Hasan ibn Ali

Hasan al-Mujtabā
Imams of Shi'a Islam

Rank Second Twelver/Mustaali/Zaydi Imām
Name Hasan ibn ‘Alī
Kunya Abu Muhammad[1]
Birth 15th Ramadhān 3 AH[2]
≈ March 1, 625 C.E.
Death 7th[3] or 28th[4] Safar 50 AH
≈ March 6, 670 C.E.
Birthplace Madīnah[2]
Buried Jannatul Baqī‘, Madīnah
Life Duration

Before Imāmate: 37 years
(3 - 40 AH)
- 8 years with his grandfather Muhammad
- 8 years with his mother Fātimah
- 37 years with his father ‘Alī

Imāmate: 10 years
(40 - 50 AH)
Titles
Spouse(s) Umm Is'hāq bint Talha ibn ‘Ubaydallāh, Hafsa bint ‘Abd al-Rahmān ibn Abi Bakr, Hind bint Suhayl ibn ‘Amru, Ju'da bint al-Ash'ath ibn Qays
Father ‘Alī
Mother Fātimah
Children Qāsim, Fātimah, Zayd, Abdullah, Talha, Umm al-Hasan (Maymūnah), Umm al-Husayn.[3]

Panjetan.jpg
Ali · Hasan · Husayn
al-Sajjad · al-Baqir · al-Sadiq
Musa (Twelver) · Ismail (Ismaili)

Al-Hasan ibn ‘Alī ibn Abī Tālib (الحسن بن علي بن أﺑﻲ طالب)‎ ( born March 1, 625 CE (Ramadhān 15th, 3 AH) – died 669CE (Safar 7th[7] or 28th, 50 AH) aged 47)[8] is an important figure in Islām, the son of Fātimah al-Zahraā (daughter of the Islamic prophet Muhammad) and of ‘Alī ibn Abī Tālib, Rashidun Caliph and the first Shī‘ah Imām.[9] A member of Ahl al-Bayt (the household of Muhammad) and Ahl al-Kisa, Hasan was a Shī‘ah Imām and one of The Fourteen Infallibles of the Shī‘ah Twelvers. Hasan is also known as Al-Mujtaba and Sibtil Akbar (the elder and the first grandson of Muhammad). Both Sunnis and Shi'ahs regard him as a martyr.

Contents

Birth and family life

According to Sunni[10] and Shī‘ah[11] sources, Muhammad, upon the birth of his grandson in 3 AH, was ordered by the archangel Gabriel to name him al-Hasan - a name not used in the pre-Islāmic period.[12] Muhammad also honoured his grandson by reciting the Adhān in his right ear,[13] the Iqāmah in his left ear,[13] shaved the head of his grandson,[14] and sacrificed a ram for the sake of his birth.[15]

According to Shi’ahs Hasan ibn Ali married four women:

  1. Umm Ishaq bint Talha ibn `Ubayd Allah.
  2. Hafsa bint 'Abd al-Rahman ibn Abi Bakr.
  3. Hind bint Suhayl bin `Amru.
  4. Ju'da bint al-Ash'ath ibn Qays (whom Muawiyah tempted to kill Hasan)

Early life

As a growing youth al-Hasan saw his father on the battlefield defending Islam as well as preaching to a vast congregation of believers on the occasion of hajj and as a missionary of Islam to Yemen before retreating to a passive role in the matters of the state during the period of the first three caliphs after the death of his grandfather, Muhammad. Hasan and his younger brother, al-Husayn ibn Ali, are believed to have been greatly beloved by their grandfather Muhammad as numerous hadiths affirm. There are also hadiths that state that al-Hasan and al-Husayn are the Masters of the youth in paradise and that Hasan and his brother Hussein are imams "whether they sit or stand". Hasan is one of five persons included in the Hadith of the Cloak. He is said to have been the first of the Prophet's family to enter Yemeni Kisa after Muhammad and to have walked hand in hand with Muhammad as a child to testify to the truth of Islam at Mubahila. He had seen that the caliphs respected Ali for his manners and knowledge and consulted him on many occasions: whenever he saw it necessary, Ali never refrained from giving his opinion to the caliph of the time on matters of the practice of faith.

