Hasan al-Mujtabā Imams of Shi'a Islam
Rank	Second Twelver/Mustaali/Zaydi Imām
Name	Hasan ibn ‘Alī
Kunya	Abu Muhammad[1]
Birth	15th Ramadhān 3 AH[2] ≈ March 1, 625 C.E.
Death	7th[3] or 28th[4] Safar 50 AH ≈ March 6, 670 C.E.
Birthplace	Madīnah[2]
Buried	Jannatul Baqī‘, Madīnah
Life Duration	Before Imāmate: 37 years (3 - 40 AH) - 8 years with his grandfather Muhammad - 8 years with his mother Fātimah - 37 years with his father ‘Alī Imāmate: 10 years (40 - 50 AH)
Titles	*al-Mujtabā[5] (Arabic for The Chosen) *as-Sibt[5] (Arabic for The Grandson) *Sayyidush Shabābi Ahlil Jannah[6] (Arabic for Leader of the Youth of Paradise) *az-Zakī[5] (Arabic for The Pure) *at-Taqī[5] (Arabic for The Pious) *as-Sayyid[5] (Arabic for The Master)
Spouse(s)	Umm Is'hāq bint Talha ibn ‘Ubaydallāh, Hafsa bint ‘Abd al-Rahmān ibn Abi Bakr, Hind bint Suhayl ibn ‘Amru, Ju'da bint al-Ash'ath ibn Qays
Father	‘Alī
Mother	Fātimah
Children	Qāsim, Fātimah, Zayd, Abdullah, Talha, Umm al-Hasan (Maymūnah), Umm al-Husayn.[3]
Ali · Hasan · Husayn al-Sajjad · al-Baqir · al-Sadiq Musa (Twelver) · Ismail (Ismaili)

Al-Hasan ibn ‘Alī ibn Abī Tālib (الحسن بن علي بن أﺑﻲ طالب)‎ (Ramadhān 15th, 3 AH – Safar 7th^[7] or 28th, 50 AH)^[8] was the grandson of Muhammad, son of ‘Alī ibn Abī Tālib (final Rashidun Caliph^[9] and first Shī‘ah Imām) and Fātimah al-Zahraā (daughter of Muhammad). He is an important figure in Islām as he is a member of Ahlul Bayt (the household of Muhammad) and Ahlul Kisā, as well as being a Shī‘ah Imām, and one of The Fourteen Infallibles of the Twelvers Shī‘ah.

Contents 1 His birth and family life 2 Life of al-Hasan during the times of his father 3 The Caliphate 3.1 Was he a Rashidun Caliph? 4 Retirement to Medina 5 Death 5.1 Burial of al-Hasan 5.2 Sunni view 5.3 Shi'a view 6 Timeline 7 See also 8 Notes 9 References 10 External links

[edit] His birth and family life

In both Sunni^[10] and Shī‘ah^[11] sources, it has been narrated that upon the birth of his grandson in 3 AH, Muhammad was ordered by the archangel Gabriel to name him al-Hasan - a name that had not yet been used in the pre-Islāmic period.^[12] Muhammad also honoured his grandson by reciting the Adhān in his right ear,^[13] the Iqāmah in his left ear,^[13] shaved the head of his grandson,^[14] and sacrificed a ram for the sake of his birth.^[15]

Al-Hasan ibn Ali and his younger brother, al-Husayn ibn Ali, are believed to have been greatly beloved by their grandfather Muhammad. There are numerous Hadiths that affirm this claim. There are also Hadiths which state that al-Hasan and al-Husayn are the Lords of the youth in paradise. Muhammad also said that al-Hasan and al-Husayn are Imams, whether they sit (agree to a peace treaty) or stand (go to war). Both Shi'ahs and Sunnis believe that al-Hasan is one of the five persons included in the Hadith of the Cloak.

[edit] Life of al-Hasan during the times of his father

As a growing youth, al-Hasan saw the active role of his father, Ali ibn Abi Talib, in the battlefield defending Islam, as a preacher to a vast congregation of believers on the occasion of hajj, and as a missionary of Islam to Yemen. After the death of his grandfather, Muhammad, he saw his father having retreated to a passive role in the matters of the state during the period of the first three caliphs. However, whenever he saw it necessary, Ali never refrained from giving his opinion to the caliph of the time on matters of the practice of faith. He had also seen that the caliphs, in turn, respected Ali for his manners and knowledge, and consulted him on many occasions as the need arose.

