Al-Hasan ibn ‘Ali ibn Abi Taalib (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu)

Source:

• Child Companions around the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) compiled by Darussalam
• Siyar A’laam an-Nubalaa’ by Adh-Dhahabi

Whenever al-Hasan (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) is mentioned, the believer feels a special kind of love and he is seized by unique feelings of affection, for the Muslims are united in their love for him, just as they are united in their love for his grandfather (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wasallam).

There are a number of reasons for this love, the first of which is that he was the son of the Messenger of Allaah’s daughter Fatimah (Radia-Allaahu ‘anha) who was the most beloved daughter of the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) and also  because he was deserving of that love, due to his character and his religion. The name al-Hasan means good and he certainly lived up to his name for he was of good character, good form, well spoken whenever he spoke, silent whenever it was most fitting to be silent, gave well when he gave, answered well whenever he answered, was good company to those whom he kept company with, and was good at forgiving those who behaved ignorantly towards him.

His Birth

He was born in Sha’baan in the third year after Hijrah.

Ahmad reported on the authority of ‘Ali ibn Abi Taalib (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) who said, “When al-Hasan was born, the Messenger of Allaah (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) came and said, “Show me my son, what did you name him?” I said, “Harb.” He (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) said, “No, but al-Hasan…” [Reported by Ahmad and at-Tabarani]

Abu Dawoud reported on the authority of Ibn ‘Abbas (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) that the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) slaughtered a ram for each of al-Hasan and al-Husain⁽¹⁾. [Abu Dawoud in the Book of Sacrificial Animals, chapter of ‘Aqiqah]

Al-Hasan resembled his grandfather, the Messenger of Allaah (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wasallam), as narrated by Juhaifah (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu), “I saw the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wasallam), and al-Hasan resembled him.” [Al-Bukhaari]

‘Uqbah ibn al-Harith (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) narrated, “Once Abu Bakr (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) offered the ‘Asr prayer and then we went out walking with ‘Ali and saw al-Hasan playing with some boys. He lifted him on his shoulder and said, “May my parents be sacrificed for your sake! (You) resemble the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) and not ‘Ali,” while ‘Ali was smiling. [Al-Bukhaari]

Abu Hurairah (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) used to say, “I never saw al-Hasan without my eyes filling with tears.” [Abu Na’iem]

Abu Hurairah (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) narrated that dates used to be brought to Allaah’s Messenger (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) immediately after being plucked. Different people would bring their dates till a big heap collected (in front of the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wasallam)). Once, when al-Hasan and al-Husain were playing with these dates, one of them took a date and put it in his mouth. Allaah’s Messenger (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) looked at him and took it out of his mouth and said, “Don’t you know that Muhammad’s offspring do not eat what is given in charity?” [Al-Bukhaari]

Another version of the Hadeeth is reported by Ahmad (Rahimahullaah) in which he reported that Abi Hawra’ asked al-Hasan, “What do you remember about the Messenger of Allaah (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wasallam)?” He (al-Hasan) (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) said, “I remember that I took a date from the dates that were intended for charity and put it in my mouth. The Messenger of Allaah (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) removed it along with the saliva accompanying it and returned it to the dates for charity,” and it was said, “O Messenger of Allaah! What was your objection to this date?” He (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) said, “We are the family of Muhammad and it is not permissible for us to take charity.”

And he (al-Hasan) used to say, “I remember words from Allaah’s Messenger (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wasallam), ‘Leave what makes you doubt in favor of what does not make you doubt, for truthfulness brings peace of mind while lies cause doubt and uncertainty.’” [At-Tirmidhi]

And he (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) taught al-Hasan ibn ‘Ali (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) to say after finishing his recitation in Witr

اللَّهُمَّ اهْدِني فيمن هَدَيْت وعافني فيمن عافيت ……….

“O Allaah! Guide me among those whom You have guided; and pardon me among those You have pardoned;…” [Ibn Abi Shaibah, Abu Dawoud, an-Nasa’i, Ahmad and authenticated by al-Albaani]

The Merits of Al-Hasan (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu)

Usamah ibn Zaid (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) said that the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) used to take him (i.e. Usamah) and al-Hasan (in his lap) and say, “O Allaah! Love them as I love them.” [Al-Bukhaari]

Al-Bukhaari also reported on the authority of Abu Hurairah (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) that the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) embraced and kissed al-Hasan and then said, “O Allaah! Love him as I love him, and love whoever loves him.”

