Concealed behind his half-brother al-Ḥusayn, elusive and enigmatic, as though reluctant to draw attention to himself, Abū al-Faḍl al-ʿAbbās would eventually be propelled into pre-eminence by history, revered by millions as ‘the water bearer’, ‘the father of excellence’, and ‘the moon of the Hashemites’. A silently valiant man who rarely speaks although, when necessary, is the first to do so, Abū al-Faḍl, named by ʿAlī his father for his lion-like ferocity, would be for al-Ḥusayn a diplomat and negotiator, the carrier of the standard and an archetype of selflessness, the intrepid outrider for water, and the last man standing. His unflagging support for his half-brother is iconic, no less so than his stance as the anti-model for those who betrayed al-Ḥusayn’s cause.
This is his story.
Preface..................................................................................... ix
System of Transliteration ......................................................... xi
List of Abbreviations .............................................................. xiii
Chapter One. Introduction ........................................................ 1
Chapter Two. The Mother and Her Sons .................................. 15
Chapter Three. The Field of Karbalāʾ....................................... 61
Chapter Four. The Water-Bearer ........................................... 103
Chapter Five. Conclusion ...................................................... 145
Bibliography ......................................................................... 163
Books ............................................................................ 163
Articles .......................................................................... 168
Primary Sunnī and Shīʿī Arabic Sources ......................... 172
Secondary Sunnī and Shīʿī Arabic Sources ..................... 183
Index of Proper Names .......................................................... 185