When the third caliph was murdered by a mob of agitated demonstrators in his palace in Mad'mah, and Ali was elected to lead the Muslim nation, al-Hasan took an active part in assisting his father in many ways. He went to Kufa and successfully raised the first army of believers against the dissenting Muslims. He participated actively in the battles of Basra, Siffin, and Nahrawan alongside his father, and demonstrated his skills both as a soldier and as a leader.

Before he died, Ali ibn Abi Talib appointed al-Hasan to lead the Ummah (nation of believers) and to be their Imam after him. The people also chose him to be their caliph.

[edit] The Caliphate

Upon the death of Ali ibn Abi Talib in Kufa a new caliph had to be elected. According to Ali's appointment before his death, the choice of a new caliph was restricted to al-Hasan and his younger brother al-Husayn. Al-Husayn did not reclaim caliphate for himself, and thus Kufi Muslims gave bay'ah (allegiance) to his elder brother al-Hasan without dispute.^[16]

This threatened Muawiyah ibn Abi Sufyan, who had a long-running dispute with Ali; the fact that Ali's son was chosen as caliph would mean that the methods and policies established by Ali would remain all the same. Muawiyah summoned all the commanders of his forces in Syria, Palestine, and Transjordan to join him in preparation for battle. He first attempted to negotiate with al-Hasan, sending the young heir letters asking him to give up his caliphate. Muawiyah believed that if he could persuade al-Hasan to give up his caliphate, then Muawiyah would certainly avoid the undesirable consequences of killing fellow Muslims. Muawiyah also thought that if he was forced to engage in battle with al-Hasan, he would indeed gain absolute power in case of triumph, but questions regarding his legitimacy would linger among Muslims.

However, negotiations came to a dead and end, and Muawiyah decided to march against al-Hasan with an army claimed to number sixty thousand fighters.^[17] Al-Hasan also marched his army of forty thousand^[18]. The two armies faced each other near Sabat.

During this period of suspense, al-Hasan is said to have given a sermon in which he proclaimed his hatred of schism and appealed to his men to follow his orders even if they did not agree to them. Some of the troops took this as a sign that al-Hasan was preparing to give up battle; and so they rebelled on him and attacked him. Al-Hasan was wounded, but his loyal soldiers surrounded him in protection and managed to kill the mutineers. Another one of al-Hasan’s commanders, Ubayd-Allah ibn Abbas, deserted him and joined Muawiyah’s forces.

The two armies fought a few inconclusive skirmishes. Al-Hasan was extremely distressed, understanding that the engagement of Muslims in a battle against each other would mean a loss of many men and a lack of people to go back and partake in caring for the people. Muawiyah also had his concerns about being forced into a battle, and because of that he sent two men from Banu Quraish to al-Hasan ibn Ali in order to negotiate a settlement with him and his followers.^[19] Al-Hasan ibn Ali, foreseeing the events that were to transpire, and to avoid unnecessary bloodshed, agreed to a settlement of peace with Muawiyah, in which al-Hasan would give up his caliphate to Muawiyah in order to avoid the bloodshed. This wise and selfless move from al-Hasan came to fulfill a prophecy that Muhammad prophesied many years ago when al-Hasan was only a child. Years ago back in Medina, when Muhammad was sitting with his companions and al-Hasan, who was still a child, was playing in between his hands, Muhammad gazed at al-Hasan and said to his companions "This (grand)son of mine is a lord, and may Allah on his (al-Hasan's) hands reconcile between two great groups of mu'minun (believers)."

• According to Sunni scholars, al-Hasan ibn Ali stipulated that Muawiyah should follow the Qur'an and the Sunnah, allowing a shura for the caliphate to be held after his death, and refrain from any acts of revenge against al-Hasan followers. Many authors have also mentioned that Muawiyah accepted all the conditions attached to the peace treaty which were:

1. all tax collection from the province of Ahwaz shall be paid to Hassan ibn Ali,
2. an annual grant of two million dirhams shall be paid to Hassan ibn Ali, and
3. a general amnesty shall be declared for all of those who took part in the battle.

