IMAM HASAN (A-S)
A Purified and Infallible vicegerent of ALLAH (swt).
By: Brother
Ali Ja’afary.
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“In the
Name of ALLAH the Merciful, the Compassionate”
INTRODUCTION:
As history has
often taught us, there are many lessons in life that come about
in important events. Some events live in the hearts and minds of
nations for century after century, and some very significant and
most important events will live in the hearts and minds of
mankind until Doomsday. Usually these kinds of events have
either a very intellectual, divine and spiritual essence to
them, or they are of inhumane atrocities and tragedies, that
shocked the human race and many of the most remembered events
contain both.
ALLAH (swt)
says:
“In their histories there is certainly a lesson for men of
understanding”.
(The Holy
Qur’an 12 Yusuf-111).
If we examine
the straight Path of the infallibles and purified ones among
human beings, we quickly realize that their lives contained
multitudes of lessons for humans who yearn to be close to their
LORD ALLAH (swt). The stories of the lives of all our Prophets
(a-s) are perfect examples of this; in fact it is by
investigating all of the Prophets (a-s) extraordinary and
amazing piety, knowledge, worship, ethics, merits,
characteristics, etc… that we truly realize their infallibility
and pureness. It is through the veracious episodes of their
lives, that confirm their superiority over all of the rest of
humankind, this is what fills man’s heart and soul with
FAITH,
and once man obtains faith, it becomes clear to him that in
order to be close and near his most beloved LORD; ALLAH (swt) he
must obey and follow ALLAH (swt), his Prophets (a-s) and those
for whom he sent to us as authority. In fact, the one who fails
to do so also fails to follow the Straight Path that leads to
salvation and eternal felicity. In other words one’s
FAITH
cannot be completed without following this very simple and
logical rule.
“O you who believe! obey Allah and obey the Apostle and
those in authority from among you; then if you quarrel about
anything, refer it to Allah and the Apostle, if you believe in
Allah and the last day; this is better and very good in the
end”.
(The Noble Qur’an 4 An-Nisa -59)
Surely, one who
has studied the history and life story of Imam Hasan Al-Mujtaba
(a-s) cannot deny that he was truly a divinely chosen authority
for mankind, for all aspects of this great Holy Imam’s (a-s)
life show only indisputable proof that he (a-s) was of an
essence higher than any other person of his time, and had truly
a special patience, piety, knowledge, etc… that was only found
in the greatest servants
(Prophets (a-s) and Imams (a-s))
of ALLAH (swt) that were sent to us as authority, in this short
article we will investigate only 3 points of the many great
attributes and characteristics of Imam Hasan (a-s). This brief
article’s purpose is as always, in hopes to achieve closeness
and nearness to ALLAH (swt) and to encourage all our readers to
investigate and study the great life of this Holy Infallible
Imam; Imam Hasan (a-s) as well as the lives of all the 14
infallibles of the Ahlul-Bayt (a-s).
Point #1:
IMAM HASAN’S (a-s) REMARKABLE BEHAVIOR:
“And of those whom WE have created are the people who
guide with the truth and thereby they do justice”.
(The Glorious Qur’an 7Al-A’raf-181)
“He who depends upon ALLAH’s good option for him will not
wish to be in a situation other than that which ALLAH (swt) opts
for him”.
(Tuhaf
Al-Uquul, Maxims of Imam Hasan (a-s) #6)
Imam Hasan
Al-Mujtaba (a-s) mentors were:
His
Grand-father, Prophet Muhammad (saww) the seal and last prophet
who was sent to all mankind as a mercy to them:
“Your companion does not err, nor does he go astray; nor does he
speak out of desire. It is naught but revelation that is
revealed”.
(The
Noble Qur’an 53-2 to 4).
His father the
Wali Amr Amir Ul-Mu’mineen Imam Ali Ibn Abi Talib (a-s) the only
divinely chosen successor to our beloved Prophet Muhammad (saww)
by ALLAH (swt):
“Only Allah is your Wali and His Apostle and those who
believe, those who keep up prayers and pay the poor-rate while
they bow (in the Rukoo). And whoever takes Allah and His apostle
and those who believe for a guardian, and then surely the party
of Allah is they that shall be triumphant”.
