An introduction to
fourth infallible Hazrat Imam Hassan (AS)
Birth
and Childhood
In
the mid of the month of Ramadan, the 3rd year of Hijrah, a son was born
in the small mud house of Hazrat Ali (A.S.). The Prophet (P.B.U.H), on
behalf of Almighty God, named him Hassan (A.S.). Imam Hassan (A.S.) was
brought up in the lap of his father Ali (A.S.) and mother Fatima Zahra (S.A.)
and learnt lessons from the school of his grandfather.
He
had a great worth and status in the eyes of the Prophet (P.B.U.H.). Such
as, one day he (P.B.U.H.) was on the tribune, delivering a speech to the
people, he heard the voice of his weeping. He came down from the
tribune, went to calm him down, and then returned to his place. When the
people asked him the reason for this act. He said, "Whenever I hear the
voice of his weeping I get restless". The Prophet (P.B.U.H.), having
offered his prayer along with the people, would lift Imam Hassan (A.S.)
into his lap and would say, "Whosoever loves me, must love this child as
well". Sometimes, he lifted this child upon his shoulder and said, "It
is hoped that God will purify this Ummah through him". Or he would say,
"Whosoever loves Hassan (A.S.) and Hussain (A.S.) he loves me and
whosoever nurses grudge and has enmity against them has enmity with me".
"Hassan (A.S.) and Hussain (A.S.) are the two chiefs of the youths of
the paradise". Then he said, Hassan (A.S.) and Hussain (A.S.) are the
two earrings of the Empyrean, paradise of God takes pride and potentates
due to them.
Awareness and Courtesy
One
day, an old man was performing ablution. His ablution was futile and
invalid. Imam Hassan (A.S.) ought to make him aware of his fault but
how? If he said to him you are wrong possibly his heart might break and
he got annoyed and did not accept it. He along with Imam Hussain (A.S.)
decided to create a scene and ask the old man to make the judgment. Imam
Hassan (A.S.) addressed Imam Hussain (A.S.) and said, "I perform a
better ablution as compared to yours." Imam Hussain (A.S.) said "I
perform it better than you do." Both of them approached the old man and
said, "You come and see our ablution and decide who performs a better
ablution." Both of them got busy with performing ablution and ended it
in a correct and nice way. The old man understood what was the secret of
their act and became aware that they meant him to find out his fault, in
this way. So he said to them "The ablution performed by both of you is
correct, I am an old man, who did not know how to perform the ablution
correctly. You made me aware about my fault. I am much thankful to you."
Piety
and Purity of Imam (A.S.)
Imam Hassan (A.S.) was the most pious, devout and ascetic worshiper and
adorer of God. Whenever he went to Mecca for pilgrimage, he would go
walking on foot. Whenever he performed ablution or stood for his prayers
he saw himself in the court of God and his body started trembling he
said, "The time has come for me to submit the deposit of God to Him."
When he came to mosque, he would raise his head, in the prayer place,
towards the sky and say, "Oh God this is your guest standing in your
court. Your defaulter servant has come towards you. And he hopes that
you will forgive his bad deeds, by virtue of your kindness and
forgiveness."
The
Fortitude and Forbearance of Imam (A.S.)
One
day he was crossing a street riding a horse. On the way he came across a
man who was one of the friends of "Muawiyah". When that man knew he was
Imam Hassan (A.S.) he started using an un-respectful language. Imam (A.S.)
stopped and listened to him and then facing him said, "I think you are a
traveler and stranger and not a local person. You have been provoked by
the enemies about us and their false words about us have made you
cynical and pessimistic about us. If you have a need I may fulfill that
need. If you are hungry, I will order to feed you. If you require a
dress and clothes, I will order to dress you up. If you don't have
residence to live in I will take you along with me to my house and
extend hospitality and give you treatment. When that disrespectful
person heard those words from the Imam (A.S.), he got very much ashamed
and repented. He was so upset and uneasy about what he had done that he
started weeping and apologized and said, "The words of your enemies had
affected me. Before this (event) you and your father were the greatest
enemies of mine among all the people. But now that I have witnessed this
courtesy of yours, you are the most respectful and gracious to me among
all the people.
I
became aware that you are a family who has the capability of becoming
the heirs of the Prophet (P.B.U.H). Till the time I am living I will be
a friend and devotee of you and would defend your right. So he did what
he had said.