In Medina when Muhammad was sitting with his companions and Hasan, who was still a child, was playing between his hands, Muhammad is said to have gazed at al-Hasan and said to his companions "This (grand)son of mine is a lord, and may God place in his hands the reconciliation of two great groups of believers (mu'minun)."

When the third caliph was murdered by demonstrators in his palace in Mad'mah Ali was elected to lead the Muslims. Hasan assisted his father: he went to Kufa and raised an army against the dissenting Muslims then participated actively in the battles of Basra, Siffin and Nahrawan alongside his father, demonstrating skill both as a soldier and a leader. Later he travelled to Mecca with Ammar ibn Yasir to summon armies to fight against Aisha’s army.[6]

The Caliphate

The Shi'ah view is that Ali’s right to the caliphate was usurped and his family abused by Abu Bakr but Ali, Hasan and his younger brother Husayn ibn Ali valued the Muslim community's stability above their own rights, even going to defend the third Sunni caliph Uthman before Ali himself received the caliphate.

Upon the death of Ali in Kufa a new caliph had to be elected. According to Ali's appointment before his death the choice was restricted to al-Hasan and his younger brother Hussein. The latter did not claim the caliphate so Kufi Muslims gave their allegiance (bay'ah) to Hasan without dispute.[16] Most caliph chronologies do not include al-Hasan ibn Ali among the Rashidun Caliphs. However, many Sunni Muslim historians, such as Suyuti, Ibn al-Arabi, and Ibn Kathir accept al-Hasan ibn Ali as the last such caliph.^

Suyuti in The Khalifas who took the right way page 9 and History of the Caliphs Vol 12
Ibn al-Arabi in his Sharh Sunan al-Tirmidhi 9:68-69 ref
Ibn Kathir in The Beginning and the End Vol 6 page 249-250

Muawiyah ibn Abi Sufyan, who had a long-running dispute with Ali, summoned the commanders of his forces in Syria, Palestine, and Transjordan to join him in preparation for battle. He first attempted to negotiate with Hasan, sending him letters asking him to give up his caliphate, believing he could thus avoid killing fellow Muslims and avoid lingering questions regarding his legitimacy should he kill Hasan outright. Shi'a historians say that large sums of money and promises of vast properties and governorships of provinces were offered to commanders of Hassan's army who left him, and that Muawiyah was not interested in the functions of preaching piety or theology but in expanding his sphere of influence in the territories already conquered by the Muslims and in further conquests to the north and north west of Syria.

Negotiations failed and Muawiyah decided to march against Hasan's army of forty thousand[17] with his own army, claimed to have numbered sixty thousand fighters.[18] The two armies faced each other near Sabat. Hasan is said to have given a sermon in which he proclaimed his hatred of schism and appealed to his men to follow his orders even if they did not agree with them. Some of the troops, taking this as a sign that Hasan was preparing to give up battle, rebelled and attacked him. Hasan was wounded but loyal soldiers surrounded him and managed to kill the mutineers. One commander, Ubayd-Allah ibn Abbas, deserted him and joined Muawiyah’s forces.

The two armies fought a few inconclusive skirmishes. Hasan was distressed, understanding that the engagement of Muslims in a battle against each other would mean a loss of many: Muawiyah also had his concerns about being forced into a battle and sent two men from the Banu Quraish to negotiate a settlement.[19] Shi'a scholars quote hadith from later Shi'a Imams to the effect that Hassan lacked the support to fight and win and so ceded power to Muawiya, signing an agreement that he would return the caliphate at his death. According to Shi’ah scholars Hasan stipulated that the caliphate should be returned to him if he was still alive after Muawiyah's death, otherwise it should be given to his younger brother.[20] According to Sunni scholars Hasan stipulated that Muawiyah should follow the Qur'an and the Sunnah, allow a parliament (shura) as regards the caliphate after his death and refrain from any acts of revenge. Muawiyah accepted the conditions attached to the peace treaty;

  1. the enforced public cursing of Ali, e.g. during prayers, should be abandoned
  2. Muawiyah should not use tax money for his own private needs
  3. there should be peace: followers of Hasan should be given security and their rights[21]

Muawiyah proceeded to Kufa and demanded that the Muslims there pledge allegiance to him as caliph. He also asked Hasan to join him and support him in the fight against the rebellious Kharijites. Hasan is claimed to have written to him in response: "I have abandoned the fight against you, even though it was my legal right, for the sake of peace and reconciliation of the Muslim congregation (ummah). Do you think that I shall then fight together with you?"[22]

