IMAM AL-HASAN BIN ‘ALI (A.S.)

Birth:     15^th Holy Ramadhan 3 A.H. in Madina

Parents: Imam ‘Ali bin Abi Talib (as) & Sayyida Fatima Zahra (as)

Titles:    Al-Mujtaba

Death:   28^th Safar 50 A.H. in Madina (Poisoned by Mu’awiya)

Buried:  Jannatul-Baqee’, Madina

One day, in the days of Imam ‘Ali bin Abi Talib (a.s.), a man was caught holding a knife that was stained in blood besides a dead body of a person who was stabbed. When they asked him as to who had killed the man, he admitted that it was he. However, as the people were taking him to the court, another man came hurriedly and said to them, “Leave this man alone for he is innocent, and I am a true killer”. People did not know what to do so they arrested him too and brought both the men to Imam ‘Ali (a.s.).

Imam (a.s.) first asked the man who was caught with a knife in hand, “Why did you agree to the killing when you are not the real killer?”

The man said, “O Maula! I am a butcher. I was slaughtering an animal when I felt like answering to nature’s call. I went to this place with my knife in hand and I found this dead body. Before I could do anything, people gathered and seeing me with the knife, they assumed I was the killer. How could I have denied the killing when all the evidences were against me?”

Imam (a.s.) then turned towards the other man and asked, “Are you the true killer?”

The man replied, “Yes! I had killed that person and then escaped from the place. However, when I saw an innocent man (butcher) would be punished for the crime he had not committed, I surrendered myself”.

Imam ‘Ali (a.s.) said, “Call my son Al-Hasan and he will issue a ruling in this matter”.

Imam Al-Hasan (a.s.) came and after listening to the incident, gave the following ruling, “The lives of both men will be spared. The butcher is innocent; therefore he is not liable to any punishment. As for the other man, although he admitted to the killing, but on the other hand came out on time to save the butcher’s life. The Holy Quran says: ‘Whoever saves a life is as though he has saved the entire mankind’ (5:32) The blood money of the person killed will therefore be paid from the public treasury”. (Chauda Sitaare)

“There is no poverty like ignorance”.  (Bihar al-Anwaar)

“Teach others your knowledge and learn the knowledge of others so you will bring your knowledge to perfection and learn something which you do not know”. (Bihar al-Anwaar)

A person once asked Imam Al-Hasan (a.s.), “What is generosity and magnanimity?” Imam (a.s.) replied, “To protect the religion; self-respect; softness of conduct (gentleness in behaviour); and consistency in favour, kindness and the discharging of rights (of others)”. (Bihar al-Anwaar)