Mouood Mouood English Edition
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A Glance at the Life of Imam Hasan Mujtaba (A)
Name : Hasan
Title : al-Mujtaba (The Chosen One)
Kuniyat : Abu Muhammad
Father : Imam Ali (A)
Mother : Bibi Fatima Zahra (A)
Birthdate : 15th Mahe Ramadhan 3 A.H. in Madina
Imamat : From 40 A.H. to 50 A.H.
Martyrdom : 28th Safar 50 A.H.
Buried : Madina, Saudi Arabia.
His Birth
He was born in Medina on the night of the middle day of the month of Ramadan, in the year 3 A.H. He was the eldest son.
When Al-Hasan was born, the Prophet, may Allah bless Him and his family, took Him. Then the Prophet said the adhan (call to prayer) in Al-Hasan’s right ear, and said the iqama (words similar to the adhan) in his left ear. Then he sacrified a ram for Him (in the ceremony of Aqiqa). Then he shaved his hair. He (i.e, the Prophet) gave silver qual to his hair. So the weight of Al-Hasan’s hair was a the aqiqa and giving alms as equal as the weight of of hair have become Sunna (an act of the Prophet)
The Prophet named Him Hasan. People did not know such a name in the pre-Islamic period. Also he gave Him Kunya (i.e the name by which an Arab is usually referred to and which refers to Him as the father of someone, usually his eldest son) as Abu Mohammad, Al-Hasan had no Kunya other than this (Abu Mohammad).
His Nick-Names
al-Sibt, al-Sayyid, al-Zaki, al-Mujtaba, al-Taqi.
His Wives
Al-Hasan married Umm Ishaq bint (the daughter of) Talha b. ‘Ubayd Allah, Hafsa bint (the daughter of) Abd al-Rahman b. Abu Bakr, Hind bint (the daughter of) Suhayl b. Amru, and Juda bint (the daughter of) al-Ash’ath b. Qays, whom Mu’awiya tempted to kill Al-Hasan. So she killed Him with poison.
His Children
Al-Hasan had fifteen children, both male and female: Zayd, Al-Hasan, Amru, al-Qasim, Abd Allah, Abd al-Rahman, Al-Hasan al-Athram, and Talha, Umma Al-Hasan, Umma al-Hasayn, Fatima, Umm Salama, Ruqayya, Umm Abd Allah, and Fatima.
His Characteristics
No one was more like the Apostle of Allah, may Allah bless Him and his family, than Al-Hasan b. ‘Ali, peace be on Him, in form manner, and nobility.
In this manner the describers have described Al-Hasan and said; “He (Al-Hasan) had a white, reddish face, He had black eyes, smooth cheeks, thick heard, and curly, plentiful hair, His neck was as white as a jug of silver, His body was good. He had large shoulders, and bid fleshy bones. He was of medium height; neither long nor short, He was handsome; the best of all people in face.
Al-Hasan, peace be on Him, was as the poet said:
When some handsomeness creeps into the insights of imaginations, He (Al-Hasan) has the special share.
His forehead from under his forelock is like
The full moon that illuminates the dark night
His ambergris and musk is far above the perfume of
The people of the earth, so he is the heavenly perfume.
Ibn Sa’ad siad; “Al-Hasan and Al-Husayn used to dye with black.”
Wasil b. Ata, said “Al-Hasan b. ‘Ali, peace be on them, had the visage of prophets and the glory of kings.
His Worship
Al-Hasan, peace be on Him. performed the Hajj on foot twenty five times. When he mentioned death, he wept
When he mentioned the grave, he wept, When he mentioned the resurrection, he wept. When he mentioned crossing the sirat (a kind of bridge which only the righteous can cross on the road to Paradise), he wept. When he mentioned the standing before Allah, the Great and Almighty, he fainted. when he mentioned Paradise and Fire, he shock as the sick person did. So he asked Allah to make Him enter Paradise and to protect Him from.
When Al-Hasan performed an ablution for prayers, he shock all over and his face became pale.
