged and helped me proceed with this work.

THIS BOOK

This project was, initially, only 'to investigate the best book written about the personality of al-Abbas ibn Ali and then translate it into English.' Having searched the libraries, I, unfortunately, found only few books dealing completely with this personality. Nevertheless, these books were full of topics not related, directly, to the personality of al-Abbas. Therefore, I, after discussing the matter with Mr. Ansariyan, was asked to choose topics related to the life and personality of al-Abbas ibn Ali from the reference books that I could have, and then compile them in a book.

During this work, I have mainly depended upon three books:

1. Al-Muqarram, Sayyid Abd-ur-Razzaq al-Musawi, Al-Abbas. Ash-Sharif ar-Radhi Publications - Qum. First Edition.
2. Al-Qarashi, Baqir Sharif, Al-Abbas ibn Ali: the pioneer of dignity and sacrifice in Islam. Mehdiyyeh Publications - Qum. First Edition, 2000 A.D.- 1420 A.H.
3. Al-Kulbasi, Ayatollah Hajji Mohammad Ibrahim, Al-Khassaaiss ul-Abbasiyya (The particularities of al-Abbas). Al-Maktaba al-Haydariyya Publications - Qum. First Edition, 2000 A.D. - 1420 A.H.

Besides, I referred to other reference books that dealt with this personality whose heroism and high moral standards are too great to be contained.
As a matter of fact, all books dealing with the tragic story of Karbala have referred, though in brief, to the personality of al-Abbas ibn Ali. Yet, they have not referred to all the topics and details of his life, because his situation in Karbala that was unique and unmatched in all of its dimensions has taken all the time of such authors to make the other niceties of his life, though important and worthy of reference, seem minor if compared to his situations with his brother, family members, harem of the household of Prophet Mohammed (a) and the companions of his brother on that day in Karbala-these situations have still been working as loadstars for everybody who seeks freedom, dignity, and honor.
This book is of ten chapters related to the whole lifetime of al-Abbas ibn Ali along with factors, matters, and circumstances that contributed in the composition of his great personality, such as the hereditary factors, the family and social environment, and the political circumstances that happened during his lifetime. There is also a chapter dedicated to the discussion of al-Abbas's moral standards, personality, and capacities that qualified him to play that great role in the greatest saga of Islam, which occurred in Karbala, on the tenth of Muharram, AH 61-the encounter that was inevitable for sake of saving Islam from distortion, if not complete eradication.
Another chapter is dedicated to the words of the Immaculate Imams that were said about al-Abbas ibn Ali. I have also referred to the handsome shrine of al-Abbas that is pilgrimaged by thousands of people every day and is still representing that courageous, enthusiastic hero who had offered his two hands, before he offered his soul, for his Lord and religion and for sake of freeing people from wrong and oppression-the hero whose name has become the sign of valor and courage and whose intercession is sought for solving any problem, no matter how complicated it is, because he has enjoyed a special, exalted rank in the sight of God.
I hope the reader will forgive any, certainly unintentional, neglect or shortcoming that he may notice in this work. No one, however, is perfect!
Finally, I supplicate to Almighty God to help me, out of His infinite mercy, and lead me, as well as everybody, to success, for His being the one and only source of success.