• According to Shi’ah scholars, al-Hasan ibn Ali further stipulated that the caliphate should be returned to him after Muawiyah's death, if he (al-Hasan) was still alive, and in case if his death before that then the caliphate should be given to his younger brother, al-Husayn ibn Ali.^[20]

Muawiyah proceeded to Kufa and demanded that the Muslims there pledge allegiance to him as caliph of Muslims. He also asked al-Hasan to join him and support him in the fight against the rebellious Kharijites. Al-Hasan is claimed to have written to him in response: "I have abandoned the fight against you, even though it was my legal right, for the sake of peace and reconciliation of the ummah (nation). Do you think that I shall then fight together with you?"^[21]

[edit] Was he a Rashidun Caliph?

Most caliph chronologies do not include al-Hasan ibn Ali among the Rashidun Caliphs. However, many Sunni Muslim historians, such as Suyuti, Ibn al-Arabi, and Ibn Kathir accept al-Hasan ibn Ali as the last Rashidun Caliph.^[22] Twelver Shi'a Muslims also regard Hasan ibn Ali as one of the twelve infallible imams.

[edit] Retirement to Medina

According to Persian Shi'a historians, Marwan ibn al-Hakam, who was the personal secretary to the third caliph Uthman ibn Affan, and had fought against Ali ibn Abi Talib during the Battle of Bassorah, was now the governor of Medina. For that reason, al-Hasan ibn Ali had a lack of moral support from the city governor, and thus had a hard time during his stay in Medina. Also, it is needless to say that the life of al-Hasan ibn Ali in Medina after the peace treaty was not peaceful at all. In addition to the relentless taunts and abuse slung at him by some of Muawiyah's followers, al-Hasan had to endure the anger of his supporters for having relinquished the caliphate to the lifelong adversary of his father. They had failed to appreciate that al-Hasan had given up his rightful claim for caliphate in seeking the greater interests of Islam, and to avoid any further bloodshed of Muslims.

On the hand, Sunni Historians^[23], hold a view that this treaty had great benefits that were reaped by the Muslim Empire for years to come, owing to the unity, tranquility and avoidance of bloodshed that were the result of this notable wise and selfless act of al-Hasan ibn Ali.

Al-Hasan has been quoted in comment on giving up his claim for caliphate:

"If Muawiyah was the rightful successor to the caliphate, he has received it. And if I had that right, I, too, have passed it on to him; so the matter ends there." This was in accordance with the prophecy of Muhammad about al-Hasan when he said, "This (grand)son of mine is a lord, and may Allah on his (al-Hasan's) hands reconcile between two great groups of believers."^[24]

[edit] Death

Part of a series on Shī‘ah Islam
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Views
The Qur'an · Sahaba Mu'awiya I · Abu Bakr · Umar
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Muhammad · Ali · Fatimah Hasan · Husayn
some companians
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According to Shi'a historians, Muawiyah wished to pass the caliphate to his own son Yazid, and saw al-Hasan ibn Ali as an obstacle to his plans. And thus Muawiyah plotted to get rid of al-Hasan ibn Ali. He secretly contacted one of al-Hasan's wife Ja'da, and instigated her to poison her husband. Ja'da did as Muawiyah suggested, giving her husband poison mixed with honey. Madelung (pp. 331–333) notes other traditions suggesting that al-Hasan ibn Ali may have been poisoned by some another wife, the daughter of Suhayl ibn Amr, or perhaps by one his servants. Madelung also cites the early historians (Baladhuri, Waqidi, etc.) who recounted these traditions. Madelung, who is more accepting of Shi'a traditions than most Western academic historians, believes that al-Hasan ibn Ali was poisoned and that the famous early Islamic historian al-Tabari suppressed the tale out of concern for the faith of the common people. (Madelung pp. 331–332)

Shi'a Muslims believe that Ja'da was promised gold and marriage to Yazid. Seduced by the promise of wealth and power, she poisoned her husband, and then hastened to the court of Muawiyah in Damascus to receive her reward. Muawiyah reneged on his promises and married her to some other man.^[25]

Al-Hasan ibn Ali died in Medina on Safar 7th or 28th, 50 AH. He is buried at the famous Jannatul Baqee‘ cemetery across from the Masjid al-Nabawi (Mosque of the Prophet).

[edit] Burial of al-Hasan

Al-Hasan ibn Ali, before his death, asked to be buried next to his grandfather, Muhammad. However, the governor of Medina Marwan I asked Prophet Muhammad's wife Aisha to allow his relative, the deceased third caliph Uthman ibn Affan, to be buried beside the Prophet if she allows al-Hasan ibn Ali to be buried there. However, Aisha refused Marwan's request, and further did not allow anyone else to be buried beside Prophet Muhammad. Al-Hasan ibn Ali's family was thus forced to bury him elsewhere, and so they buried him in Jannatul Baqee'.