The
Charity and mercifulness of Imam (A.S.)
1.
A person came to Imam Hassan (A.S.) and said "poverty and bad luck is
torturing me. You are a family of chastity, purity and infallibility.
Get me saved from this cruel enemy?" Hazrat Imam Hassan (A.S.) called
his servant and said, "How much money do you have available?" He replied
"five thousand Dinnars" He said, "Give all of this money to this man so
that it may become the capital of his business and life and he may
relieve himself off and get rid of poverty and resource less ness.
2.
One day, Imam Hassan (A.S.) went to the house of God. In the very
condition when he was busy praying he heard a man addressing his God and
saying, "Oh God, I need ten thousand dirhams to get it shaped as the
capital of my life and you the merciful one give me this boon and
blessing". The moment Imam returned back, he sent the said amount for
him.
3.
A poor and distressed man came to Imam Hassan (A.S.) and recited a rhyme
meaning thereby, "I am left over with nothing, not even a single dirham.
You can perceive my condition fully well and know it. I have nothing
left with me to sell except my honor. I know you are the purchaser and
buyer of it." The Imam (A.S.) at once called his servant and said,
"Whatever money you have got with you, give it to this man."
The
servant gave ten thousand dirhams to him. Hazrat Imam (A.S.) asked the
servant to make excuse as well, because, he did not possess more than
that amount to be given out to him. He advised him to take that money
and use it for his life and running the wheels of it and possibly
getting rid of poverty and distress.
These few stories exhibit this fact that in the same way Imam (A.S.) was
thoughtful and consider ant about the dooms day of the people, he was
careful and considering about their Worldly affairs, for, the World is
connected and patched up with the justice day. And the hunger and
poverty stricken man cannot think about his dooms day. We must fully
know that the Imam's helps and aids to the people as were not of the
sort to encourage people about begging. Instead, these were extended in
a manner to extend job and activity chances for them.
His
Caliphate
On
the 21st night of the Ramadan of 40th Hijra his father Ali ibn-e-Abi
Talib (A.S.) passed away making all the people sorrowful and grieved.
Imam Hassan (A.S.) who was 27 years of age came along with the people to
the mosque and climbed the tribune and said, "Last night, a man, who was
unique in knowledge piety, conduct and character among the previous ages
people as well those to come in future, has gone out of you. He
participated the battles along with the Prophet (P.B.U.H.) and strived
hard to guard Islam. A person who was the thorn of the eyes of the
enemies and the fruit of the heart of friends. And he did not spare and
accumulate anything from the wealth of the world for himself, except for
seven hundred dirhams by which he wanted to provide a servant for his
family."
At
this moment, the Imam (A.S.) wept bitterly and the people too wept. Then
he spoke about himself. So that the people may know that the Imamate has
been handed over to him and that people might not go astray and did not
get misled. He said, "I am the son of the Prophet (P.B.U.H.), Ali (A.S.)
and Fatima (S.A.). I am the flame of the lighted lamp of Prophet hood.
The families from which God has driven the dirt, contamination and
pollution away.
Then Abdullah Ibn-e-Abbas stood up and said "Oh people this is the son
of the Prophet (P.B.U.H.) and your Imam, beware, that he is the right
heir and successor of Ali (A.S.). So take the oath of allegiance and
loyalty for him".
People moved in shape of groups towards Imam Hassan (A.S.) and took the
oath of alIegiance for him. Imam (A.S.) made it a condition that they
would fight anyone against whom he fought and whenever he deemed it fit
to make peace, they would also accept it. All of them accepted it, and
willingly agreed and submitted to his Imamate.
The
Conspiracies of Muawiyah
Muawiyah had established a government and dominion in Syria and for
years he had played tricks with cunning ways and means against Ali (A.S.).
He killed the friends of Ali (A.S.) and brought into existence the
perverted group and sect of Khwaraj Now, when he heard that people,
after the martyrdom of Ali (A.S.), took oath of allegiance to elect Imam
Hassan (A.S.) for the caliphate post as the successor of the Prophet (P.B.U.H.).
This thing was very hard for him to tolerate. He sent spies to Kufa and
Basra to find out and get him informed about what was going on. And
thereafter, they may plot and hatch conspiracies against Imam (A.S.) if
they deem fit and suitable they might start subversion and sabotage and
create chaos, and disorder.
