HAMIL UL-LIWAA

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The holding of standards in wars was the most significant position in armies . Standards

are given exclusively to the soldiers who enjoy special military abilities . During the battle

of at-Taff , the standard was in the hand of Abu’l-Fadhl al-Abbas who preserved and held

it since the beginning of the tragic journey in Medina until the last spark of his life . He

protected that standard so bravely and uniquely that he embraced it to his chest when his

two hands were severed . In more than one situation , al-Abbas asked his brother Imam

al-Hussein for permission for fighting , but the Imam used to say to him , “You are the

standard-bearer of my army . If you are martyred , my troops will separate . It is also well

known that standard-bearers are chosen according to special qualifications : The

standard-bearer must be accepted by everybody and must bear qualities such as

courage , chivalry , and honor . The standard-bearers , too , must exert all efforts for sake

of keeping the standard high . From this reason , al-Abbas exerted unique efforts for

keeping the standard high . When his right hand was severed , he held the standard in the

left , and when this one was also severed , he embraced the standard to his chest and

kept it to the last breath of his life . Historians have also recorded that when the Umayyad

army raided at the camp of Imam al-Hussein –after his martyrdom- , they robbed

everything including the standard , which was borne by al-Abbas . In Syria , Yazid’s sight

fell on that standard that amazed him . He noticed that it was completely stabbed except

the place of its handle from which it was carried . He asked about the bearer of that

standard , and he was answered that it was al-Abbas ibn Ali . Very astonished by the courage of al-Abbas , Yazid turned his face to the attendants and said : “Look at this

standard ! It is stabbed in every place except its handle . This clearly means that its bearer

was so courage and chivalrous that he faced all stabs and strokes without letting that

standard fall from his hand . This is the true loyalty to brothers ! ! ” Hence , al-Abbas was

‘ . called ‘Hamil ul-Liwaa —the standard-bearer

AL-ABBAS – Ansariyan Publication