in 568, was one of the youngest sons of Abd al-Muttalib. His mother was Nutayla bint Janab of the Namir tribe. After his father's death, he took over the Zamzam Well and the distributing of water to the pilgrims. He became a spice-merchant in Mecca, a trade that made him wealthy.
Conversion to Islam
During the early years, while the Muslim religion was gaining adherents, 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. Muhammad allowed al-Abbas to ransom himself and his nephew. Ibn Hisham says that Abbas had become a secret Muslim before the Battle of Badr; but the 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 Abbas did not formally profess Islam until January 630, just before the fall of Mecca, twenty years after his wife Lubaba converted. Muhammad then named him "last of the migrants", 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.
Family
Abbas had at least five wives.
Lubaba bint al-Harith, also known as Umm al-Fadl, was from the Banu Hilal tribe. Umm al-Fadl claimed to be the second woman to convert to Islam, the same day as her close friendKhadijah, the first wife of Muhammad. Umm al-Fadl's traditions of the Prophet appear in all canonical collections of hadiths. She showed her piety by supernumerary fasting and by attacking Abu Lahab, the enemy of the Muslims, with a tent pole.
Fatima bint Junayd, from the Al-Harith clan of the Quraysh tribe.
Hajila bint Jundub ibn Rabia, from the Hilal tribe.
Musliya, a Greek concubine.
Tukana, a Jewish woman from the Qurayza tribe and a former concubine of Muhammad, whom Abbas married after 632. It is not known whether any of the children were hers.
The known children of Abbas were:
Al-Faraa, who married Qatn ibn Al-Harith, a brother of Lubaba. Her mother is not named.
Al-Fadl.
Abdullah.
Ubaydullah. Ubaydullah's daughter Lubaba married al-Abbas ibn Ali and had Ubaydullah ibn al-Abbas ibn Ali, who is the famous Ubaydullah ibn al-Abbas.
Quthum.
Maabad.
Abdulrahman.
Umm Habib. These seven were all the offspring of Lubaba.
Al-Harith. His mother is variously said to have been either Fatima or Hajila.
