Outrider

Concealed behind his half-brother al-Husayn, elusive and enigmatic, as though reluctant to draw attention to himself, Abū al-Fadl al-ʿAbbās would eventually be propelled into pre-eminence by history, revered by millions as ‘the water bearer’, ‘the father of excellence’, and ‘the moon of the Hashemites’. A silently valiant man who rarely speaks although, when necessary, is the first to do so, Abū al-Fadl, named by ʿAlī his father for his lion-like ferocity, would be for al-Husayn a diplomat and negotiator, the carrier of the standard and an archetype of selflessness, the intrepid outrider for water, and the last man standing. His unflagging support for his half-brother is iconic, no less so than his stance as the anti-model for those who betrayed al-Husayn’s cause.