Imam Ḥasan رَضِىَ اللهُ عَـنْهُ: the Prophet’s صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم Grandson

Maulana Uwais Yamin Attari Madani

Dear readers, Imam Ḥasan رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ—the grandson of the Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم—is amongst the noble personalities who were born in the month of Ramadan. Let us illuminate our hearts with the love of the Ahl al-Bayt and the Companions رَضِیَ اللهُ عَنْهُم by reading about the childhood of Imam Ḥasan رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ.

Brief Introduction

He is the grandson of the Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, son of Sayyidatunā Fāṭimah and Sayyidunā ꜤAlī رَضِیَ اللهُ عَنْهُمَا, and the elder brother of Imam Ḥusayn رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ. He was born on the 15 Ramadan, 3 AH, in the city of Madinah.[1]

Honoured after birth

Sayyidunā Abū RāfiꜤ رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ narrates that when Imam Ḥasan رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ was born, the Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم recited the adhan in his ears.[2]

Taḥnīk and naming

The Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم performed his taḥnīk, named him Ḥasan and referred to him as his son.[3]

ꜤAqīqah

The Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم performed the Ꜥaqīqah for Imam Ḥasan رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ with two sheep and instructed Sayyidatunā Fāṭimah رَضِیَ اللهُ عَنْهَا to shave his head and give silver in charity equal to the weight of his hair.[4]

Prophetic display of affection

Sayyidunā Abū Hurayrah رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ narrates that the Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم kissed Imam Ḥasan رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ whilst al-AqraꜤ bin Hābis Tamīmī رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ was sitting with him. The latter mentioned that he had 10 sons, but never kissed any of them. The Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم replied, “The one who does not show mercy will not be shown mercy.”[5]

Carried on the Prophet’s صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم blessed shoulders

Sayyidunā Barrā bin ꜤĀzib رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ states, “I saw that the Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم was carrying Ḥasan رَضِىَ اللهُ عَـنْهُ on his blessed shoulders whilst saying, ‘O Allah! I love him. You love him too, and also love the one who loves him.’”[6]

The Prophet’s صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم compassion and love

Sayyidunā Abū Bakrah رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ narrates, “The Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم was leading us in prayer. When he صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم went into prostration, Ḥasan رَضِىَ اللهُ عَـنْهُ, who was still a young child, came and sat on the back and neck of the Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. The Greatest Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم raised his blessed head from prostration so gently that Ḥasan رَضِىَ اللهُ عَـنْهُ got down. (After the completion of the prayer,) The noble Companions رَضِیَ اللهُ عَنْهُم stated, ‘O Messenger of Allah صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم! You treat Ḥasan رَضِىَ اللهُ عَـنْهُ in a manner that you do not treat anyone else’. Upon this, the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم replied, ‘He is my flower in the world.’”[7]

Virtues and merits

§ The Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم placed Imam Ḥasan رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ in his lap, smelt him, embraced him, took him in his blessed cloak, and declared him the leader of the youth in Paradise.[8]

§ Sayyidunā Abū Bakrah رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ said, "I saw the Greatest Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم sitting on the pulpit, and Ḥasan bin ꜤAlī رَضِىَ اللهُ عَـنْهُما was sitting beside him. The Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم alternated in looking at the people and at Ḥasan رَضِىَ اللهُ عَـنْهُ. The Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said, 'This son of mine is a leader; Allah (Almighty) will reconcile between two great groups of Muslims through him.'"[9]

§ The Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم responded to Sayyidatuna Fatima’s رَضِیَ اللهُ عَنْهَا request by granting Imam Ḥasan رَضِىَ اللهُ عَـنْهُ awe and leadership from his inheritance.[10]

Leave doubtful things

Hadith have also been narrated from Imam Ḥasan رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ.[11] In one narration he رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ states, “I learnt from the Greatest Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم to leave that which causes doubt and do that which does not cause doubt. Verily, truth brings tranquillity, and falsehood leads to doubt.”[12]

Mufti Aḥmad Yār Khān رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه states, "Meaning, the act or speech which makes your heart uneasy because you do not know whether it is halal or haram should be left. As for that which the heart testifies to as being good, it should be pursued. This is applicable to individuals like Imam Ḥasan رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ who are bestowed with spiritual faculty and inspired knowledge; their heart’s judgement is in accordance with the Quran and sunnah. Hence, this is not applicable to ordinary people or those entangled in egoistic and satanic delusions." He further adds, "A true believer finds contentment in righteous deeds and truthful words, while he naturally is indecisive about doubtful things."[13]

Passing

When the Messenger of Allah صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم passed away, Imam Ḥasan رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ was seven years and six months old. He رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ passed away at the age of 47 on 5 Rabi al-Awwal 50 AH and was laid to rest in Jannat al-Baqi.[14] May Allah Almighty shower His mercy upon him, and for his sake, may we be granted forgiveness without accountability.

اٰمِيۡن بِجَاهِ خَاتَمِ النَّبِیّٖن صلَّی اللہُ عَلَیْہ ِوَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ

 (To learn more about the biography of Imam Ḥasan رَضِىَ اللهُ عَـنْهُ, download and read Maktaba-tul-Madinah’s 28-page booklet called “30 Parables of Imam Ḥasan رَضِىَ اللهُ عَـنْهُ” from www.dawateislami.net or scan this QR code to download it.)