And the Messenger of Allaah (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) called upon the Muslims to love al-Hasan (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu), saying, “Whoever loved me, he should love him; let those who are present inform those who are absent.” [Reported by Ahmad in Musnad Ahmad 5/266]

Al-Bukhaari reported in the Book “The Merits of the Companions of the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wasallam)”, Abu Bakra (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) narrated, “I saw Allaah’s Messenger (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) delivering a sermon, and al-Hasan came and ascended the minbar (pulpit) and the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) said, “Indeed my son; this boy of mine is a leader. May Allaah reconcile two parties of Muslims through him.” [Al-Bukhaari, at-Tirmidhi, an-Nasa’i, Abu Dawoud, at-Tabarani and Ahmad]

Abu Sa’eid (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) narrated that Allaah’s Messenger (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) said, “Al-Hasan and al-Husain are the masters of the youth of the dwellers of Paradise.” [At-Tirmidhi]

His Characteristics

He not only resembled his grandfather (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) in appearance, he also resembled him in many of his characteristics. He was a leader, generous, gentle, courageous, God fearing and pious.

He performed Hajj fifteen times. Many times he performed Hajj on foot, walking from Madinah to Makkah and his camels were led by him. [As narrated by Ibn ‘Abbas (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhuma), reported by Ibn Kathir and al-Baihaqi; and al-Bukhaari also mentioned it in his Saheeh]

He was extremely gentle towards anyone who wronged him or behaved ignorantly towards him. Juwairiyyah bint Asma’ said that when al-Hasan (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) died, Marwan cried over him at his funeral and al-Husain (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) said to him, “Would you cry for him after all the problems you caused him?” He said, “I behaved so towards one who was more enduring than that, and he pointed to the mountain.” [Bidayah wan Nihayah]

Marwan used to treat al-Hasan (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) badly, but al-Hasan (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) behaved with gentleness towards him, bearing his ignorance like a mountain; and he responded thus towards anyone who behaved ignorantly towards him.

It is reported on the authority of Zuraiq ibn Sawar that once, words were exchanged between al-Hasan (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) and Marwan, and Marwan spoke rudely to him, but al-Hasan (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) remained silent. Then Marwan blew his nose with his right hand and al-Hasan (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) said, “Woe to you! Don’t you know that the right hand is for the face and the left hand is for the bodily orifices? Fire upon you!” Upon hearing this, Marwan became silent.” [Siyar A’lam An-Nubala’, vol.3]

This is indicative of al-Hasan’s (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) unique personality; he did not become angry for his own sake, but when the matter was concerned with one of the required manners of Islam, he did not hesitate to rebuke Marwan even though he held power and rank, and thus Marwan was unable to reply to him.

His Generosity

Sa’eid ibn ‘Abdul-Aziz said, “Once al-Hasan heard a man next to him supplicating Allaah to give him ten thousand dirhams. When al-Hasan went home, he sent the money to the man.” [Al-Bidayah wan-Nihayah]

It was reported that once al-Hasan (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) saw a black slave eating a morsel of flat bread and he was feeding a dog with it. Al-Hasan asked him, “What made you do this?” He said, “I am embarrassed to eat without feeding him.” Al-Hasan (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) said to him, “Don’t leave your place until I come to you.” Then he went to the slave’s owner and bought the garden in which he was and he freed him and gave him the garden. [Al-Bidayah wan Nihayah]

Abu Ishaq Harithah ibn Mudarrib reported on the authority of ‘Ali (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) that he delivered a sermon to the people, then he said, “Your brother’s son, al-Hasan ibn ‘Ali has collected some money and intends to distribute it among you.” Hence, all the people gathered. Al-Hasan (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) said, “Actually, I collected the money for the poor,” thereupon, half of the people departed.

