Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib

Abbas was the Prophet's paternal uncle, approximately two to three years older than the Prophet. He was the custodian of the Zamzam well and the pilgrims' water supply — a position of great honour among the Quraysh. For years, Abbas supported the Prophet secretly while remaining in Makkah, serving as a source of intelligence about Qurayshi plans. He attended the Second Pledge of Aqabah to protect his nephew's interests, ensuring the people of Madinah understood the gravity of their commitment. At Badr, he was fighting on the side of the Quraysh (according to the predominant view, under compulsion) and was captured. The Prophet could not sleep that night, and when asked why, he said: 'Because of the groaning of Abbas in his chains.' A Companion loosened Abbas's bonds, and the Prophet asked that all the prisoners be treated the same way. Abbas was ransomed. He formally declared his Islam before the conquest of Makkah and met the Prophet's army at al-Juhfah. During the conquest, the Prophet sent Abu Sufyan to observe the Muslim army from a vantage point, and Abbas rode Abu Sufyan on his mule to witness the tribes marching by. At the Battle of Hunayn, when the Muslim army scattered in confusion from the ambush, the Prophet ordered Abbas to call out with his powerful voice: 'O Companions of the tree! O Companions of Surah al-Baqarah!' His booming call rallied the fleeing soldiers back to the Prophet, turning the tide of the battle.