Finally, during the battle of Siffin Imam Ali allowed the other party to drink from the water which was under his control although Muawiya prevented Imam Ali's army from reaching the river when he, first, had controlled it. Like their father, Imams al-Hasan and al-Hussein supplicated to God for rain for people of Kufa when they were afflicted by draught. Because of the Imams' supplication, the city of Kufa was watered with heavy rain that regained life to it. After all, history have not forgotten the situation when Imam al-Hussein, after he had left Medina and Mecca and directed towards Kufa, served water to people of Iraq: At the last hours of that night, Imam al-Hussein ordered his servants to fetch water as much as possible. They did although they did not know the reason. In their way, the caravan of the Imam met the army headed by al-Hurr ibn Yazid and they were intolerably thirsty under the heat of that sun and the iron of their military uniform. Only then did the servants of Imam al-Hussein know the reason why their master had asked them to take water as much as possible. Then, the Imam (a) ordered, "Serve them with water and give their horses some."
Copying his fathers and two brothers, al-Abbas ibn Ali assumed to himself the mission of serving water and he was completely worthy of it. On every occasion and every opportunity he could seize, al-Abbas served the others with water. On the day of Ashura, more than ever, he also undertook this mission in many situations.
On the seventh of Muharram that year, Omar ibn Saad banned the army, household, harem, and children of Imam al-Hussein from reaching the river or taking a single drop of water. This blockade continued to the tenth of Muharram. This occurred in an area in the middle of Iraq which is known of its dry weather, and it was Summer. Besides, all the conditions of that situation were arising heat: heat of war, heat of swords and spears, and heat of breaths.
To fetch water in such a situation is really a heroic deed that leaves a great effect on hearts. Hence, Abu'l-Fadhl al-Abbas won