Al-Hassan’s
Succession to the Caliphate
Excerpt from
Kitab al-Irshad.
In the
Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful
When the
Commander of the Faithful, peace be on him, died, al-Hassan addressed
the people. He reminded them of his right (to authority). The followers
of his father pledged allegiance to him in terms of fighting those he
fought and making peace with those with whom he made peace (peace be on
them both).
[Abu Mikhnaf Lut b. Yahya al-Azdi reported: Ash'ath b. Suwar told me on
the authority of Abu Ishaq al-Sabi'i and others, who said:]
Al-Hassan b. 'Ali, peace be on them, addressed the people towards dawn
on the night in which the Commander of the Faithful, peace be on him,
died. He praised and glorified God and blessed the Apostle of God, may
God bless him and his family. Then he said:
"There has died tonight a man who was the first among the early
(Muslims) in (good ) actions. Nor did any later (Muslims) attain his
level in (good) actions. He used to fight alongside the Apostle of God,
may Allah bless him and his family, and protect him with his own life.
The Apostle of God, may God bless him and his family, used to send him
forward with his standard while Gabriel supported him on his right and
Michael supported him on his left. He would not return until God brought
victory through his hands. He, peace be on him, has died on this the
night on which Jesus, son on Mary, was taken up (to Heaven), on which
Joshua, son of Nun, the testamentary trustee (wasi) of Moses, peace be
on him, died. He has left behind him no gold and silver except seven
hundred dirhams of his stipend ('ata), with which he was intending to
buy a servant for his family." Then tears overcame him and he wept
and the people wept with him.
Then he continued: "I am the (grand) son of the one who brought the
good news. I am the (grand) son of the Warner. I am the (grand) son of
the man who, with God's permission, summoned (the people) to God. I am
the (grand) son of the light which shone out (to the world). I am of the
House, from whom God has sent away abomination and whom God has purified
thoroughly. I am of the House for whom God has required love in his
Book, when God, the Most High, said:
"Say, I do not ask you for any reward except love for (my) kin.
Whoever earns good, will increase good for himself."
[42:23]
The good is love for us, the House." Then he sat down.
'Abd Allah b. al-'Abbas, may God have mercy on him, arose in front of
him and said:
"People, this is the son of your Prophet, the
testamentary trustee (wasi) of your Imam. So pledge allegiance to him"
The people answered him saying, "No one is more loved by us nor has
anyone more right to succession (khilafa)."
They rushed forward to pledge allegiance to him as successor. That was
on Friday on the *21st Ramadhan in the year 40 A.H. (660). Then he
assigned (the posts of) the tax collectors and he gave instructions to
the governors (of the provinces). He sent 'Abd Allah b. al-Abbas to
Basra. He took charge of all matters.
Reference:
Shaykh al-Mufid
(1981) Kitab al-Irshad - The Book of Guidance into the Lives of
the Twelve Imams, The Muhammadi Trust, London, U.K, p 280-281.
*In the book Kitab al-Irshad,
there is what appears to be a misprint where the 21st Ramadhan reads as
the 11th Ramadhan, and Allah knows best.
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