^{This page is part of © FOTW Flags Of The World website}

Shi'ite Religious Flags (Iraq)

Part 1

See also:

Abbas 'Waterer of Thirsty Ones' memorial flag

image located by William Garrison, 28 April 2024

A black-field flag (2.45m x 3.5m) with a blood-red "Thuluth" script/calligraphy that reads: "Ya Saqi 'Atacha Karbala" or in English: "Oh, Waterer of thirsty ones in Karbala", which is printed on both sides. "Saqi" or "al-Saqqa" means "the water carrier"; it is a nickname of Al-Abbas. During the "Battle of Karbala" in Iraq in Oct. 680 C.E., Al-Abbas was killed in his desperate attempt to bring water from the Euphrates River to quench the unbearable thirst of the besieged family of the Islamic prophet Mohammad's descendants (including Imam Hussain and family). His full name was: "Al-Abbas ibn Ali ibn Abi Talib". This particular flag was produced (c. Sept. 2015) to fly above his shrine ("Haram Aba al-Fadl al-Abbas") in Karbala on the eve of first Muharram to mark the beginning of the "month of sorrows" (lamenting the deaths of the Shia-Muslim members killed at the "Battle of Karbala"); c. Oct. 2015 in Karbala, Iraq.
Source: https://imaandesigns.com/products/al-abbas-dome-flag-black-replica
William Garrison, 28 April 2024

The Google search string below provides several photos showing its construction at: https://www.google.com/search
William Garrison, 31 May 2024

Hazrat Abbas' horse Uqab

image located by William Garrison, 21 March 2024

Because of the pictured two-prong sword call "Zulfiqar" on this flag it readily identifies that this flag is related to Shia-Muslims. The bottom Farsi slogan reads: "al'ahrar" or "Free (people)". The top line in Farsi essentially notes that the flag carrier implores Hazrat ["holiness"] Abbas for assistance in protecting or freeing Shia-Muslims (Shiites) from oppression. His full name was: "Al-Abbas ibn Ali ibn Abi Talib" which identified him as being the son of "Ali ibn Abi Talib", who was the fourth caliph [political ruler] in Sunni Islam and the first imam [religious ruler] in Shia Islam. He was killed along with his half-brother Imam Hussain/Husayn at the Battle of Karbala, c. Oct. 680 C.E. He is remembered for his attempting to draw water from a nearby river and carry it to the thirsty children of his tribe. His kunya (nickname) was "Abu al-Fadi" or "Father of Virtue". One needs to understand Shia theology to understand the showing of the imagery of a horse of this flag. Shiites recognize this horse's name as "Uqab" ("eagle). Shia sources claim that this horse was used by the Muslim prophet Muhammad himself, who later gave it to caliph/imam Ali, who then passed it on to Abbas. The hoist is on the right side of this flag. Information: https://www.tumblr.com/zinattango/157516940394/hazrat-abbas-as-was-given-a-horse-named-uqab
William Garrison, 21 March 2024

Abbas: How can I drink? (Battle of Karbala)

image located by William Garrison, 4 October 2023

A colorful Shia-Muslim prayer-appeal flag with slogans of: "Peace be upon you, Aba Al-Fadl Al-Abbas" and "How can I drink when my brother Hussein is thirsty?" To keep a long story short, at the "Battle of Karbala" in Iraq in October 680 CE, the Shia/Shi'ite-Muslim tribal-leader, Hussain, was killed. Also, his half-brother, Abbas, had his hands chopped off by the enemy while trying to gather water; he, too, was later killed. This flag depicts a scene showing Abbas momentarily contemplating drinking some water at a nearby stream, but hesitates in realization that he needs to take the water quickly back to camp to his brother Hussein and the thirsty children in the camp -- and just before his hands are chopped off by the enemy as he lingers too long. Abbas is willing to sacrifice the quenching of his thirst by refusing to drink the water in order to quickly return his water-skin to camp. Shia-Muslims consider Abbas to be a religious "martyr" ("shahid/shaeed") for having been wounded and dying in his effort to obtain water for others. On the flag, one can see that there is a white/tan area where his hands should be, but artistic license has taken a "time warp" in both showing where-his-hands-should-be and removing his amputated hands at the same time. Thus, the slogans on the flag: the top one uttered today by pious Shia-Muslims beseeching Abbas' spiritual intervention, and second, his selfless, sacrificial lamentation.
William Garrison, 4 October 2023

Al-Abbas flag

Seen at https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/photo/iranian-people-with-flag-royalty-free-image/1193975167?adppopup=true
A red-field religious flag carried my Shiite-Muslims throughout the Middle East. The yellow-green slogan on the flag reads: "Ya Abal-Fazl Al-Abbas". Above "Abbas" there is a barely discernable slogan that reads: "Qamar Bani-Hashim". "Qamar Bani-Hashim" means "Moon of Bani-Hashim Tribe" near Quraish/Mecca, Saudi Arabia. In Arabic literature a "handsome man" is called "Qamar". The "Man in the Moon" expression symbolizes a beautiful face. In Shiite theology, al-Abbas was known as having a beautiful face, hence, his having the nickname of "Qamar". Al-Abbas was the brother of the third Shiite Imam Husain/Hussein, and al-Abbas was the flag bearer of Husain's army at the Battle of Karbala -- where both were martyred (c. 680 CE). Essentially, this flag is an appeal by its carrier asking al-Abbas to spiritually intervene in supporting the Shiite flag bearer's cause in overcoming some disorder.
William Garrison, 3 September 2021

Oh, Qamar Bani Hashem

Anti-ISIS flag

image located by William Garrison, 25 October 2023

This flag is not associated with any specific PMF (Popular Mobilization Forces) Shia militia in Iraq.

What is of interest with this flag is how the prominent displaying of a sword allows a viewer to immediately identify this flag as being used by Shia/Shiite-Muslims. The 2-prong sword is easily recognizable as the "Zulfiqar" sword, which supposedly was given by the Muslim Prophet Mohammed to his loyalist "Alī ibn Abī Ṭālib", and, thereby, conferring Ali has his successor in leading the Muslim community. The slogan on the sword reads: "There is no sword like