Imam gave the order that the spies should be arrested and killed. Then
he wrote a letter to Muawiyah: "Oh Muawiyah! You send spies and set your
hands upon subversion? I presume that you intend to fight a war and you
like war. If it is so, then I am also ready for it and the war is at
hand. Do wait "Insha Allah".
Muawiyah! I am surprised over you that you are the candidate for a job,
which you don't deserve and are not worthy for it. Neither you have any
superiority in the religion nor you have left any good effect, mark or
impression from yourself as a monument and memorial. Muslims have taken
oath of allegiance for me (caliphate). It would be to the interest and
benefit of Islam that you too accept this act (caliphate) like the rest
of the Muslims. Oh Muawiyah! Do not move the untrue and illusive (Batil)
ahead, and you also take the oath and allegiance of faithfulness to me
like the others, and do consider the blood of the Muslims respect
worthy. If you do not accept my advise and wish to create disorder and
chaos and spill the blood of Muslim I will quickly attack you along with
the other Muslims, and will put you on trial.
Muawiyah in reply to the Imam wrote:
In
the same way as Abu Bakr, due to his experience and expertise took the
caliphate from Ali (A.S.), I am more deserving than you and have more
experience and it is better that you be my follower so that you get the
caliphate after myself, and I will give you, whatever is the income of
Iraq.
Muawiyah not only denied and turned his face from taking the oath of
allegiance, he also sent spies to kufa to martyr the Imam. Thus the Imam
(A.S.) was forced to wear armored Jacket under his clothes and then
stand for offering the prayers. Once when one of the agents of Muawiyah
threw an arrow towards him the arrow got ineffective due to the armored
Jacket and so the Imam (A.S.) remained safe.
War
Begins
It
did not take long that Muawiyah, on the pretext of bringing into effect
Islamic unity, gathered a huge army and mobilized it to fight the Imam
in Iraq. When the news of the movement of Muawiyah's army I reached the
Imam, he invited the people to the mosque. He climbed the tribune and
after the praise of God and the salutation to the holy Prophet (P.B.U.H.)
said, "Muawiyah has moved towards Iraq along with his army. It is your
turn to get ready for the war and defend your honor and religion." But
those despicable, vanquished and comfort loving people did not give a
response to Imam (A.S.) Addi Ibn-e-Hatim stood up from among the people
and very sadly addressed them saying, "What kind of people are you. What
does this dead silence mean? Why do you not reply to the Imam (A.S.) and
the son of your Prophet (P.B.U.H.)? Are you not afraid of abjectness and
suffering? Be afraid of God's anger and torment and chastise and obey
the order of your Imam (A.S.). Get up and manly press your weapon in
your hands and defend your honor, respect and religion. So that the God
and Imam (A.S.) are pleased with you.
These words alerted a group so they announced their readiness to take
part in the battle. Addi Ibn-e-Hatim told the Imam (A.S.), "We are ready
and waiting for your order." Imam (A.S.) said, "I am proceeding towards
the Nakheela Camp and whosoever is prepared and willing may go to that
place, although I know that you will not practice upon your promise and
Muawiyah will deceive you.
Disobeying the Imam (A.S.)
When Imam reached most of those who were shouting the slogans of "war"
"war" were not present there and had gone back and turned their back
upon the promise they had made with him. Because those who had
participated were comprised of:
1.
Khawarij who had come to fight against Muawiyah and not for the sake of
obeying the command of Imam (A.S.).
2.
Those materialist and world adorers and greedy ones who were after the
war booty.
3.
Those who had participated for the sake of accompanying and following
their tribal chiefs and not due to any religious inspiration.
This is the reason Imam (A.S.) addressed them saying, "You betrayed me,
like you had betrayed my father, who was your Imam before me. I don't
know whether you will fight siding with Imam or someone who absolutely
does not believe in God and His Prophet (P.B.U.H.).
Then he selected a man named Hakam as the army commander and put four
thousand men under his command so that he moves to the city of Ambaar
and stays there and applies restraint to the forces of Muawiyah till
getting further orders. But Muawiyah deceived him by giving him money
and making false promises. And he joined his army along with his two
hundred men.
Imam (A.S.) selected another man from the tribe of Bani Murad as his
successor and said, "Although I do not have trust upon you. But this is
a trial, you may also proceed."
