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contemporaries said, We've never seen a house more filled with food, drinks, fruits, and knowledge than
Ibn `Abbaas's house."
He possessed a pure soul that never carried any spite. He never tired of wishing all the good for
people, those whom he knew and those whom he did not. He said about himself, "Whenever I recited a
verse, I wished that all people had acquired the knowledge I've acquired. Whenever I heard about a just
ruler ruling fairly, I was filled with delight and prayed for him, although I did not need him! Whenever I
heard about rain falling on Muslim land, I was filled with delight although I did not own any livestock
grazing on that land."
He was a devoted repenting worshiper, praying at night and often fasting. No one could miss the
stream of tears on his cheek. That is because he cried so much whenever he prayed or recited the
Qur'aan. Whenever he read a scolding or threatening verse, or the mention of death and resurrection, his
wail and laments grew louder and louder.
In addition, he was honest, brave, and eloquent. He had his own viewpoint and opinions about the
dispute between lmam `Aliy and Mu`aawiyah, which proved his capacity for stratagem.
He preferred peace to war, kindness to violence, logic to compulsion.
When Al-Hussain (May Allah be pleased with him) intended to go to Iraq to fight Ziyaad and
Yaziid, Ibn `Abbaas did everything he could to prevent him. Afterwards, he was informed about his
martyrdom. He felt deep grief and kept indoors.
Whenever a dispute between two Muslims arose, he could always be seen carrying the banner of
peace, forgiveness, and tenderness.
It is true that he himself was involved in the battle between `Aliy and Mu'aawiyah when he fought
on `Aliy's side. But he did that because, at the beginning, the war represented a necessary eradication of a
movement which was causing a terrible split within the Islamic community, threatening the unity of the
faith and of the believers.
As long as he lived he filled the whole world with knowledge and wisdom, spreading among people
his scent of piety.
When he reached the age of 71, he was invited to meet Allah. The city of At-Taa'if witnessed a great
scene for a believer who had been promised Paradise. While his body settled safely in its grave, the
horizon was shaken by the echo of the truthful divine promise: "O soul at peace. Return to your Lord,
well pleased and well pleasing. Enter you among My servants. And enter into My Paradise!" (89:27-30).