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