A
Brief History of Imam Hasan's Life |
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The Son
of the Prophet |
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Imam
Hasan Mujtaba -upon whom be peace- was the second Imam. He and his
brother Imam Husayn were the two sons of Amir al-mu'minin Ali and
Hadhrat Fatimah, the daughter of the Prophet. Many times the Prophet
had said,"Hasan and Husayn are my children". Because of these same
words Ali would say to his other children, "You are my children and
Hasan and Husayn are the children of the Prophet."
Imam Hasan was born in the year 3 A.H. in Medina and shared in the
life of the Prophet for somewhat over seven years, growing up during
that time under his loving care. After the death of the Prophet
which was no more than three,or according to some, six months
earlier than the death of Hadhrat Fatimah,Hasan was placed directly
under the care of his noble father.
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Imam
Hasan and Mu'awiyah |
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After
the death of his father, through Divine Command and according to the
will of his father, Imam Hasan became Imam; he also occupied the
outward function of caliph for about six months, during which time
he administered the affairs of the Muslims.During that time
Mu'awiyah, who was a bitter enemy of Ali and his family and had
fought for years with the ambition of capturing the caliphate,first
on the pretext of avenging the death of the third caliph and finally
with an open claim to the caliphate, marched his army into Iraq, the
seat of
Imam
Hasan's caliphate. War ensued during which Mu'awiyah gradually
subverted
the
generals and commanders of Imam Hasan's army with large sums of
money
and
deceiving promises until the army rebelled against Imam Hasan.
Finally,the Imam was forced to make peace and to yield the caliphate
to Mu'awiyah,
provided
it would again return to Imam Hasan after Mu'awiyah's death and
the
Imam's household and partisans would be protected in every way.In
this way Mu'awiyah captured the Islamic caliphate and entered
Iraq.In a public he officially made null and void all the peace
conditions and in every way possible placed the severest pressure
upon the members of the Household of the Prophet and the Shi'ah.
During all the ten years of his imamate, Imam Hasan lived in
conditions of extreme hardship and under persecution, with no
security even in his own house. In the year 50 A.H. he was poisoned
and martyred by one of his own household who, as has been accounted
by historians, had been motivated by Mu'awiyah.
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Imam
Hasan's Character |
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In
human perfection Imam Hasan was reminiscent of his father and a
perfect example of his noble grandfather. In fact, as long as the
prophet was alive, he and his brother were always in the company of
the Prophet who even sometimes would carry them on his shoulders.
Both Sunni and Shi'ite sources have transmitted this saying of the
Holy Prophet concerning Hasan and Husayn:"These two children of mine
are Imams whether they stand up or sit down" (allusion to whether
they occupy the external function of caliphate or not). |
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