Muawiyah did not comply with the terms of the treaty, saying to the people of Kufa, “do you think I have taken power to teach you? No, I have taken power and if any one of you tries to disagree with me he shall pay the costly price of the loss of his head.” He carried out his ambition of keeping the power in his family by nominating his son Yazid as caliph after him. But the decision stirred widespread agitation, particularly amidst prominent personalities such as Hussain, Abdul-Rahman ibn Abu Bakr, Abdullah ibn Umar, Abdullah ibn Al-Zubayr and others.

Retirement to Medina

Hasan returned to Medina. According to Persian Shi'a historians , Marwan ibn al-Hakam, the personal secretary to the third caliph Uthman ibn Affan who had fought against Ali during the Battle of Bassorah, was now the governor of Medina. Hasan lacked his moral support and had a hard time during his stay there after the peace treaty, with taunts and abuse from some of Muawiyah's followers and the anger of his supporters for having relinquished the caliphate.

On the other hand, Sunni historians[23] see the treaty as conferring great benefits on the Muslim Empire in years to come. Hasan has been quoted as commenting:

"If Muawiyah was the rightful successor to the caliphate, he has received it. And if I had that right, I, too, have passed it on to him; so the matter ends there."[24]

Death

Al-Hasan ibn Ali died in Medina either on Safar 7th or 28th, 50 AH. He is buried at the famous Jannatul Baqee‘ cemetery across from the Masjid al-Nabawi (Mosque of the Prophet). According to Shi'a historians, Muawiyah wished to pass the caliphate to his own son Yazid, and saw Hasan as an obstacle. He secretly contacted one of al-Hasan's wives, Ja'da bint al-Ash'ath ibn Qays, and incited her to poison her husband. Ja'da did as Muawiyah suggested, giving her husband poison mixed with honey. Madelung[25] notes other traditions suggesting that Hasan may have been poisoned by another wife, the daughter of Suhayl ibn Amr, or perhaps by one his servants and also cites the early historians (Baladhuri, Waqidi, etc.). Madelung believed that Hasan was poisoned and that the famous early Islamic historian al-Tabari suppressed the tale out of concern for the faith of the common people.[26]

Shi'a Muslims believe that Ja'da was promised gold and marriage to Yazid. Seduced by the promise of wealth and power, she poisoned her husband, and then hastened to the court of Muawiyah in Damascus to receive her reward. Muawiyah reneged on his promises and married her to another man.[27]

Hasan had asked for his body to be taken to the prophet's grave, so that he could pay his last respect, and then to be buried near his grandmother Fatima bin Asad. This caused armed opposition. As the funeral proceeded towards the grave of Muhammad some Umayyads mounted on horses obstructed it. Aisha bint Abu Bakr appeared, riding a mule and shouting that the grave of Muhammad was in her house and she would not allow the grandson of Khadijah binte Khuwaylid to be buried beside Muhammad. A shower of arrows fell on the coffin. Hussain, fulfilling the last wish of his brother, turned the procession of the funeral towards Jannat al-Baqi, the general graveyard of Medina, where he was buried. According to one version Marwan asked Muhammad's wife Aisha also to allow his relative Uthman ibn Affan to be buried beside the Prophet if Hasan were to be buried there, but Aisha refused Marwan's request and did not allow anyone else to be buried beside Muhammad.

After Hasan's death his Iraqi followers wrote to Hussein pledging allegiance and proposing to remove Muawiya. However, Hussein refused, choosing to abide by the treaty between Hassan ibn Ali and Muawiya, which could not be broken at that time.

