The
life of Imam Hasan al Mujtaba (A.S)
On the
15th day of the Holy month of Ramazan, 3rd A.H, the first son of Ali
(A.S) and Hazrat Zahra (A.S) was born. kafi: vol=1; pg.461
The Kunyat of Imam Hasan (A.S) was Abu Mohammad. Al - Irshad : vol = 2;
pg 5
His laqab (title) has been narrated as Sayyed, Sebt, Hujjat,Taqi, Zaki,
Mujtaba, Zahed, Amir and Wali.Manqeb Ibn Shahr Ashob; vol=3; pg.192/
Taarikh Ahlul Bait; pg. 130
The growth and development of Imam Hasan (A.S) was in the company of the
Holy - Prophet of Islam (S.A) for seven years. And for thirty years, he
was in the company of his holy father, Hazrat Amiral Momeneen Ali (A.S).Taarikh
Ahlul Bait; pg. 74&75
After the Shahadat ( martyrdom) of Imam Ali (A.S) in the year 40 A.H,
Imam Hasan (A.S) undertook the responsibility of the reins of the
government as per the request of the Muslims. Al- Kamil: vol= 2; pg 443
He sent his personnel's to different cities Murooj - uz - Zahab; vol=3;
pg.4as the Bani Ummayya harboured deep enmity and vendetta against Bani
Hashim. They conspired and hatched several plots to snatch the Khilafat
from Imam Hassan (A.S) and to take over the control of the Muslim
affairs for themselves. Thus, Moawiya sent several spies and secret
agents to several cities so as to lay the ground for weakening the
government of Imam Hasan (A.S) Al - Fusool - Ul - Mohemma; pg= 161.
He prepared an army to assault Iraq Al- Kamil; vol= 2; pg. 445. After
being informed of the happenings, Imam Hasan (A.S) sent many warnings to
Moawiya. sharh Nahjul Balagah ; vol = 16; pg .31. Then he called the
Muslims to prepare themselves in the combat against Moawiya. With a
mighty army, he prepared himself for the battle Ibid; pg. 38&39
Before facing the army of Imam Hasan (A.S), Moawiya decided to resort to
trick and deceit.
On one hand, he falsely implicated Imam Hasan (A.S) and spread the
rumour amongst the people about the peace treaty with him sharh Nahjul
Balagah ; vol = 16; pg. 42. Moawiya resorted to this trick so as to
weaken the morality of the army of Imam (A.S).
On the other hand, he resorted to bribery, debauchery and promising big
government post, he seduced the top army officers of Imam Hassan (A.S)
in to submission.
In this way, they joined the ranks of the army of Moawiya one after the
other sharh Nahjul Balagah ; vol= 16; pg 22.
Disloyalty and treason had penetrated in the army and companions of Imam
Hassan (A.S). They devoured his tents, unfastened his button, pulled the
carpet from beneath him and slit his thigh leg with a dagger. sharh
Nahjul Balagah; vol= 16 pg. 4 ; Moruj Az _ Zahra ; vol = 3 pg 9
Seeing his army resorting to such dubious methods and his companions
being in disturbed and agitated mood, Imam Hassan (A.S) thought it
advisable that for stopping the disunion and the killing of the Shiahs,
he accept the proposal of the peace treaty with Moawiya but with special
conditions.
As per the writings of Ibne Khalka, the peace treaty was concluded on 25
Rabiul Awwal 41 A.H. wafyat - ul - Ayat; vol= 2 pg. 66.
The most important conditions of the peace treaty were:
1.
Moawiya would not call himself as Amir - ul - Momeneen ( leader of the
Believers) Alal -us - sharai pg 212 ; Tazkerat - Khawas pg 206
2.
From thene onwards, Imam Ali (A,S) would not be cursed or abused in bad
language Al - Ibhadi vol2; pg 14.
3.
The life, wealth and chastity of the female members of shiahs would be
secured and protected.
4.
All the rights and privileges of the Shiahs would be granted to them.Al
- Irshad; vol 2 pg 14
5.
Moawiya would not appoint anybody as his successor Insabul Ashraf; vol 3
pg 42
As can be seen from the conditions of the peace treaty, Imam Hassan
(A.S) while showing Moawiya as a usurper and tyrant allayed the flames
of disunity; saved the Islamic society from total annihilation and
safeguarded the rights of the Shiahs.
It can be rightly said that the biggest achievement of the peace treaty
was the discernment of the truth from falsehood. Neither truth could be
introduced as lowliness and abject nor falsehood could be pretended to
be right.