When Muawiyah came to know about his arrival, he sent his delegates with
five thousand dirhams for him and promised to give him a governorship.
He was too deceived by Muawiyah and joined him.
Imam's
Grief
When the news of the joining of tribal chiefs with Muawiyah reached the
Imam (A.S.). He was much affected and shocked and said, "Did I not say
several times that you do not have any faithfulness and trustworthiness,
and your conduct with me is that of artifice, and cunningness? He then
decided to gather an army himself and move. By the efforts of his
friends nearly four thousand men gathered. Imam (A.S.) along with "Sabaat"
went to Madayan and sent twelve thousand men under the command of
Obaidullah bin Abbas and his helper Qais bin Saad, as a file leader and
fore runner to meet and resist Muawiyah, so as to test their spirit and
strength of devotedness. Muawiyah sent his agents along with one million
Dirhams among the forces of Imam (A.S.) to get Qais deceived but Qais
did not yield to his desire and answered them, "tell Muawiyah you cannot
take my faith from me and I will not desert and leave Imam by any of
your artifices and frauds."
The
agents who got disappointed by Qais and went towards the real Commander
Obaidullah bin Abbas and lured and deceived him and he along with a
group of his followers joined Muawiyah at the nighttime. When the army
men of Imam (A.S.) became commander less, Qais took over the Command and
lead the Jamaat prayers. Qais was fighting fiercely and ferociously and
had made Muawiyah harassed and fearful. As a result, he sent a few spies
among the army men of Qais, so that they may make this propaganda that
Imam Hassan (A.S.) has entered into peace treaty with Muawiyah and you
are fighting for no reason. By this way Muawiyah succeeded in separating
and detaching the group of Khawarij from the Imam's forces and in
deceiving them to attack the Imam (A.S.) and what he desired did
materialize.
The
Rioter Khawarij
This stupid and silly group did believe in what spies of Muawiyah told
them and disobeyed the orders of Imam (A.S.) and they raised a hew and
cry that Imam Hassan (A.S.) had also become an infidel like his father (Maaz-Allah)
and had joined hand with Muawiyah. Suddenly, a platoon attacked the tent
of Imam (A.S.) and looted whatever they found, to the extent that they
even pulled out the carpet of Imam (A.S.) from beneath him.
Imam (A.S.) was forced to leave that place and he rode upon horse and a
group of his friends were all around him. One of them (the attackers)
rushed out of his hiding place and injured the Imam (A.S.). Imam (A.S.)
was carried to one of his friend's house and provided medical care and
treatment. It came to it, that most of his governors, secretly and
confidentially, wrote letters to Muawiyah saying we are at your command
and disposal as soon as possible come to Iraq, we will arrest the Imam (A.S.)
and hand him over to you. Muawiyah sent all those letters to Imam (A.S.)
along with a covering letter saying, "These people did not remain
faithful to your father and they will not remain on your side either. I
am ready to sign a pact with you and overlook the war.
Why
Imam (A.S.) accepted the Truce?
The
adventurer Khawarij and the dishonest friends of Imam (A.S.) made it
inevitable for the Imam (A.S.) to accept truce with Muawiyah. But truce
did not mean that Imam (A.S.) colluded and put up with Muawiyah and
agreed to his cruel and brutal activities. But it meant to make a no war
pact with Muawiyah for a certain period. Because, if Muawiyah became
victorious he would had smashed and destroyed all the hopes of Islam and
would have destroyed the foundation of Islam and killed all the true
Muslims. Besides, the Roman Empire was seeking a chance to attack the
Islamic lands, and this mutual difference of Muslims was the best
opportunity for it. Thus Imam (A.S.) who was smoldering with pain spoke
to his untrue and unfaithful friends, "I know that you would practice
craftiness and artifice, a group who do not have neither shame nor
religion have unconditionally handed themselves over to Muawiyah, woe to
you, By God, Muawiyah will not fulfill his commitments. I wanted to
establish for you the religion of the right but you did not help me. You
started moving on the path of opposition and confrontation and committed
dishonesty with me, which forced and obliged me to sign the treaty. By
God, if I had friends and helpers I would not have surrendered the work
to Muawiyah because, I consider the caliphate to be prohibited for Bani
Ommayide. You will soon taste the bitterness of the conduct of Muawiyah,
day and night. After the Imam (A.S.) was forced to make truce with
Muawiyah, he wrote a letter to him saying, "I wanted to revive the right
and put an end to rescinded and vanity and establish the ruler ship of
God and the sunnah of the Prophet (P.B.U.H.) but people did not agree
and accompany me. Now, I am making a truce with you upon the conditions,
which I know that you will not fulfill and comply with. But soon you
would repent, but that will be a time when it will not be of benefit to
you.