Al-Hasan, peace be on Him, shared his property with Allah three times, He gave people from his property twice in the way of Allah, the Exalted. He mentioned Allah, the Great and Almighty, in all conditions whether pleasant or otherwise.
They (the historians) said “He (Al-Hasan, peace be on Him) was the best of all people in worshipping Allah and refraining from the life in this world.”
His Ethics
Al-Hasan’s ethics were excellent examples for peoples. So everyoune respected Him. Everyone loved Him when he associated with Him. When his friend or his enemy heard Him taking or delivering a speech, he was sorry that he (Al-Hasan) would end his talking or his speech.
In his book vol.8, p, 37, b. Kuthayr has reported on the authority of b. al-Zubayr, who sadi: “By Allah no woman had born (a boy) like Al-Hasan b. ‘Ali.
Mohammad b. Ishaq said: “After Allah’s Apostle, may Allah bless Him and his family. no one had a high social position as Al-Hasan b.’Ali had. (Mat) were spread out at the door of his house. When he came out and sat, the street was over crowded. So no one of Allah’s creatures could pass to show respect for Him. When he knew that, he stood up and entered his house. So the people could pass.”
Al-Hasan dismounted his camel on the road to Mecca, so all those who saw Him dismounted their camels. Also Sa’ad b. Abu Waqas dismounted his camel and walked beside Him.
Ibn Abbas caught the stirrup for Al-Hasan and al-Husayn, peace be on them, and arranged their clothes. So Mudrik b. Zyyad said to Him: “you are older than them, so why do you catch the stirrup for them? Ibn “Abbas said ” Woe unto you Do you know who they are? They are the greandons of the Apostle of Allah. What a great blessing is that Allah has made me catch the stirrup for them and arrange their clothes”
Although Al-Hasan, peace be on Him, had a high social rank, he was kind to people. One day he passed by poor persons. The poor person were sitting on the ground. There were pieces of bread before them. They were picking up the pieces of bread and eating them. When they saw Al-Hasan, peace be on Him, they said to Him: “Son of the Apostle of Allah, come to lunch” So he dismounted his camel and said: ” Indeed, Allah does not love the proud. “He been eating with them. Then he invited them, so he gave them food and clothes.
The following are some examples about Al-Hasan’s generosity: A man came to Him and asked Him for a need. He (Al-Hasan) said to the man: “Write your need on a piece of paper and submit it to me.” The man submitted his need to Him. He (Al-Hasan) doubled the man’s need. So some of those who were sitting with Al-Hasan said to Him: “Son of the Apostle of Allah, the blessing of the piece of paper was great for the man.” So Al-Hasan said: “Its blessing for us is greater, for Allah has made us appropriate for doing good.
Do you not know that doing good should be optional, namely without request. As for Him whom you give after the request, you give Him after he has lost face. He may spend his night restless and sleepless. He rocks between despair and hope. He does not know whether he will face a sad answer or a glad success. He comes to you while he shakes all over and his heart is afraid (of you). Then if you met his need through losing face, that (losing face) would be greater than what he has obtain from your favour.”
Al-Hasan, peace be on Him, gave a poet (some money). So one of those who were sitting with Him said to Him: Glory be to Allah Do you give the poet who disobeys the Merciful (Allah) and tells lies?” Al-Hasan, peace be on Him, said: “Servant of Allah, the best of your money is what you spend to protect your dignity. It is act of kindness to avoid the evil.”
A man asked Al-Hasan, peace be on Him, for a need. So Al-Hasan gave the man one thousand dirhams and five hundred dinars and said to Him: Fetch a carrier to help you.” The man fetched a carrier. So Al-Hasan gave the carrier his cloak and said: This is the wage of the carrier.”
A Bedouin came to a-Hasan, peace be on Him, and asked Him for a need. So Al-Hasan said: “Give Him all the money in the safe.” There were twenty thousand dirhams in the safe. All the money was given to the Bedouin, so he said: ” My master, do you not let me tell you about my need and praise you?” Al-Hasan, peace be on Him, began saying:
Our gifts are many
The hopeful enjoy them.
Our selves give generously before the request
For fear of losing face.