The holy Imam, through his behaviors and action made the people realize
that Moawiya is the pillar of falsehood, deceit and treachery while the
right of khilafat belonged to the true Awsiya of the Holy Prophet of
Islam (saww). They do not want to rule over the people by resorting to
force, bribery and deceit. The same matter was pursued during the events
of Kerbala.
After the signing of the peace treaty, some of the people found fault
with this important and wise work of Imam Hassan (A.S). They slandered
him and used abusive language against his holy personality. Tohaful
Oqool ; pg 308 It was as if they had ignored his divine gifted position
and unmistakable personality.
In their reply , Imam Hassan (A.S) said;
"Am I not the Hujat of the Almighty, being his remembrance upon his
creatures. Did not the Holy Prophet of Islam (S.A) said, "Hassan and
Hussain are two Imams, whether they are sitting or standing? If i had
not done this work ( signed the peace treaty), nobody from amongst the
shiahs would have remained in this world and every body would have been
killed and annihilated."Alalus Sharaya ; vol I pg 211
After turning over the apparent khilafat to Moawiya. Imam Hassan (A.S)
left Kufa for his home land in MedinaTaarikh - e - Tabari ; vol 4 pg 126
He started to propagate the Divine Knowledge and spread it amongst the
Muslims. But Moawiya did not stop from resorting to conspiracy and
intrigue from the beginning, he started to break the articles of the
peace treaty.sharah Nahjul Balaga ; vol 16 pg 13
To gain certainty that the Khilafat will remain in his house hold,
Moawiya hatched a plot to kill Imam Hassan (A.S). To accomplish his
devilish plan, Moawiya poisoned the son of Hazrat Zahra (SA) on four
occasions.sharh Nahjul Balagah ; vol 16 pg 10
On the fourth occasion, he made Imam Hassan (A.S) drink poison and was
effective in the Shahadat of Imam Hassan (A.S).shah Nahjul Balagah ; vol
16 ; pg 11
Based on this treacherous action, Imam (A.S) suffered heavy bleeding and
the color of his face changed and he said, "On several occasions ,
poison was given to me, but I had never suffered such hardship as on
this occasion." sharh Nahjul Balagah ; vol 16 ; pg 49
Jonada says; "I went to visit Imam (A.S) during his illness which led to
his death. I saw a tub in front of him. Due to the poison given by
Moawiya (may the Almighty curse him) he was spitting blood in it . I
said to Imam (AS), "O my Maula! Why don't you cure yourself?"
Imam Hasan (AS) replied, "O Abdullah! How can I cure death?" I said, "we
are from the Almighty and to him is our Return."
Imam Hasan (AS) attained shahadat due to poison at the age of 47.Al -
Kafi vol I pg 461 & 462
After reciting Namaz on him, his holy body was taken towards the Haram
of the Holy Prophet of Islam (saww)Tazkeratul Khawas pg 213 to bury him
there.Alalus sharaye ; vol I pg 225
Tholat Ibn Malek says, "There was such a tremendous surge of heavy crowd
accompanying his dead body towards his grave that if the needle would be
thrown on the ground, it would hit the men (instead of striking the
ground).Al - Isaba vol =1 pg 331
When the Bani Umayyad heard about the events and the huge crowd
accompanying the holy body of the son of Hazrat Zahra (SA), they
prevented from getting him buried near the grave of his holy grand
father. Tazkerat - ul - Khawas pg 213
Ibn shahr Ashoob writes; they showered arrows at his dead body. Seventy
sticks of arrows were removed from the holy body of Imam Hasan (AS).Manageb
vol 4 pg 44
As per the will of Imam Hassan (A.S) . Imam Hussain (A.S) refrained from
fighting with them. He took the holy body of his brother towards Baqi
and buried him there. Al _ Irshad ; vol 2 pg 17
There is a difference of opinion about the day of the Shahadat of Imam
Hasan (AS)/
Shaikh Mufid and Kafami believe that he attained martyrdom on the of
Safar ( Awalem ; vol 16 pg 277 ). Shaikh Abbas Qummi accepts this saying
in his book, " Qurrat - ul - Basera". Ibn Shahr Ashoob says that Imam
Hassan ( A.S) achieved Shahadat on 28th Safar [ Manageb vol 3 pg 191 ].
Shaikh Kulaini and Khazaz Qummi say , that the holy imam was martyred on
the last day of Safar [ Kafi vol 1 pg 461 ].
It has been narrated that Imam Hassan (A.S) had thirteen to sixteen
childrens. From amongst his children are Fatema. The mother of Imam
Mohammad Bager (A.S) Al - Fusool - ul - Mohemma pg 166. Qasem, Abdullah
and Amir are also his childrens who achieved Shahadat during the episode
of Kerbala behind their holy uncle Imam Hussain (A.S). |