[edit] Sunni view

Sunni Muslims honor al-Hasan ibn Ali as being righteous and pious and also a true honorable member of Ahl al-Bayt. Certain early Sunni scholars are of the opinion that al-Hasan was the Fifth Rightly Guided Caliph because of his staying on track of the Prophet's and the Rashidun Caliphs' methods and also his great deeds for the sake of Islam.^[22]

[edit] Shi'a view

Muawiyah was successful in deceitfully gaining the absolute power he had aspired for. He was not interested in the functions of preaching piety or theology. He was interested in expanding his sphere of influence in the territories already conquered by the Muslims, and was actively engaged in further conquests to the north and north west of Syria. In utter violation of the terms of the Treaty with Hasan ibn Ali, Muawiyah decided to name his son Yazid to succeed him after his death. He knew that Yazid lacked all qualifications to be a caliph for the Muslims and to represent Muhammad. He also knew that Hasan ibn Ali, being a true representative of Muhammad, would oppose the nomination of his son. Consequently, he decided to eliminate the opposition.

Muawiyah solicited the services of Marwan ibn al-Hakam, a son-in-law of Uthman ibn Affan, who was the governor of Medina at that time. With a promise for a reward, Marwan approached one of the wives of the Imam, Ju'da binte al-Ash'ath ibn Qays to poison Hasan ibn Ali. He was successful, and Hasan ibn Ali died as a result of this plot.

Before Hasan ibn Ali died, in accordance with the Will of Allah, named his brother, Hussain ibn Ali to be the next Imam. He expressed his wish to his brother to bury his body near to the grave of his grandfather, Muhammad. This caused an armed opposition by the governor of Medina. Under a shower of arrows, the funeral procession of Hasan ibn Ali had to withdraw and be diverted to Jannat al-Baqi, the general graveyard of Medina, where he was buried.

Shi'ahs hold Hasan ibn Ali in a very high positive view, like the Sunnis, except that Shi'ahs regard Hasan ibn Ali as their second Imam. Both Sunnis and Shi'ahs regard him as a martyr. According to Shi’ahs Hasan ibn Ali married four women:

1. Umm Ishaq bint Talha ibn `Ubayd Allah.
2. Hafsa bint 'Abd al-Rahman ibn Abi Bakr.
3. Hind bint Suhayl bin `Amru.
4. Ju'da bint al-Ash'ath ibn Qays, whom Muawiyah I tempted to kill Hasan ibn Ali. So she killed him with poison.

[edit] Timeline

Hasan ibn Ali of the Ahl al-Bayt Banu Hashim Clan of the Banu Quraish Born: 15th Ramadhān 3 AH ≈ 1st March 625 CE Died: 28th Safar 50 AH ≈ 6th March 670 CE
Shī‘a Islam titles
Preceded by Ali ibn Abu Talib	2nd Imam of Shi'a Islam Imamate disputed by Nizari 661 – 669	Succeeded by Husayn ibn Ali
Sunni Islam titles
Preceded by Ali ibn Abu Talib	5th Rashidun Caliph of Sunni Islam 661 – 661	Succeeded by Muawiya I

[edit] See also

Muhammad Fātimah ‘Alī ibn Abī Tālib Hasan ibn ‘Alī Husayn ibn ‘Alī ‘Alī Zaynul ‘Ābidīn Muhammad al-Bāqir Ja‘far as-Sādiq Mūsā al-Kādhim ‘Alī ar-Ridhā Muhammad at-Taqī ‘Alī al-Hādi Hasan al-‘Askarī Muhammad al-Mahdī

Zaynab Umm Kulthūm ‘Abbās ‘Alī al-Akbar ‘Alī al-Asghar Qāsim Sukayna Ma‘sūmah Qum Muhammad ibn al-Hanafiyyah Fadhl ibn ‘Abbās Battle of Jamal Battle of Siffīn Battle of Nahrawān Battle of Karbalā

• Twelve Imams
• Shi'a Islam
• Sharif
• Harrak

[edit] Notes

[edit] References

Madelung, Wilferd (1997). The Succession to Muhammad: A Study of the Early Caliphate. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0521646960. 