(The
Glorious Qur’an 5 Al-Mā’idah-55-56).
His mother
Sayeeda Fatimah Az-Zahra (s-a-s), the most beloved daughter of
the Holy Prophet (saww), the mistress of all women:
“In the name of ALLAH the Merciful, the Compassionate.
Surely WE have given you Kawthar. So pray to your LORD and
sacrifice. Indeed it is your enemy who is without posterity”.
(The Glorious Qur’an 108 Al-Kawthar-1-3)
Imam Hasan Al-Mujtaba
(a-s) was in a constant state of worship and piety, he (a-s) was
seen trembling while doing Wudu, he spent most of his (a-s)
nights in prayer and supplication, he would fast much of the
time as did his father Imam Ali (a-s), it is reported that he
went to Hajj by foot twenty five times. Imam Hasan (a-s) was the
perfect example for all mankind of piety, patience, generosity,
etc…
During his
short time as the Khalif of the Ummah, Imam Al-Mujtaba (a-s)
would deprive himself of his meal until he (a-s) was reassured
that all the needy, deprived, orphans and widows in the area had
received their meals. Whenever a beggar would come to him during
his (a-s) meal, he would give the food in front of him and
remain hungry. (Akhlaq-e-Aaimma)
One day Imam
Hasan (a-s) saw a young slave boy eating a morsel of bread, then
giving the piece to his dog. Imam Hasan (a-s) asked the young
slave boy:
“What made you do this?”
The boy answered:
“I feel ashamed when I eat and do not feed him”.
Imam Hasan Al-Mujtaba (a-s) said to him:
“Do not leave here until I return to you”.
Imam Al-Mujtaba went to the young slave boy’s master; he (a-s)
bought the boy and the garden where the boy lived. Imam Hasan
(a-s) then freed the slave boy and gave him the ownership of the
garden. (Suhl Al-Hasan (a-s) by Shaykh Radi Al-Yasin)
Imam Hasan Ibn
Ali (a-s) was endowed with so many moral points and humane
qualities. He was a distinguished erudite, and was so gentle and
so generous that he was revered and respected by all. (Ta’rikh
al-Khulafa p.172, by Shaykh Al-Suyuti (r-d)) As Imam
Hasan (a-s) was a very generous man it is enough to say that in
his lifetime, he (a-s) spent all his personal wealth twice in
the Path of ALLAH (swt) and three times he (a-s) divided his
wealth giving half to charity and retaining half for himself.
(Ta’rikh al-Ya’qubi, vol 2 p.215, Outlines of the biographies
of The Leaders of Islam by Ayatullah Shaykh Ustath Ja’far
Subhani)
Everyone was so
overawed in the presents of the pure and infallible Imam Hasan
Al-Mujtaba (a-s) that even Mu’awiya the enemy of; the Ahlul-Bayt
(a-s), Imam Ali (a-s), the Prophet Muhammad (saww) and of ALLAH
(swt); said:
“Whenever I saw him (a-s) I reflected about his position
and feared that he might recount my shortcomings”.
(Ash Shi’ah wal Hakimun by Shaykh Muhammad Jawad
Mughniyyah (r-d))
It is
reported from a man from Damascus:
“One day I ran into a handsome and serene man wearing
smartly on horseback. I asked who he was. They told me that he
was Hasan Ibn Ali Ibn Abi Talib (a-s). I was filled with rage
and jealousy of Ali Ibn Abi Talib (a-s) for having such a
distinctive and unique son. I approached him (a-s) and asked:
Are you Ali’s (a-s) son?”
At the very second that I heard his affirmative answer, I piled
out the most abusive and hateful words upon him (a-s). When I
finally did stop, he (a-s) asked me if I was a traveler and a
stranger. I replied: “Yes”. Then he (a-s) said to me in the most
kindness and gentle way:
“If you have no place to live, I will give you a place and
if you need money, I will give you money”.
