View source for Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib

{{Short description|Paternal uncle of Muhammad (c.566–653)}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = Al-Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib<br />{{lang|ar|ٱلْعَبَّاسُ{{nbsp}}بْنُ عَبْدِ ٱلْمُطَّلِبِ}}
| image              = العبَّاس بن عبد المُطلب.png
| birth_name         = 
| birth_date         = {{Circa|566}}
| birth_place        = [[Mecca]], [[Hejaz]], [[Pre-Islamic Arabia|Arabia]] {{small|(present-day [[KSA]])}}
| death_date         = {{Circa|653}} {{small|(aged c.86)}}
| death_place        = [[Medina]], [[Rashidun Caliphate]] {{small|(present-day KSA)}}
| nationality        = 
| other_names        = 
| occupation         = 
| known_for          = Paternal uncle of [[Muhammad]] and eponymous ancestor of the [[Abbasid Dynasty]]
| spouse             = {{bulleted|
[[Lubaba bint al-Harith|Ummul Fadl]]|Fatima}}{{small|[[Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib#Family|''(among others)'']]}}
| children           = {{bulleted|
[[Fadl ibn Abbas|Fadl]]|[[Ibn Abbas|Abd Allah]]|[[Qutham ibn Abbas|Qutham]]}} {{small|[[Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib#Family|''(among others)'']]}}
| father             = [[Abd al-Muttalib]]
| mother             = [[Natila bint Janab]]
| relations          = {{collapsible list
|title=''brothers'':
|{{bulleted|[[Al-Harith ibn Abd al-Muttalib|Al-Harith]]
|[[Abdullah ibn Abd al-Muttalib|Abdullah]]
|[[Al-Zubayr ibn Abd al-Muttalib|Al-Zubayr]]
|[[Abu Talib ibn Abd al-Muttalib|Abu Talib]]
|[[Abū Lahab]]
|[[Hamza ibn Abd al-Muttalib|Hamza]]
}}}}
{{collapsible list
|title=''sisters'':|{{bulleted|[[Umm Hakim bint Abd al-Muttalib|Umm Ḥakīm]]
|[[Umayma bint Abd al-Muttalib|Umaymah]]
|[[Arwa bint Abd al-Muttalib|Arwa]]
|[[Atika bint Abd al-Muttalib|'Atikah]]
|[[Barrah bint Abd al-Muttalib|Barrah]]
|[[Safiyya bint Abd al-Muttalib|Safiyyah]]}}}}
| family             = [[Banu Hashim]] ([[Quraysh]])
}}

'''Al-Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib'''{{efn|{{langx|ar|ٱلْعَبَّاسُ{{nbsp}}بْنُ عَبْدِ ٱلْمُطَّلِبِ|al-ʿAbbās ibn ʿAbd al-Muṭṭalib}}}} ({{circa|566–653 [[Common era|CE]]}}) was a paternal uncle and [[Companions of the Prophet|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&nbsp;AH). His descendants founded the [[Abbasid dynasty]] in 750.<ref name="encyclopedia">{{Citation |last=Huston Smith |first=Cyril Glasse |title=The new encyclopedia of Islam |url=https://archive.org/details/newencyclopediao0000glas |year=2002 |place=Walnut Creek, CA |publisher=AltaMira Press |isbn=0-7591-0190-6 |url-access=registration}}</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>{{Cite book |last=al-Tabari |first=Muhammad ibn Jarir |title=''Tarikh al-Rusul wa'l-Muluk: Biographies of the Prophet's Companions and Their Successors'' |publisher=Albany: State University of New York Press |year=1998 |volume=39 |page=24}}</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 trade|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 (travellers)|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>{{cite book |last= Armstrong|first=Karen |author-link= Karen Armstrong|date=2006 |title=[[Muhammad: A Prophet for Our Time]] |url= |location= |publisher=[[HarperCollins]] |page= 35|isbn= 9780062316837}}</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 [[Hijra (Islam)|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">{{Citation |last=Wahba |first=al-Mawardi Translated by Wafaa H |title=The ordinances of government = Al-Aḥkām al-sulṭāniyya w'al-wilāyāt al-Dīniyya |year=2000 |place=Reading |publisher=Garnet |isbn=1-85964-140-7}}</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">{{Citation |last=Annotated |title=The history of al-Ṭabarī = (Taʼrīkh al-rusul wa'l mulūk) |year=1998 |place=Albany |publisher=State University of New York Press |isbn=0-7914-2820-6}}</ref>

It is elsewhere implied that Abbas did not formally profess Islam until January 630, just before the [[Conquest of Mecca|fall of Mecca]], twenty years after his wife [[Lubaba bint al-Harith|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 [[Battle of Tabuk|Tabuk]].<ref name="Tabari pp. 24-25" />

== 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 [[Timing of Sahabah becoming Muslims|second woman to convert to Islam]], the same day as her close friend [[Khadija bint Khuwaylid|Khadijah]], the first wife of Muhammad. Umm al-Fadl's traditions of the Prophet appear in all canonical collections of [[hadith]]s. She showed her piety by supernumerary fasting and by attacking [[Abū Lahab|Abu Lahab]], the enemy of the Muslims, with a tent pole.<ref name=Roded1994>{{Citation
 | last = Roded | first =  Ruth
 | year = 1994
 | title = Women in islamic biographical collections : from Ibn Saʻd to Who's who. P37-38
 | isbn = 1-55587-442-8
 | publisher = Rienner
 | location = Boulder u.a.
}}</ref>
#Fatima bint Junayd, from the Al-Harith clan of the [[Quraysh]] tribe.<ref name="ReferenceA">Ibn Hajar, ''Isaba'' vol. 8 #11586.</ref>
#Hajila bint Jundub ibn Rabia, from the Hilal tribe.<ref name="Ibn Hajar, Isaba vol. 2 #1904">Ibn Hajar, ''Isaba'' vol. 2 #1904.</ref>
#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>
#Tukana, a Jewish woman from the [[Banu Qurayza|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:
#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>
#[[Fadl ibn Abbas|Al-Fadl]].
#[[Ibn Abbas|Abd Allah]].
#Ubayd Allah. Ubayd Allah's daughter Lubaba married [[Abbas ibn Ali]] and had a son Ubayd Allah ibn Abbas ibn Ali.
#[[Qutham ibn Abbas|Qutham]].
#Ma'bad.
#Abd al-Rahman.
#Umm Habib. 
Other children
#Al-Harith. His mother is said to have been either Fatima<ref name="ReferenceA" /> or Hajila.<ref name="Ibn Hajar, Isaba vol. 2 #1904" />
#Awn, whose mother is not named.<ref>Ibn Hajar, ''Isaba'' vol. 5 #6279.</ref>
#Mushir, whose mother is not named.<ref>Ibn Hajar, ''Isaba'' vol. 6 #8329.</ref>
#Kathir, son of Musliya.<ref name="Tabari pp. 75-76">Tabari (Landau-Tasseron) vol. 39 pp. 75–76.</ref>
#Amina, probably the daughter of Musliya.<ref name="ReferenceB" /><ref name="See also Majlisi Rizvi p. 1208">See also Majlisi (Rizvi) p. 1208.</ref>
#Safiya, probably the daughter of Musliya.<ref name="ReferenceB" /><ref name="See also Majlisi Rizvi p. 1208" />
#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>{{Citation
 | last = Faruk Aksoy | first =  Omer Faruk Aksoy
 | year = 2007
 | title = The blessed cities of Islam, Makka-Madina
 | isbn = 978-1-59784-061-3
 | publisher = Light Pub.
 | location = Somerset, NJ
}}</ref>

== Descendants ==
{{See|Abbasid Caliphate|Abbasid dynasty|Caliphate}}
The [[Abbasid dynasty]] founded in 750 by [[As-Saffah|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 [[Ibn Abbas|Abdallah]].<ref name="Ref_">Ira Lapidus. ''A History of Islamic Societies''. Cambridge University Press. 2002 {{ISBN|0-521-77056-4}} p.54</ref>

Many other families claimed direct descent from Abbas, including the [[Dhund (tribe)|Dhund Abbasi]], A tribe in [[Pakistan]] and [[Azad Kashmir]]; the [[Berber people|Berber]] Banu Abbas;<ref name="Brett1997">{{Citation | last = Brett | year = 1997 | title = The Berbers | isbn = 0-631-20767-8 | publisher = Blackwell | location = Oxford | first =  Michael Fentress}}</ref> and the modern-day [[Bawazir]] of [[Yemen]];<ref name="Ref_a">[http://www.bawazir.com Web Site of the Bawazir Abbasid Hashimite Family]</ref> and [[Shaigiya]] and [[Ja'alin]] of [[Sudan]].<ref name="Nicholls1913">{{Citation | last = Nicholls | first =  W | year = 1913 | url=https://archive.org/details/shaikiyaaccounto00nich |title = The Shaikiya: an Account of the Shaikiya Tribes, of the History of Dongola Province from the XIVth to the XIXth Century}}</ref>

== Family tree ==
{{Quraysh tree}}

== See also ==
*[[List of Sahabah]]
*[[List of notable Hijazis]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
{{reflist|30em}}

{{Muhammad footer}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:565 births]]
[[Category:653 deaths]]
[[Category:Family of Muhammad]]
[[Category:Banu Hashim]]
[[Category:7th-century merchants]]
[[Category:6th-century Arab people]]
[[Category:Burials at Jannat al-Baqī]]
[[Category:Companions of the Prophet]]