v • d • e List of Sahaba     Abbad ibn Bishr `Abbas ibn `Abd al-Muttalib `Abd Allah ibn `Abbas `Abd Allah ibn `Abd al-Asad Abd-Allah ibn Mas'ud `Abd Allah ibn Rawahah Abd-Allah ibn Sailam Abd-Allah ibn Ubayy Abd-Allah ibn Umm-Maktum Abd-Allah ibn al-Zubayr Abd ar-Rahman ibn Abi Bakr Abdullah ibn Hudhafah as-Sahmi Abdullah ibn Ja'far Abdullah ibn Sailam Abu Ayyub al-Ansari Abu Bakr Abu Dharr al-Ghifari Abu Dujana Abu Fuhayra Abu Hudhaifah ibn al-Mughirah Abu Hurairah Abu Lubaba ibn Abd al-Mundhir Abu Sufyan ibn Harb Abu Sufyan ibn al-Harith Abu Talib ibn ‘Abd al-Muttalib Abu Ubaidah ibn al-Jarrah Abu al-Aas ibn al-Rabiah Abu al-Dardaa Abu-Hudhayfah ibn Utbah Abu-Musa al-Asha'ari Abu-Sa'id al-Khudri Akib ibn Usaid Al-Ala'a Al-Hadrami Al-Baraa ibn Malik al-Ansari Al-Hasan Al-Husayn Al-Nahdiah Ali Aminah bint Wahab Ammar ibn Yasir Amr ibn al-Jamuh An-Numan ibn Muqarrin Anas ibn Malik Aqeel ibn Abi Talib Ashaab Bashir ibn Sa'ad Bilal ibn Ribah Bilal ibn al-Harith Fadl ibn Abbas Fatima bint Asad Fatima bint Hizam Fayruz al-Daylami Habibah bint Ubayd-Allah Halima Sadia Hamza ibn ‘Abd al-Muttalib Harithah bint al-Muammil Hatib ibn Abi Baitah Hisham ibn Al-Aas Hudhayfah ibn al-Yaman Hujr ibn Adi Ikrimah ibn Abi Jahl Ja`far bin Abī Tālib Julaybib Khabbab ibn al-Aratt Khalid ibn Sa`id Khalid ibn al-Walid Khunais ibn Hudhaifa Kumayl ibn Ziyad Khuzaymat ibn sabet Layla bint al-Minhal Lubaba bint al-Harith Lubaynah Malik Bin Deenar Malik al-Dar Malik ibn Ashter Malik ibn Nuwayrah Mus`ab ibn `Umair Miqdad ibn Aswad Muadh ibn Jabal Muawiyah ibn Abu Sufyan Mughira ibn Shu'ba Muhammad ibn Abi Bakr Muhammad ibn Maslamah Nawfal ibn Khuwaylid Nusaybah bint Ka'ab Qatadah Rab'ah ibn Umayah Rabi'ah ibn al-Harith Sa`ad ibn ar-Rabi` Sa`ad ibn Abi Waqqas Saffiyah bint ‘Abd al-Muttalib Said ibn Aamir al-Jumahi Sa'id ibn Zayd Salim Mawla Abu Hudhayfah Salman the Persian Suhayb ar-Rumi Tamim al-Dari Ubaydah ibn al-Harith Umamah bint Zainab Umar Umm Kulthum bint Ali Umm Kulthum bint Jarwila Khuzima Umm Shareek Umm Ubays Uqbah ibn Amir Urwah ibn Mas'ud Usama ibn Zayd Utbah ibn Ghazwan Uthman ibn Hunaif Wahb ibn Abd Manaf Zayd ibn Arqam Zayd ibn Harithah Zayd ibn Thabit Zaynab bint Ali

[edit] External links

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: Hasan ibn Ali

• Hasan ibn 'Ali In Encyclopædia Britannica
• Hasan ibn 'Ali by Wilferd Madelung , In Encyclopædia Iranica
• AlMujtaba Islamic Network - In The Memory of Imam Al-Hassan AlMujtaba (AS)
• Kitab al Irshad, by Sheikh al Mufid, translated by I.K.A Howard, pp. 279 - 289
• [6]
• The Second Imam
• Sulh al-Hasan, The Peace Treaty of al-Hasan by Shaykh Radi Al-Yasin.
• [7]