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Abbas
Arabic:
'al-cabbāsu bni cabdi l-muttalib
(Mecca around 568- Madina 652) Uncle of Muhammad.
Abbas was a successful merchant, known for the grandeur with which he surrounded himself during his travels. Stories tell that he was in charge of the Zamzam when this was part of the pre-Islamic pilgrimage of the Ka'ba. His job was to put raisins in it.
Abbas opposed Muhammad while he still lived in Mecca, but was not one of the fierce opponents — and he became Muhammad's protector after Abu Talib died. There are many unclear points in this part of his life. Did he help Muhammad or fight against him?
There are indications of both. It is known that he was captured with other Meccan fighters at the Battle of Badr. Historians are uncertain to whether or not he converted to Islam before returning from Badr to Mecca. If he did, he kept his conversion a secret. It is known that Abbas gave his sister-in-law, Maimuna, in marriage to Muhammad in 628 or 629, when the latter visited Mecca.
Abbas helped wash Muhammad's body after his death, but for the remaining 20 years of his life, little is known from the historical sources. Through his son, Abdu llah, the line passes to the coming Caliphate dynasty of the Abbasids.
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By: Tore Kjeilen
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