The shrine of Hasan's tomb was destroyed by 20th century Salafi Saudis.[7]

Hadith transmitted by him/pertaining to him

Hasan ibn Ali narrates that Muhammad stated: "He who recites Ayatul Kursi after obligatory salat, is in the protection of Allah til the next salat." from Tabarani, Majma uz-Zuwaid

Timeline

Hasan ibn Ali
of the Ahl al-Bayt
Panjetan.jpg
Banu Hashim
Clan of the Banu Quraish
Born: 15th Ramadhān 3 AH ≈ 1st March 625 CE Died: 28th Safar 50 AH ≈ 6th March 670 CE
Shī‘a Islam titles
Preceded by
Ali ibn Abu Talib		 2nd Imam of Shi'a Islam
Imamate disputed by Nizari
661 – 669		 Succeeded by
Husayn ibn Ali
Sunni Islam titles
Preceded by
Ali ibn Abu Talib		 5th Rashidun Caliph of Sunni Islam
661 – 661		 Succeeded by
Muawiyah I

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Usd al-Ghaba, vol. 1, p. 9.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Shaykh Mufid. Kitab Al Irshad. p.279-289
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Al-Yasin, Shaykh Radi. "1". Sulh al-Hasan. Jasim al-Rasheed. Qum: Ansariyan Publications. pp. 4. 
  4. ↑ Yousuf N. Lalljee. Know Your Islam.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 Al-Yasin, Shaykh Radi. "1". Sulh al-Hasan. Jasim al-Rasheed. Qum: Ansariyan Publications. pp. 4.  ; al-Qurashi, Baqir Shareef. "2". The Life of Imam al-Hasan al-Mujtaba. Jasim al-Rasheed. Qum: Ansariyan Publications. pp. 59. 
  6. ↑ Tirmidhi, Vol. II, p. 221 ; تاريخ الخلفاء، ص189
  7. ↑ Shaykh Radi Al-Yasin. Sulh al-Hasan.
  8. ↑ http://www.al-shia.com/html/eng/books/masoom_hasan/2ndimam.html
  9. ↑ http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/politics/firstfourcaliphs.html
  10. ↑ Husayn Diyar Bakari. Tarikh al-Khamees. vol.1, p. 470.
  11. ↑ Muhsin al-Amin al-‘Amili. A‘yan al-Shi‘a. vol. 4. Baqir Shareef al-Qurashi. The Life of Imam al-Hasan al-Mujtaba. p.57.
  12. ↑ Husayn Diyar Bakari. Tarikh al-Khamees. vol.1, p. 470. Ibn al-Athir. Usd al-Ghaba.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Ahmed, Musnad, vol. 6, p. 391. Al-Turmidhi, Saheeh, vol. 1, p. 286. Abu Dawud, Saheeh, vol. 33, p. 214.
  14. ↑ Husayn Diyar Bakari. Tarikh al-Khamees. vol.1, p. 470. Noor al-Absar, p. 107. Al-Turmidhi, Saheeh, vol. 1, p. 286.
  15. ↑ Husayn Diyar Bakari. Tarikh al-Khamees. vol.1, p. 470. Mushkil al-Aathaar, vol. 1, p. 456. Al-Hulya, vol. 1, p. 116. Al-Turmidhi, Saheeh, vol. 1, p. 286. Muhsin al-Amin al-‘Amili. A‘yan al-Shi‘a. vol. 4, p. 108.
  16. ↑ Madlong, (1997) p. 313 - 314
  17. ↑ Dr. Israr Ahmad, The Tragedy of Karbala, Society of the Servants of Al-Quran, Lahore
  18. ↑ Ibn A'zham IV, p. 153. Other numbers: [1]
  19. ↑ Sahih Bukhari 3:49:867
  20. ↑ Imam Hasan bin 'Ali
  21. ↑ Kitab Al-Irshad, Shaykh al-Mufid, Ansariyan Publications
  22. ↑ Madelung, 1997 pp. 324-325
  23. ↑ Dr. Israr Ahmad, The Tragedy of Karbala, Society of the Servants of Al-Quran, Lahore, Pp.14 & 15,
  24. ↑ ibid Pp.15
  25. ↑ Madelung, pp. 331–333
  26. ↑ Madelung pp. 331–332
  27. ↑ [2], [3], [4], [5]
  28. ↑ LIFE OF IMAM HASSAN BIN ALI (A.S),Provided by Zahid Abbas Jaffery,(www.shianews.com) http://syd.dubaijamaat.com/imam_hassan.htm
Ibn al-Arabi in his Sharh Sunan al-Tirmidhi ref
Ibn Kathir in The Beginning and the End Vol 6 page 249-250

References

Madelung, Wilferd (1997). The Succession to Muhammad: A Study of the Early Caliphate. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0521646960. 

Hasan Reza Ansari, Kulti, India

External links