Al-‘Abbas ibn ‘Abd al-Muttalib

Al-‘Abbas ibn ‘Abd al-Muttalib (Arabic: العباس بن عبد المطلب‎) was a paternal uncle and Sahabi (companion) of Muhammad, just three years older than his nephew. A wealthy merchant, during the early years of Islam he protected Muhammad while he was in Mecca, but only became a convert after the Battle of Badr in 624 CE (2 AH). His descendants founded the Abbasid Caliphate in 750.

Abbas, born in 568, was one of the youngest sons of Abdul-Muttalib. His mother was Nutayla bint Janab of the Namir tribe. He became a spice-merchant in Mecca, a trade that made him wealthy.

During the early years, while the Muslim religion was gaining adherents (610-622), Abbas provided protection to his kinsman but did not adopt the faith. He acted as a spokesman at the Second Pledge of Aqaba, but he was not among those who emigrated to Medina.

Having fought on the side of the polytheists, Abbas was captured during the Battle of Badr. He was a big man and his captor Abu'l-Yasar was slightly built. The Prophet asked Abu'l-Yasar how he had managed the capture, and he said he was assisted by a person whom he described and whom Muhammad identified as a noble angel. Muhammad allowed al-Abbas to ransom himself and his nephew.

Ibn Hisham says that Abbas became a secret Muslim before the Battle of Badr; but this clear statement is missing from Tabari's citation of the same source. It is sometimes said that he converted to Islam shortly after Badr. It is elsewhere implied that that Abbas did not formally profess Islam until January 630, just before the fall of Mecca, twenty years after his wife Lubaba.Muhammad then named him "last of the refugees" (Muhajirun), which entitled him to the proceeds of the spoils of the war. He was given the right to provide Zamzam water to pilgrims, which right was passed down to his descendants.

Abbas immediately joined Muhammad's army, participating in the Conquest of Mecca, the Battle of Hunayn and the Siege of Ta'if. He defended Muhammad at Hunayn when other warriors deserted him. After these military exploits, Abbas brought his family to live in Medina, where Muhammad frequently visited them and even proposed marriage to his daughter.

Later Abbas fought in the expedition to Tabuk.

Abbas had at least five wives.

Abbas died in February 653 at the age of 85. He is buried at the Jannatul Baqee' cemetery in Medina, Saudi Arabia.

The Abbasid dynasty founded in 750 by Abu al-`Abbās `Abdu'llāh as-Saffāh claimed the title of caliph (literally "viceregent") through their descent from Abbas's son Abdullah.

Many other families claim direct descent from Abbas, including the Kalhora's of Sindh, the Berber Banu Abbas, and the modern-day Bawazir of Yemen and Shaigiya and Ja'Alin of Sudan, and Dhund Abbasi of Murree Pakistan.