When I parted him (a-s) I never had someone so dear in my
heart as him (a-s). (Al-Kamil
fil-adab, vol. 1, p.235)
One day Imam
Hasan (a-s) learnt that the son of a widow in the neighbourhood
was taken ill. He (a-s) went to visit the child. The poor widow
lamented that there was no one who could help her in the illness
of her child. The Holy Imam (a-s) said:
“Do not worry; I am here to provide help”.
Therefore he (a-s) visited them in the mornings and the evenings
and fulfilled all their needs. He (a-s) would sit near the sick
boy, massage him and speak to him words of comfort and
assurance. Imam Hasan (a-s) also provided him with whatever he
desired to eat. (Akhlaq-e-Aaimma, by Sayyed Zafar Hasan
Amrohi (r-d)).
Point #2:
IMAM HASAN’S (a-s) OUTSTANDING INTELLECTUAL CAPACITIES:
“And of men and beasts and cattle are various species of
it likewise; those of HIS servants only who are possessed of
knowledge fear ALLAH; surely ALLAH is the All-Mighty, the
All-Forgiving”.
(The Glorious Qur’an35 Fatir-28)
The Holy
Prophet and Messenger of ALLAH (swt); Prophet Muhammad (saww)
said:
“If wisdom was imagined in a man, he would be Hasan”
(Fara’id al-Simtayn, vol. 2, p. 68)
Imam Hasan’s
(a-s) remarkable and outstanding knowledge was incontestably of
the highest possible eminence. Imam Hasan Al-Mujtaba (a-s) in
his infallibility, pureness, piety and generosity mixed with his
highest of intellectual capacity, made him without any doubt an
incomparable source of guidance and divine knowledge to all
mankind in his time period.
Imam
Hasan Al-Mujtaba (a-s) said:
“Teach your knowledge to others and try to teach yourself
the knowledge of others”
(Bihar-ul-Anwar,
vol. 78, p. 111)
The King of
Rome sent two queries to Mu’awiya:
“Which house is in the middle of the heavens?”
and “What is the place where the sun only shines once?”
Of course Mu’awiya could not answer such questions, for
questions like these were way beyond his mental capacities and
knowledge, so he asked these questions to Imam Hasan Al-Mujtaba
(a-s) who answered them promptly and without effort:
“The house in the middle of the heavens is the back of the
Kaba and the place where the sun shines only once is the spot in
the Nile river where Prophet Musa (a-s) hit with his staff and
it opened to make a path to safety”.
(Akhlaq-e-Aaimma, by Sayyed Zafar Hasan Amrohi (r-d)).
Imam
Hasan Al-Mujtaba (a-s) said:
“Praise and Eulogy is for ALLAH (swt) who hears the
conversation of who so ever talks and if he remains silent then
HE knows whatever is there in his soul. And whoever lives, his
sustenance is upon ALLAH and whoever dies his resurrection is
with ALLAH”.
(Bihar Ul-Anwar, vol. 78, p.112)
Imam Hasan
(a-s) instantly became acquainted with all the content of any of
Qur’anic verses revealed when the Holy Prophet (saww) would
reveal it to his (saww) followers. To the great surprise of
Prophet Muhammad (saww), Sayyeda Fatimah Az-Zahra (s-a) would
often recite the exact text of a newly revealed verse, before he
(saww) had time to relate it personally to her (s-a). When he (saww)
would ask Fatimah (s-a) about it, she (s-a) would tell him (saww)
that it was through Imam Hasan (a-s) that she (s-a) learned the
Revelation. Imam Hasan (a-s) was around 5 or 6 years old at the
time. In human perfection Imam Hasan (a-s) was reminiscent of
his father and a perfect example of his noble grand father; the
Holy Prophet Muhammad (saww). (Al-Allamah as-Sayyed
Muhammad Hussayn at-Tabataba’i (r-a).
Imam
Hasan Al-Mujtaba (a-s) said:
“All the beneficences of both the worlds come to the hand
and are achieved by the mind”.
(Bihar Ul-Anwar, vol. 78, p. 111)
An epistle
on the Source of Power:
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“In the
Name of ALLAH the Beneficent, the Merciful.”
I have received your letter. Only because you referred to
the perplexity of you and those who passed, I will explain the
question to you. He who does not believe in the fact that ALLAH
(swt) has full acquaintance with the good and the evil of the
fate is a disbeliever. He who refers the doing of the acts of
disobedience to HIM is sinful. ALLAH has not been obeyed by
force and has not been defied due to HIS being overcome. HE has
not respited the servants uselessly. ALLAH (swt) is surely the
possessor of what HE has given to them in possession and
controls what HE has empowered. HIS commandments are optional
and HIS warnings are means of caution. If the servants cling to
the obedience to ALLAH, they will not find any barrier in their
way and if they disobey, ALLAH (swt) may do them favour by
precluding them from doing such acts of disobediences. If HE
does not do, then it is not HE who encourages them committing so
by force or compulsorily. On the contrary, HE does them the
favour of informing, advising, warning, ordering and telling
them not to do so. HE does not frame them to obey HIM like the
Angels and does not oblige them to commit acts of disobedience
to HIM. Final authority belongs only to ALLAH (swt). Had HE
wanted, HE would have given you all guidance. Peace be upon
those who follow the right guidance.
(Tuhaf Al-Uquul, Maxims of Imam Hasan (a-s))
A man asked
Imam Hasan (a-s):
“What are those ten things that are harder than each other?”
Imam Hasan (a-s) answered:
“ALLAH (swt) has made the stone hard and made iron harder
than it; because iron breaks the stone, and fire is stronger
than iron because it melts the iron, water is more powerful than
fire because it extinguishes the fire, the cloud is more
powerful because it has control over the water; wind is more
powerful than the cloud because it moves the cloud, more
powerful than the wind is the Angel who controls the wind, more
powerful than this Angel is the Angel of Death who can capture
his soul. Death is more powerful than the Angel of Death for he
himself would be subjected to death. More powerful than death is
the command of ALLAH (swt), as by this death arrives and is
warded off”.
(Akhlaq-e-Aaimma,
by Sayyed Zafar Hasan Amrohi (r-d) / Tuhaf-Al-Uquul, by: Abu
Mohammad Al-Hasan bin Ali bin Hussayn bin Shu’ba Al-Harrani
(r-a)).
Point #3:
IMAM HASAN’S (a-s) ASTONISHING BRAVERY AND HIS (A-S)
MARTYRDOM:
“O you who believe! Be careful of your duty to ALLAH and
seek means of nearness to HIM and strive hard in HIS way that
you may be successful”.
(The
Glorious Qur’an5 Al-Ma’idah-35)
Imam
Hasan Al-Mujtaba (a-s) said:
“The annihilation of people lies in 3 things: Arrogance,
greed and jealousy”.
(Bihar Al-Anwar by: Allamah Majlisi (r-a) vol. 78, p. 111)
His bravery was
renowned in so many occasions as recorded in history books, in
the battle of Siffin, Imam Hasan (a-s) would charge at the enemy
who would scatter at this brave lion who resembled his Great
father Imam Ali (a-s). In fact his father; Amir Ul-Mu’mineen
Imam Ali Ibn Abi Talib (a-s) would say to his companions:
“Stand before my son Hasan (a-s) and stop him from
continuing forward for if he is Martyred in this battle, the
progeny of the Holy Prophet (saww) will become instinct!”
