- Hazrat Imam Hasan Mujtaba
- Imam Hasan biography
- Life of Imam Hasan
- Virtues of Imam Hasan
- Imam Hasan generosity
- Ahl al Bayt biography
- Grandson of Prophet Muhammad Hasan
- Imam Hasan and Imam Husayn
You were born on the night of 15th Ramadan, 3 AH, in Madinah Munawwarah. Before the blessed birth, Hazrat Umm al-Fadl saw in a dream that a piece of the blessed body of the beloved Prophet of Allah, the Makki and Madani Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), had come into her house. When she narrated the dream to the beloved Prophet, he said that its interpretation is that soon a child will be born from the womb of my beloved daughter Fatimah, and you will take part in his upbringing.
After the blessed birth, the name Hamza was being suggested. However, by the command of Allah, the beloved Prophet named him Hasan, after the names Shabr and Shabir, the sons of Hazrat Harun, the minister of Hazrat Musa (peace be upon him). Later, the younger brother was named Husayn. In Bihar al-Anwar, it is mentioned that after the birth of Sayyiduna Imam Hasan, Angel Jibril (Gabriel) presented a white silk cloth to the Master of the Universe on which the name Hasan was written.
When Sayyiduna Imam Hasan Mujtaba (peace be upon him) was born and brought to the presence of the beloved Prophet, the Prophet became extremely happy and placed his blessed tongue in the child’s mouth. In Bihar al-Anwar, it is written that the beloved Prophet took Imam Hasan into his arms with affection, recited the Adhan in his right ear and Iqamah in his left ear, and then placed his blessed tongue into the child’s mouth. Imam Hasan began to suck it. After this, the Prophet prayed:
“O Allah! Keep this child and his descendants under Your protection.”
On the seventh day after his birth, the beloved Prophet himself performed his Aqiqah with his blessed hands and shaved his hair, giving charity in silver equal to its weight.
One day the beloved Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was carrying Imam Hasan on his shoulders and was saying:
“O Allah! I love him, so You also love him.”
On another occasion, the Prophet was leading the prayer when suddenly Imam Hasan came and climbed onto the Prophet’s back while he was in prayer. Seeing this, the Messenger of Allah gently raised his head. After the prayer, when the companions mentioned this, the Prophet said:
“This son of mine is a leader (Sayyid), and through him Allah will bring reconciliation between two great groups.”
Once the beloved Prophet came to lead the Isha prayer, carrying Imam Hasan in his arms. The Prophet began the prayer. When he went into prostration (sajdah), he prolonged it so much that the companions thought perhaps revelation was being sent down. After the prayer, when they asked about it, he said:
“My son Hasan climbed onto my back. I did not wish to disturb him until he came down himself, so I prolonged the prostration.”
Sayyiduna Imam Zayn al-Abidin (may Allah be pleased with him) said that Imam Hasan was a great worshipper, unmatched ascetic, and an excellent scholar. Whenever he performed Hajj, he would do so on foot, and sometimes even barefoot.
He would often remember death, the punishment of the grave, and the bridge of Sirat, and would weep. When he performed ablution (wudu), the color of his blessed face would turn pale, and when he stood for prayer, he would begin to tremble.
It was his habit that when he reached the door of the mosque he would address Allah and say:
“O my Lord! Your sinful servant has come to Your court. O Most Merciful and Compassionate! Forgive a sinner like me for the sake of Your goodness.”
After finishing the Fajr prayer, he would remain seated silently until the sun rose.
Imam Shafi‘i (may Allah have mercy on him) writes that Imam Hasan Mujtaba would often distribute all of his wealth in the path of Allah.
Once a person came to ask something from Imam Hasan. As soon as he extended his hand in request, Imam Hasan gave him fifty thousand dirhams and five hundred gold coins, and said:
“Bring a laborer to carry this.”
Then he even gave his own cloak to pay the wages of the laborer.
On another occasion, he saw a beggar praying to Allah saying:
“O Allah, grant me ten thousand dirhams.”
Imam Hasan returned home and sent him exactly that amount.
Someone asked him:
“You yourself sometimes remain hungry, yet you never send a beggar away empty-handed.”
He replied:
“I am one who asks from Allah. He gives to me, and I give to people. I fear that if I stop giving to people, He may also stop giving to me.”
Imam Shafi‘i also narrates that someone once said to Imam Hasan that Hazrat Abu Dharr al-Ghifari used to say:
“I prefer poverty over wealth and illness over health.”
Imam Hasan replied:
“May Allah have mercy on Abu Dharr; what he said is correct. But I say that whoever places his trust in Allah’s decree will always be pleased with whatever Allah chooses for him.”