Then, he sent his cousin Abdullah Bin Harris to see Muawiyah so that he
should get him committed upon the conditions, which he had presented
after a negotiation with him, and write down the agreement, and treaty
of truce.
A part of the truce treaty is as under: -
1.
The blood of the Shias must remain respect worthy and their rights must
not be confiscated and crushed.
2.
Filthy language must not be used against Ali (A.S.) and his Shias.
3.
Muawiyah should practice upon the Book of God (The Quran) and the Sunnah
of Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H.).
4.
The friends and companions of Imam (A.S.) must remain safe and secure
from his mischiefs and brutalities wherever they live and no one has the
right to resist them.
5.
Imam (A.S.) does not call Muawiyah, Ameerul Momineen and will not take
his name in the Khutbas (sermons).
6.
Muawiyah must not hand over the caliphate to anybody after himself.
The
Breaking of the Pact
After the peace pact was conducted, Muawiyah focused his attention upon
Kufa and held the Juma prayer congregation at Nakheela. He evidently and
clearly said in his Jumma speach "Oh people I did not fight against you
so that you should offer your prayers and keep fast, instead, it was for
the reason that I rule over you although you do not like it. I will
crush all the conditions of truce pact conducted with Hassan bin Ali (A.S.)
under my feet. But the conduct of Muawiyah in certain matters showed
that he was strongly embarrassed and harassed due to the influence of
Imam (A.S.) so that sometimes he was obliged to put into practice few of
the points of the peace pact.
So
that once when Ibn-e-Ziad the governor of Kufa followed and chased (to
punish) one of the friends of Imam (A.S.), Imam wrote about the incident
to Muawiyah, who at once reprimanded Ibn-e-Ziad about this event.
Finally Muawiyah Decided to make Yazeed his successor
But
the pact, which he had signed with Imam Hassan (A.S.), stopped him from
this act. He decided to poison the Imam (A.S.) so that the way to the
succession of his son Yazeed should become open and clear. And then make
the people forcibly take oath of allegiance (for Yazeed's). Therefore,
he contacted "Jaada" the wife of Imam (A.S.) and deceived by luring her
and sent a poison for her, with the message that if you make your
husband take this poison you will get a prize of one hundred thousand
Dirhams from me. Besides, I will select you as the wife of Yazeed and
you will become the wife of the caliph of Muslims.
The
dishonest hand poisoned the Imam's Utensil (food)
The
womanly scruples regarding the money and fame blinded the eyes of the
wife of Imam (A.S.) and made her accept the suggestion of the cunning
fox and commit such a dishonesty which history will never forget.
Although Imam (A.S.) had said several times that I will get martyred by
my wife. And people had requested him that if it is so then divorce her
and turn her out of your house. But Imam (A.S.) replied, "She has not
yet committed any crime and if I turn her out of the house, I would not
have done a right thing. Because, she will make this step an excuse and
will say, Imam has turned me out of his house without any fault. So that
by this means she may cover her crime up and show her work as correct.
Beware; Muawiyah will not let me go. If I leave my wife, even then she
will not abandon her dishonesty except this that she will carry her
program forward under the cover of her being oppressed.
Finally on the 28th day of Safar, 50th Hijrah when the weather was
extremely hot and the Imam (A.S.) was fasting, Jaada, poisoned his milk
pot and presented to him for breaking the fast.
Imam drank a portion of the poisonous milk and then addressed her, "Oh
the enemy of God and Prophet (P.B.U.H.) you have killed me. God kill
you. By God, you and Muawiyah both will become abject, despised and
helpless." And the same happened as he bad fore told, and predicted.
Jaada was turned out of Muawiyah's court with humility and not very long
had passed that she died. And Muawiyah too died of a terrible life
taking pain.
Imam Hassan (A.S.) passed away having faced pain and discomfort. And was
buried in the graveyard of Baqi in Medina.
God
and Prophet's blessings be upon his pure soul. |