(Nahj ul-Balagha, Vol. 2 p. 651)
In order to
prevent too much bloodshed in the battle of the camel, Imam Ali
(a-s) handed a sword to Muhammad Ibn Hanafiyah, and ordered him
to go to the battle field and sever the legs of the she-camel
that carried Ayishah, for should the camel fall it would stop
the battle that would surely be a massacre of those foolish
people who were incited and enticed by hypocrites and haters of
Islam. However, the opposition forces were stern and defended
the she-camel with vigour. Muhammad Ibn Hanafiyah would return
to his camp without accomplishing the mission, when Imam Hasan
(a-s) took the sword from him and charged towards the battle
field with a fiery and prevailing stride, he (a-s) then
succeeded in severing the she-camel’s legs, which completely
changed the mood of the opponents and they gave up, therefore
the battle of the camel ended in that way. Muhammad Ibn
Hanafiyah with his head on his knees felt regret and sadness
that he could not accomplish the task given to him by his father
Imam Ali (a-s). Amir Ul-Mu’mineen Imam Ali (a-s) looked at him
and said:
“O my son! Do not be unhappy with the victory of Hasan
(a-s), because he is the son of Fatimah (s-a) and you are only
my son”.
(Manaqib Ibn Sahr Ashob, vol.2, p. 21).
When Mu’awiya
decided once again to try to steal away the leadership of Islam,
he, in his evil strategies decided to make trouble with Imam
Hasan (a-s) at the same time that the Romans began planning to
attack the Muslims. The Roman Empire was just waiting for the
right time to attack the Muslims, and Mu’awiya with his
insistence to move forward and fight against Imam Hasan (a-s)
would open up a deadly door that would have surely destroyed
Islam. Had the battle between Mu’awiya and his cursed army
against Imam Hasan (a-s) had taken place, the Roman Empire who
were ready to attack the Muslims, with all the confusion with an
army of 100,000 soldiers. Mu’awiya knowing that the Holy Imam’s
(a-s) mission was to guide mankind and protect Islam, he used
the information about the Roman Empire wanting to attack, should
a civil war take place, knowingly against Imam Hasan (a-s) in
hopes that Imam Hasan (a-s) would be forced to make a peace
treaty with him (Mu’awiya) in order to save Islam. Mu’awiya who
was full of trickery, deceit and hate for Islam and the Holy
Prophet (saww) and his Ahlul-Bayt (a-s), knew already that he
would scam his way out of the conditions of the peace treaty, in
hopes of passing on as an inheritance, the leadership of Islam
to his drunkard sinner son, the accursed Yazid and the rest of
his worldly loving, scandalous, dishonest and ignorant progeny.
Imam Hasan
(a-s) had an army of true faithful believing Muslims who loved
the Imam (a-s), the Ahlul-Bayt (a-s), the Holy Prophet (saww)
and ALLAH (swt), mixed along with hypocrites and Khawarij (who
had planned to assassinate Imam Hasan (a-s) after a victory over
Mu’awiya who they hated even more). Doubtful people, who were
not brave or self sacrificing in battle. Money and power lovers
who wanted only to profit every way possible, including
treachery and betrayal and those who followed their tribal
leaders and who would follow them if they would abandon the
battle. Therefore, with such a disunited army, Imam Hasan (a-s)
had truly no other choice but to negotiate for the good of Islam
and for no other reason than saving the Divine religion that
ALLAH (swt) chose for all mankind, and that was brought to
mankind though the seal of the Prophets (a-s); Prophet Muhammad
(saww). For details of the peace treaty I ask my dear readers to
read some of the many great and accurate books on this subject.
The accursed
Ju’da bint al-Ash’ath ibn Qays (Imam Hasan’s (a-s) wife) was
encouraged by Mu’awiya to poison her husband the Holy Imam.
Mu’awiya sent her 100,000 dirhams and promised her marriage to
Yazid (may ALLAH (swt) curse him), the son of Mu’awiya.
(Outline of the biographies of the leaders of Islam:
Shaykh Ja’afar Subhani, Aqiih al-Farid; vol. 4 p. 251, Al-Imamat
wa al-Siasat; vol. 1 p. 174 and Muruj al-Dhahab; vol.3 p.105).
After Ju’da (may ALLAH (swt) curse her) had carried out
this most atrocious and despicable crime of poisoning the Holy
Imam (a-s), Mu’awiya gave her the money, but instead he gave her
to a man from the family of Talha as a substitute. (Kitab
Al-Irshad by Shaykh Mufid (r-a), Maqatil al-Talibiyyin, 73)
‘Ibn Sireen, a
servant of Hasan Ibn Ali (a-s) is reported to have said:
“I was with Imam Hasan and Imam Hussayn (a-s) in the
house. Imam Hasan (a-s) came out of the bathroom and said”:
“I have been poisoned many times but this time the poison
was very strong. When I examined with a stick a fleshy thing,
which had come out, I discovered that it was a piece of my
liver”.