Al-Qassim ibn Fadl said that Abu Haroon told him, “We left (our towns) as pilgrims. When we entered Madinah, we entered upon al-Hasan (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) and told him about our journey and our state. When we left him, he sent to every man among us, 400. So we returned it to him and told him of our prosperous condition. He said, “Do not return to me my charity (good deed). If I was in another state, this would be easy for you. I will provide with the following, “Verily, Allaah boasts about His slaves to His Angels on the Day of Arafah.” [Tahdheeb Ibn Asaakir]

He (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) used to say, “Fulfilling the need of my brother is dearer to me than spending a month in seclusion in the mosque (I’tikaf).” [Al-Bidayah wan Nihayah]

It was said to al-Hasan (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) that Abu Dharr (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) said, “Poverty is more beloved to me than richness, sickness is more beloved to me than good health.“ He (al-Hasan) said, “May Allaah be merciful with Abu Dharr. As for me, I say, ‘Whoever relies on Allaah’s choice for him, he would not wish for anything. This is the limit of standing with pleasure for what has been decreed or pre-ordained.'” [Tahdheeb Ibn Asaakir]

His Courage

Al-Hasan (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) did not avoid war due to cowardice; Allaah forbid that he should be accused of cowardice. He didn’t like war due to the fear that he might bear the burden of killing another Muslim. But when there was no alternative to war, he was a valiant warrior and a stout-hearted fighter. He (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) used to hasten in supporting ‘Uthman ibn Affan (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) during the days of rebellion and he fought with his father against the Khawarij and he participated in many battles. But his refusal to fight against Mu’awiyah (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) required greater courage than any war would have required.

His Accession to the Caliphate

‘Ali ibn Abi Talib (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) was killed within thirteen days of Ramadan in the year 40 AH. When his father was killed, eyes were turned towards al-Hasan (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu), for he was the elder son, well known for his praiseworthy character, his adherence to the truth, his generosity, his courage, his gentleness and patient perseverance. This is aside from the qualities mentioned by the Messenger of Allaah (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) and the recommendations of the Companions, who were unanimous in their opinion of him.

So he went out to them and delivered an excellent sermon, dignified and eloquent in meaning, included in which were the words:

“This night, a man without equal among the early or the later generations has died; the Messenger of Allaah (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) used to give him his standard and he would fight and he would not return until Allaah had granted him victory and he left on this earth neither gold nor silver, except seven hundred dirhams, with which he wished to buy a servant for his family.”

Then he presented himself to the people and invited them to pledge their allegiance to him.

The people hastened to do so, pledging to support him through thick and thin. More than forty thousand people pledged their allegiance to him and they had previously pledged their allegiance to his father unto death. Jarir ibn Haazim said, “When ‘Ali was killed, the people of Kufa gave the pledge to al-Hasan, and they loved him so much, even more than his father.” He remained Caliph for about seven months in Iraq and the lands beyond Khurasan and in Hijaz and Yemen.

His Caliphate

‘Amr ibn al-Asamm said to al-Hasan (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu), “The Shi’ah claim that ‘Ali (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) is going to come (be resurrected) before the Day of Judgment.” He (al-Hasan) said, “By Allaah! They said a lie. These are not Shi’ah (real supporters of ‘Ali); if we knew he was going to come (to be sent back before the Judgment Day), we would not remarry his wives, nor divide his wealth.” [Tahdheeb ibn Asaakir]

Al-Kalbi said, “Al-Hasan was given the Caliphate and he took it for seven months and eleven days, then he submitted it to Mu’awiyah (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu).”

Conciliation with Mu’awiyah

Allegiance had been pledged to Mu’awiyah ibn Abi Sufyan (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) in Ash-Sham and he knew that al-Hasan detested division more than anyone so he wrote to him proposing a truce between them and he gave him his pledge that if anything happened to him while al-Hasan (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) was still alive, he would pass the Caliphate to him. That is, Mu’awiyah (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) promised the Caliphate to al-Hasan (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) after him, if anything happened to him while al-Hasan was still alive.

