 As-salaamu alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh Al-Abbas alayhi as-salam was the first child of Ummul Bani, with his birth Madinah Shon and the whole world glittered. He was born on the 4th of Sha'ban in the 26th year after Hijrah. Waves of pleasures flowed in the family of Imam Ali alayhi as-salam, for the birth of their magnificent moon that would enlighten this world with his merits and would add immortal glory to the numerous glories of the Hashimites and the Ahlul Bayt alaykum as-salam. As soon as Imam Ali alayhi as-salam was given the good news of the birth of this blessed child, he hurried to take him, kiss him frequently and hold the sharia ceremonies of newborns. The Imam alayhi as-salam recited the Avaan in his newborn's right ear and recited the Iqama in the left. Hence the first voice that penetrated this great newborn's hearing was his father saying Allahu akbar la hilaha illa Allah Allah is the greatest, there is no God but Allah. These great words which are the message of all prophets alaykum as-salam and the melody of the God fearing found the ground in the inner self of al-Abbas alayhi as-salam. These words later on became the most significant element of his personality, no doubt. In his future he would adopt the calling to the true application of these words for which he would lose all of his limbs. On the seventh day after his birth Imam alayhi as-salam shaved al-Abbas alayhi as-salam's hair and gave golden and silver arms as weighty as the hair he had cut as he had done for Imam al-Hassan alayhi as-salam and Imam al-Hussain alayhi as-salam. Imam alayhi as-salam slaughtered a ram as an offering to God on behalf of this baby. These practices are adopted from the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa alayhi as-salam whose words, practices and confirmations are regarded as authoritative. When it came to naming al-Abbas alayhi as-salam, narrations tell us that Zaynab alayhi as-salam turned her face towards her father and asked Father, have you chosen a name and a nickname for this new baby? Her father answered, yes daughter, I have. What are they father? Zaynab alayhi as-salam asked. The father, as he perceived that this baby would be one of the heroes of Islam and would be frowning in the faces of evils and the wrongdoers, replied, I name him al-Abbas, the frowning and the nickname him Abu al-Fadl. Father of virtue al-Abbas alayhi as-salam was nursed at the hands of a faithful mother who nurtured him on faith, loyalty, knowledge, devoutness and high principles. His father too was that great personality who is described as a copy of the Prophet himself sallallahu alayhi wa alayhi as-salam. The inheritor of the Prophet's knowledge and the hero of all combats al-Abbas alayhi as-salam was brought up under the custody of these parents. No wonder then that he possessed such a personality, such traits and offered such big sacrifices for the sake of his religion, his imams and principles. Al-Abbas adhered to his father when he was in Medina and when he moved to Iraq and resided in Kufa, al-Abbas alayhi as-salam was also under his full care and wise education and environment. Al-Abbas alayhi as-salam acquired all virtues, high moral standards, knowledge and conversants. After his father's demise, al-Abbas alayhi as-salam adhered closely to his two brothers, Imam al-Hasan alayhi as-salam and Imam al-Hussain. He returned with them to Medina and learned from them the religious knowledge and fundamentals in addition to the nobilities of character. When Imam al-Hasan alayhi as-salam was poisoned to death, al-Abbas alayhi as-salam adhered to his brother Imam al-Hussain and his nephew Imam Ali Zain al-Abadin alayhi as-salam. He kept himself with his brother in Medina, Mecca and Iraq, always remained loyal where he protected him as well as his haram until he lost his life for his sake. Thus, unlike the other sons of Imam Ali alayhi as-salam, al-Abbas alayhi as-salam had the characteristic of full adherence to his father, two brothers and nephew. For that reason, he was a true copy of the imams in knowledge and morality. He was their guardian until the very end. Wassalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh.