THE STORY OF KARBALA - PART 9/02

THE MARTYRDOM OF ABBAS

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Hearing this, the troops reformed their lines and attacked Abbas from all sides. Abbas now had a much more difficult task before him. He came to the river riding down hill and with an empty water skin. He was now having to ride uphill holding a full water-skin.

He was trying to save the water-skin from arrows being shot from all sides. In the intensity of battle one of the Umayyad soldiers sneaked behind his back and with full force slashed his sword on Abbas' right shoulder severing his arm completely.

Abbas held the water skin with its tying string between his teeth and kept fighting with his left arm, until his left arm was also severed in a similar manner. Abbas continued towards his camp undeterred holding the water-skin against his chest.

He had no arms to fight but his will to survive and take the water to the children was so strong that he was seen kicking the enemy soldiers out of their mounts, until at last an arrow pierced the water-skin. Abbas could now see the futility of going back to his camp and turned back towards the river. He had no arms to fight.

One of the soldiers hit him on the head with a mace. Abbas fell from the horse and called out to Husayn.

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