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Name: al-Hassan. Title: al-Mujtaba. Agnomen: Abu Muhammad. Father's name: 'Ali Amir al-Mu'minin. Mother's name: Fatima (daughter of the Holy Prophet). Birth: In Medina on Tuesday, 15th Ramadan 3 AH. Death: Died at the age of 46, in Medina on either 7th or 28th Safar 50 AH; buried in Jannat al-Baqi, in Medina. |
Imam Hassan (a.s) was the eldest son of Imam 'Ali and Bibi Fatima (a.s). When the Holy Prophet (s.a.w) received the happy news of the birth of His grandson, He came to the house of His beloved daughter, took the newly born child in His arms, recited Adhan and Iqamah in His right and left ears respectively, and in compliance with Allah's (s.w.t) command named Him al-Hassan.
His Lofty Position
Imam Hassan (a.s) is the master of the youth of heaven. He was one of the two persons in whom the progeny of the Apostle of Allah (s.w.t) was limited. He was one of the four persons whom the Holy Prophet made the contest of prayer with the Christians of Najran (Al Qur’an – 3:61). He was one of the five persons whom the Holy Prophet covered with His cloak (Hadith-e-Kisa). He was among those who were purified as the Qur’an says in Chapter 33, Verse 33. He was among those whom the Apostle of Allah (s.w.t) made one of the two valuable/weighty things (Hadith of Thaqalayn). The Holy Prophet loved Him and asked Allah (s.w.t) to love those who love Him.
His Piousness and Contentment
Imam Hassan (a.s) had the worldly possessions at his disposal and could have enjoyed a luxurious life, but He utilized all of it in the betterment of the condition of the poor. He was so courteous and humble that He never hesitated to sit along with the beggars in the lanes and on the thoroughfares of Medina to reply to some of their religious queries. Through His cordial attitude and hospitality He never let the poor and the humble feel inferior to Him when they visited His abode.
His Awareness and Courtesy
An old man sat to do his Wudhu / Wuzu (Ablution). But his Wudhu was not correct. Imam Hassan (a.s) and Imam Hussain (a.s), the grandsons of the Prophet Mohammad (s.a.w), then two young boys, watched him. They immediately realised that the old man was not doing his Wudhu correctly, but hesitated to tell him directly. Perhaps the old man would feel humiliated by two young boys, or he might even lose interest in the act of worship.
Sitting next to him, they started to do the Wudhu and during the Wudhu, Imam Hassan (a.s) said: "Oh Hussain my Wudhu is correct and more perfect than yours."
In reply, Imam Hussain (a.s) insisted that his own Wudhu was better than Imam Hassan's.
Finally they said: "Let us refer to this gentleman. He is older than us and should be able to decide."
The old man was listening patiently. The boys performed their Wudhu under his supervision, one after the other. And when they had finished, he realized the Wudhu done by the boys was methodical and correct. It was his own Wudhu which was incorrect. Turning to Imam Hassan (a.s) and Imam Hussain (a.s), he gently said: "The Wudhu done by you is correct. I am grateful that you chose to guide me in such a beautiful manner."
His Fortitude and Forbearance
Mubarad and Ibn Aisha narrated that a man from Syria saw Imam Hassan (a.s) riding a horse and started insulting him. Imam Hassan (a.s) did not reply to the man. When the Syrian stopped, Imam Hassan (a.s) proceeded towards him and after cheerfully greeting him said:
"Old man, I believe you are a stranger. Maybe you have confused me with another person. If you ask forgiveness, it is granted to you. If you ask for a means of transportation, we shall provide it for you. If you are hungry, we shall feed you. If you are in need of clothes, we shall clothe you. If you are deprived, we shall grant you. If you are being sought, we shall give you refuge. If you have any need, we shall fulfill it for you. And if you wish to proceed with your caravan, be our guest until you leave, it would be more useful to you, for we hold a good position, great dignity and vast belongings."
When the man heard the words of Imam Hassan (a.s) he cried and said:
"I testify that you are Allah's (s.w.t) heir on His earth. Allah (s.w.t) surely knows to whom He assigns His Message. You and your Father were the most resented of Allah's (s.w.t) creatures to me, but now you are the most beloved of Allah's (s.w.t) creatures to me."
The man then directed his caravan and became their guest of the town until he departed while believing in their love.
His Sayings
"I wonder about the person who contemplates about his nutrition but he does not consider (the food of) his intellect. Thus, he avoids of what hurts him in his stomach but he allows his mind to be filled with what destroys him."
“The height of intelligence is associating with people amicably.”
“Opportunity is something which is quick to vanish and late to return.”
“Don't ever regret deep reflection and rationalisation because thinking revives the alert heart and is a key to the doors of wisdom.”
His Death and Burial
Muawiyah wished to pass the caliphate to his own son Yazid ibn Muawiyah, and saw Imam Hassan (a.s) as an obstacle to his plans. And thus Muawiyah plotted to kill the Imam. Muawiyah solicited the services of Marwan ibn al-Hakam, a son-in-law of Uthman ibn Affan, who was the governor of Medina at that time. With a promise for a reward, Marwan approached one of the wives of the Imam, Ju'da binte al-Ash'ath ibn Qays to poison Imam Hassan (a.s). He was successful, and our Imam died as a result of this plot.
Before Imam Hassan (a.s) died, in accordance with the Will of Allah (s.w.t), named his brother, Imam Hussain (a.s) to be the next Imam. He expressed his wish to his brother to bury his body near to the grave of his grandfather, the Holy Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w). This caused an armed opposition by the governor of Medina. Under a shower of arrows, the funeral procession of Imam Hassan (a.s) had to withdraw and be diverted to Jannat al-Baqi, the general graveyard of Medina, where he was buried next to his grandmother Fatima bint al Asad, may Allah (s.w.t) be pleased with her.
Key References
Kitab al Irshad (Book of Guidance) by Sheikh al Mufid.
