IMAM
AL-HASAN BIN ‘ALI AL-MUJTABA (A.S.)
SOME
LESSONS FROM HIS NOBLE LIFE:
Spiritual
Side:
Imam
al-Sadiq (a.s.) said: "Hasan bin Ali
(a.s.) was certainly the most true worshipper, ascetic and merited man
among the people of his time."
Rawdhat
al-Wa'ideen (Orchard of the Preachers) mentions that whenever "Hasan
would do his ablution, he would tremble and his face would turn pale. He
was asked about it, and he replied: 'It is only natural that one who
stands in the presence of the Lord of the Throne turns ashen, and
trembles...'"
Imam
al-Sadiq (a.s.) is also reported to have said:
"Hasan bin Ali (a.s.) had certainly gone to
hajj twenty-five times on foot. He shared his property with Allah
twice...or three times."
Ali bin
Jadh'an, and Abu-Na'im report in Hulyat al-Awaliya' (Ornament of the
Saints) and Tabaqat bin Sa'd (Castes of bin Sa'd) that Imam Hasan had
given all his money to the needy twice, seeking Allah's pleasure, and
had given half his money to the needy three times. When he approached
the door of the mosque, he would say. 'O
Lord! Your guest is at Your gate. O Generous! The transgressor has come
to You. Forgive me my ugly deeds with Your Generosity. O Generous!'
When he
remembered death he wept. When he thought of the grave he wept. When he
thought of the Resurrection and Day of Judgement he gasped so deeply and
painfully that he fainted because of it.
When he recited the Quran and came across a verse addressing the
faithful by these words: 'O you who
believe...,' he said: 'Here I
am, my Lord, here I am...”
Scientific Side:
"What is
asceticism?"
the Imam was once asked.
"The desire to be pious and abstemious in this life,"
he replied.
"What is
forbearance?"
he was asked.
"Restraining one's anger and controlling oneself,"
he answered.
"What is
righteousness?"
he was asked.
"Replacing the bad with the good,"
came the answer.
"What is
honour?"
they
asked.
"Being kind to one's relatives and shouldering people's burdens of sin."
"What is
the succour?"
he was asked.
"Defending the neighbour, patience in war, and advance during
adversities,"
he said.
"What is
glory?"
he was asked.
"Giving while being in debt and forgiving others their offences."
"What is
manliness?"
"Holding onto the faith, keeping one's self-respect, being merciful,
being kind, giving back people's trusts, and ingratiating oneself to the
people..."
(Tuhaf
al-‘Uqool)
Ethical
Side:
A Syrian,
imbued with hatred and spite against the family of the Messenger of
Allah (saww), by Mu’awiya bin Abi-Sufyan, once saw the Imam on
horseback. He at once emitted a series of curses! Imam Hasan (a.s.) did
not put in a word of protest or interruption. When the man finished,
Imam Hasan (a.s.) approached him with a tender smile. He said to him:
"O old man! I think you are a stranger here. Maybe you mistook me for
someone else? If you propitiate us, we will satisfy you. If you ask us,
we will give you what you need. If you ask our advice, we will guide
you. If you ask us to give you a ride, we will take you with us. If you
are hungry, we will satisfy you. If you are naked, we will clothe you.
If you are in need, we will make you rich. If you are a refugee, we will
give you lodgings. If you have a request, we will grant it. If you join
your luggage to ours, and be our guest until the time of your travel, it
will be more useful to you, because we have a spacious place, a good
social position, and a vast amount of money."
Upon
hearing these words, the Syrian broke into tears. Then he said: "I bear
witness that you are the viceroy of Allah on the earth. Allah knows best
whom to entrust with His message. You and your father were the most
hateful creatures of Allah to me. But now you and your father are the
most beloved from among all the creatures of Allah to me." Then the Imam
took the Syrian to his house as his guest till the time of his
departure. The man had completely changed his opinion and position
toward Ahlul-Bait (a.s.).
The most
eminent of Imam Hasan (a.s.)’s attributes is his generosity. He believed
that money was only a means to clothe the naked, help the destitute, pay
the debts of the indebted, or satisfy the hungry. Once, he was asked:
"We do not see you disappoint a beggar. Why?"
He
replied: "I am asking Allah for His
favours, and I love to be near Him. I am ashamed, as I am myself in need
of Allah, to repulse a beggar. Allah got me used to a habit; to shower
me with His bounties, and I get Him used to me showering His bounties on
the people. I fear that should I stop my habit, He may stop His habit."
On the occasion of the martyrdom of
Imam al-Hasan (as), we extend our deepest sympathy and condolence to
Imam al-Hujjah (AJ), and to all the followers of Ahlul-Bayt (as)
Mulla
Mujahidali Sheriff
mulla@almahdi.org.uk |