Ḥadrat ‘Abbas was the first of four sons born to Amīr al-Mu’minīn and Umm al-Banīn bint Ḥizām al-Kilābī. He is known as Abul Faḍl and his alqāb (honorific titles) are as-Sāqī (the one who makes others drink), Sāḥib Liwā’ al-Ḥusayn (the flag-bearer of Ḥusayn) and Qamaru Banī Hāshim (the moon of the Banū Hāshim). He was handsome and tall – so tall that when he mounted a horse his feet would touch the ground!
It is narrated that Amīr al-Mu’minīn (a) once asked his older brother ‘Aqīl to find a wife for him. ‘Aqīl was knowledgeable in the lineage of the Arabs, and Amīr al-Mu’minīn wanted a wife who would give birth to a strong and brave son. ‘Aqīl said “Marry Umm al-Banīn al-Kilābīyyah for surely there is no one amongst the Arabs who is braver than her fathers.”
Imām as-Sajjād (a) is reported to have said “May Allah have mercy on my uncle al-ʻAbbās, for surely he preferred (others over himself) and proved himself (in the time of difficulty). He sacrificed himself for his brother until his two hands were cut. So Allah replaced them with two wings, with which he flies along with the angels in Paradise just like Jaʻfar ibn Abī Ṭālib. And verily ‘Abbas’ station with Allah the Blessed and Exalted on the Day of Judgement is that all the other martyrs look upon him with envy.”