IMAM Al-HASAN BIN ALI IBNE ABI TALIB (A.S.)

BIOGRAPHY

Imam Hasan (A.S.) was the eldest son of Imam Ali (A.S.) and Hazret-e Fatima. When the Holy Prophet received the happy news of the birth of his grandson, he came to the house of his beloved daughter, took the newly born child in his arms, recited "adhan' and' iqamah'in his right and left ears respectively, and in compliance with Allah's command, named al-Hasan.

The first phase of seven years of his infancy was blessed with the gracious patronage of the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) who gifted him all his great qualities and adorned him with divine knowledge, tolerance, intelligence bounty and valor. Being infallible by birth and decorated with heavenly knowledge by Allah, his insight had an access to al-lawh- ul-mahfuz' (the Guarded Tablet on which the transactions of mankind have been written by Allah for all eternity).

The Holy Imam (A.S.) immediately became conversant with all the contents of any Wahi (Quranic verse) revealed when the Holy Prophet would disclose it to his associates. To the great surprise of the Holy Prophet, Hadrat Fatimah would often recite the exact text of a newly revealed Wahy (Revelation) before he disclosed it personally to her. When he inquired, she would inform him that it was Hasan (A.S.) through whom she had learned the Revelation. Brief History of 14 infaliable, Ansarian Publications, IRI, Qum Iran pp. 87-88.

IMAMAT

The demise of the Holy Prophet was followed by an eventful era when Islamic world (under the false ruling bodies) came in the grip of fever of expansionism and conquest. But even under such a revolutionary phase, Imam Hasan (A.S.) kept devoting himself to the sacred mission of peacefully propagating Islam and the teachings of the Holy Prophet along with his great father Imam Ali (A.S.)

The martyrdom of Imam Ali (A.S.) on the 21st of Ramadan marked the inception of Imam Hasan's (A.S.) Imamat. The majority of Muslims pledged allegiance to him and finalized the formality of bay'ah (oath of allegiance). No sooner he had taken the reins of leadership into his hands then he had to meet the challenge of Muavia, the Governor of Syria, who declared a war against him. Brief History of 14 Infallible, op. cit p. 89.

[Abu Mikhnaf Lut b.Yahya al-Azdi reported : Ash-ath b. Suwar told me on the authority of Abu Ishaq al-Sabi-i and others, who said] :

Al-Hasan (A.S.) b. Ali, peace be upon them, addressed the people towards dawn on the night in which the Commander of the faithful, peace be upon him, died. He praised and Glorified God and blessed the opostle of God, may God bless him and his family, then he said : "There has died tonight a man who was the first among the early (Muslims) in good actions. Nor did any later (Muslims) attain his level in (good) actions. He used to fight alongside the Apostle of God, may Allah Bless him and his family, and protect him with his own life. The Apostle of God, may God bless him and his family, used to send him forward with his standard while Gebriel supported him on his right and Michael supported him on his left He would not return until God brought victory through his hands.

Then he continued : "I am the (grandson) of the one who brought good news, I am the (grand) son of the warner, I am the (grand) son of the man who, with God's permission, summoned (the people) to God. I am (grand) son of the light which shone out(to the world) I am of the House, from whom God has sent away abonimation and whom God has purified thoroughly. I am of the House for whom God has required love in his Book, when God, the Most High, said : Say; I do not ask you for any reward except love for (my) kin. Whoever earns good, will increase good for himself (Al-Quran XXXIII-33).

'Abd Allah b. Al-Abbas may God have mercy on him arose in front of him and said "People, this is the son of your Prophet, the testamentary trustee (wasi) of your Imam. So pledge the allegiance to him" Kitabul Irshad, Ansarian Publication, Qum Iran, pp. 280-81

Inspite of this, Muavia declared war against the Imam (A.S.) In compliance with the Will of Allah and with a view to refrain from causing the massacre of Muslims, however, he entered into a piece of treaty with Muavia on terms (though not totally respected and carried by Muavia), yet saved Islam and stopped civil war.But this peace treaty was never meant as a surrender by him of permanent leadership to Muavia. It was meant only as an interim transfer of the administration of the Islamic kingdome, subject to the condition that the administration would be surrendered back (1) to Imam Hasan after Muaviah's death and then it would in turn be inherited by Imam Hussain (A.S.). Having relieved himself from the administrative responsibilities, Imam Hasan (A.S.) kept the religious leadership with himself and devoted his life to the propagation of Islam and the teachings of the Holy Prophet in Medina.

MARTYRDOM

Muaviah's malice against Imam Hasan (A.S.) led him to conspire with Imam's wife Ja'dah, the daughter of Ash'ath. She was made to give the Imam some poison which affected his lever. Imam Hasan (A.S.) succumbe to Muaviah's fatal mischief and attained his martyrdom on 28th Safar.50 A.H. A brief History of 14 infallible op. cit p. 89-90

NUMBER AND NAMES OF CHILDRENAl-Hasan b. Ali (A.S) had 15 children, both male and female.