‘Abdullah ibn Ja’far reported that al-Hasan (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) said, “I have come to an opinion and I want you to follow me in it.” I said, “What is it?” He replied, “My opinion is that I should go to al-Madinah and stay there and leave the Caliphate to Mu’awiyah, for this division has lasted too long and much blood has been spilt and travel has become impossible.” I said to him, “May Allaah reward you with goodness for (sparing) the nation of Muhammad.” [Al-Isabah Fi zaman As-Sahabah, by Ibn Hajar]

Thus, al-Hasan ibn ‘Ali (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) who had a greater right to the Caliphate than Mu’awiyah, gave it up to him (Mu’awiyah (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu)) in order to spare the blood of the Muslims.

 His Death

It is reported on the authority of Imran ibn ‘Abdullaah ibn Talhah that he saw al-Hasan (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) in a dream and it was written between his eyes, “Say He is Allaah, the One.” He was very happy about this and informed Sa’eid ibn al-Musayyab (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) of it, and he said, “If this vision is true, then his time remaining is but little.” And he died a few days after that. [Tahzibul-Kamal]

Al-Hasan (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) had said when he was poisoned, I have tasted poison many times, but I have never tasted a worse poison than this.” The poison which was administered to him on this occasion was deadly, so much so that the physician said, “This man’s intestines have been cut up by poison.” When the poison had spread throughout his body, his brother, al-Husain (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) came to him and sat at his head and said, “Oh my brother! Who is your Companion?” (meaning, who administered the poison to you) Al-Hasan said, “Do you intend to kill him?” Al-Husain replied, “Yes.” Al-Hasan said, “If my killer was the one who I think it was, then he will face a worse punishment from Allaah than from me, and if he is not, then I do not wish for you to kill an innocent man for me.” [Hayatul-Awliya’] And he said, “This life is but fleeting nights; leave him until we meet before Allaah.” And he refused to name him.

When death came to him, he said, “Take my bed out to the courtyard of the house so that I may look towards the kingdom of the heavens.” So, they took out his bed and he raised his head toward the heaven and said, “O Allaah! I believe that my soul will soon be with You and it is the dearest of souls to me.” And a part of what Allaah wrote for him was that he believed that he would be with Allaah. [Hayatul-Awliya]

When his death was close, he asked permission from “’Aishah (RadiAllaahu ‘anha) to be buried in her house beside his grandfather (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) and ‘Aishah (RadiAllaahu ‘anha) agreed to this; however Marwan and some people with him from the tribe of Banu Umaiyah prevented him from being buried near to the Messenger of Allaah (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wasallam). His brother al-Husain (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) wanted to take up the sword against those who prevented al-Hasan (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) from being buried near to his grandfather, but Ibn ‘Umar (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) reminded him that his brother had ordered him not to shed blood in the matter and so he changed his mind and al-Hasan (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) was buried in al-Baqi cemetery. He died at the age of forty-seven in the year 49 AH, may Allaah have mercy on him.

When al-Hasan ibn ‘Ali (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) died, his brother, Muhammad ibn ‘Ali (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) stood and said, “May Allaah have mercy on you, oh, Abu Muhammad! If your life was great, then your death has brought ruin. What an excellent soul it is that is within your body and what an excellent body it is that is within your shroud. How could it be otherwise when you are the descendent of guidance, the ally of the God-fearing people and the fifth of the Companions of the garment (meaning the five people whom the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) once covered with his sheet and said, “These are my Ahl Bait.”). You were fed by the hands of truth (i.e., the hands of the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) and you were brought up in the house of Islam. You lived a good life and you died a noble death. Though our hearts are not happy at being parted from you, we do not doubt that you will receive a goodly reward. May Allaah have mercy on you.” 

Al-Husain (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) said, “May Allaah have mercy on you, oh Abu Muhammad! Truly, you supported the truth and gave precedence to Allaah’s religion in combating that which is false, in a place of piety with a noble purpose, perceiving the great things in the life of this world with a wary eye, and bestowing plenty upon it with a pure hand. You prevented your enemies from achieving their objectives (by withholding provision from you). You are the offspring of the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) and your destination is the Garden of Tranquility. May Allaah increase our reward and yours and may He grant us and you consolation and ameliorate our sadness.”

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(1) Al-Husain was the younger brother of al-Hasan ibn ‘Ali and was younger than him by a year. He was one of the grandsons of the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) and was famous for his righteousness. He was killed at Karbalaa’ in Iraq on the tenth of Muharram, 61 H.