Imam Hussayn (a-s) said:
“Who poisoned you?”
Imam Hasan (a-s) replied:
“Do you want to kill that person?
May the wrath of ALLAH (swt) be upon him or her if it is the
person, whom I suspect? If not, I do not want an innocent person
to be implicated and punished”.
(Muqatil ul-Talibeen: Abu Faraj Ishahani. (r-a) 284 A.H.
to 356 A.H. / ALSO: Same as reported by Umar Ibn Ishaq; in Kitab
Al-Irshad by Shaykh Mufid (r-a), Maqatil al-Talibiyyin, 74).
The poison had the Holy Imam (a-s) stay in bed ill for 40
days until he (a-s) achieved Martyrdom. (Tardjamat al-Imam
al-Hasan by: Ibn Sa’d p. 176 / Tarikh Khulafa by: Rasul
Ja’farian) Miswar’s daughter, Umm Bakr reported:
“Imam Hasan al-Mujtaba (a-s) had been poisoned many times,
although each time he survived, the last time the poison was so
strong that it made pieces of his (a-s) liver to come out
through his throat”.
(Al-Muntakhab Min Dhiyl al-mudhayyal, p. 514 / Tarikh
Khulafa by: Rasul Ja’farian)
The last
testament of Imam Hasan Al-Mujtaba (a-s) to his brother Imam
Hussayn (a-s):
ÈöÓãö
Çááåö ÇáÑøóÍúãóä ÇáÑøóÍíã
“In the
Name of ALLAH the Beneficent, the Merciful.”
My dear brother, I am leaving you and joining my LORD, I
have been given poison to drink and have spewed my liver into a
basin. I am aware of the person who poisoned me and from where I
have been made a subject to this deceitful action. I will oppose
him before ALLAH the All-Mighty, the All-High. Therefore by the
right I have with regard to you, say nothing about that and wait
for what ALLAH (swt) will decide concerning me. When I have
died, shut my eyes, wash me, and shroud me. Then carry me on my
bier to the grave to the grave of my grandfather, the Messenger
of ALLAH; Prophet Muhammad (saww), so that I may renew my
covenant with him. After that take me to the grave of my
grandmother, Fatimah bint Asad, may ALLAH (swt) be pleased with
her, and bury me there. My brother, the people will think that
you intend to bury me with Rassulullah (saww). For that reason,
they will gather to prevent you from doing it” I swear by ALLAH
(swt) that you should not shed even your blood into the
cupping-glass in carrying out my command”.
(Kitab
Al-Irshad, by Shaykh Mufid (r-a))
As the funeral
proceeded towards the grave of the Holy Prophet (saww), some of
the Umayyads mounted on horses, obstructed the proceedings and
Ayishah appeared mounted on a mule, shouting out loudly that the
grave of the Holy Prophet (saww) was in her house and she would
not allow the grandson of Sayyeda Khadija (a-s) to be buried
beside the Holy Prophet (saww). With the shouts of Ayishah, a
shower of arrows showered the coffin. Imam Hussayn (a-s) in the
fulfilment of the last wish of his (a-s) departed brother,
turned the funeral procession toward ‘Baqi’ and when the Holy
body was taken out of the coffin to be laid to rest in the
grave, Imam Hussayn (a-s) upon finding some of the arrows which
were showered on the coffin, had struck the Holy body of his
Martyred brother; Imam Hasan (a-s), cried and addressing the
dead body of his beloved brother, Imam Hasan (a-s) said:
“I am ashamed of thee O brother, that Hussayn is alive and
sees your Pure and Holy body wounded and cannot do anything”.
(Hussayn (a-s)…the king of Martyrs, by S.V. Mir Ahmed Ali
p. 134)
Ali Ja’afary.