Aug 13
Martyrdom of Hazrat Hasan Ibn Ali (RA)
Thursday 28 Safar, 1448
Aug 13
Thursday 28 Safar, 1448
Hazrart Hasan Ib Ali (حَسَنِ بْن عَلِيّ) رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ is the elder son of Hazrat Ali رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ and the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ. He was born in Medina in 625 CE, corresponding to 3 AH. Per some traditions, it was the 15th of Ramadan, 3 AH. He was the fifth Caliph, after the Martyrdom of his father, Hazrat Ali رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ. His tenure is often seen as the continuation of the Rashidun Caliphate, though it lasted only for around six months.
Hazrat Hasan رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ is known for his generosity, piety, and wisdom. Additionally, he is also remembered for his firm commitment to unity among the Muslim Community. His role as a peacemaker is mentioned in many Hadiths, such as Hadith 3746 of Sahih Al-Bukhari.
Translation - I heard the Prophet (ﷺ) talking at the pulpit while Al-Hasan was sitting beside him, and he (i.e., the Prophet) was once looking at the people and at another time Al-Hasan, and saying, "This son of mine is a Saiyid (i.e., chief) and perhaps Allah will bring about an agreement between two sects of the Muslims through him.
Exactly according to the sayings of the Prophet Muhammad, صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ, Hazrat Hasan, رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ, made a peace treaty by even relinquishing his otherwise legitimate Caliphate, in favor of Mua’wyiha, just to end the ongoing conflict and to avoid further bloodshed between the two major groups of the Muslim Community.
Despite all his high moral standing and commitment to the Unity of Muslims, his martyrdom at a young age of just 44 years remains an unforgettable tragedy in the history of Islam. It was established that someone had poisoned him, but he never disclosed the name of the culprit, despite consistent requests by his younger brother, Hazrat Husayn رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ.
Hazrat Hasan was the eldest son of Hazrat Ali رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ and Hazrat Fatima رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهَا. Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ, being the grandfather of the newborn, was very happy. It is reported that the Prophet gave him the name “Hasan”, which translates to “Good” or “Virtuous”. The Prophet sacrificed a ram to celebrate the birth of Hazrat Hasan رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ. Later on, it became a custom and ritual, in the form of “Aqiqa,” which is still practiced in Islamic societies. His mother, Hazrat Fatima رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهَا, shaved off his head and donated silver equal to the weight of the hairs.
Hazrat Hasan رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ holds the unique advantage of being raised in the household of the Prophet. He remained a part of this household till the age of 7 years, when the Prophet left this world. It is reported in many earlier commentaries that the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ had a very special affection for Hazrat Hasan رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ and his younger brother Hazrat Husayn رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ. It is reported that both brothers often used to climb onto the back of the Prophet while he was prostrating.
Hazrat Hasan رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ also accompanied his grandfather at the event of Mubahala, along with his father, mother, and younger brother. After an inconclusive discussion between the Prophet and a group of Christians in 631 CE, it was decided to engage in Mubahala, where both parties would gather at a certain place and pray to invoke Allah’s سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ curse upon those who are liars. On the day of Mubahala, the Prophet came along with Hazrat Ali, Hazrat Fatima, Hazrat Hasan, and Hazrat Husayn رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ.
The year 632 CE came with the demise of the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ. Within the next six months, Hazrat Fatima رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهَا also expired. So, Hazrat Hasan رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ lost his grandfather and mother, just at the age of 7 years. Later, he accompanied his father in various battles. He also played a key role during the Caliphate of his father. Both Hasan and Husayn were declared the Sayids (Chiefs) of the youth of paradise, by the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ, as mentioned in Hadith 3768 of Jami At-Tirmidhi.
Translation - Al-Hasan and Al-Husain are the chiefs of the youth of Paradise.
Hazrat Ali رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ, the fourth Rashidun Caliph and father of Hazrat Hasan رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ, was attacked by the Kharijites in January 661 CE. It is reported that while on his deathbed, Hazrat Ali رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ was asked by Muslims whether they may make Hazrat Hasan رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ Caliph after him. Hazrat Ali رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ reportedly said It is your right to select whoever you want. After the tragic martyrdom of Hazrat Ali رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ, Hazrat Hasan رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ was selected as the new Caliph. Many scholars believe that his Caliphate should be included in the series of Rashidun Caliphates, as the people chose him.
Hence, he is often remembered as the fifth Caliph of the Rashidun. As per the custom and norm of those days, notables of the community in Kufa started pledging their allegiance to the newly chosen Caliph, Hazrat Hasan رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ. However, Mua’wiya, the then Governor of Syria, did not pledge allegiance to him, as he had been engaged in war with Hazrat Ali رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ.
The conflict between Mua’wiya and Hazrat Hasan رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ had its roots in the Caliphate of Hazrat Ali رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ. After the martyrdom of the Caliph Hazrat Ali رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ, Mua’wiya refused to accept the Caliphate of Hazrat Hasan رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ. Instead, he gathered an army of sixty thousand soldiers and started marching towards Baghdad. Meanwhile, he also wrote letters to Hazrat Hasan to step down from his Caliphate, to which Hazrat Hasan رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ responded accordingly.
Amidst this inclusive correspondence, Mu’awiya continued to march his army to enter into a war with the Caliph. On receiving the news of Mua’wiya’s intentions, the Caliph ordered his Governors to prepare the Kufan for the upcoming war with Mua’wiya. While preparations for battle were underway, a sudden mutiny arose in the ranks of Hazrat Hasan’s رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ army.
Analyzing the whole situation and due to his desire for peace and unity among the Muslims, Hazrat Hasan رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ decided not to go to war. He told his army that he would prefer peace over war. After a formal negotiation between the two, a peace treaty was agreed between Mua’wiya and Hazrat Hasan رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ.
The main points of the peace treaty were as follows:
After reaching this agreement, Hazrat Hasan رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ peacefully stepped down from his Caliphate. So, his Caliphate lasted for six months.
In the year 670 CE (50 AH), Hazrat Hasan رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ was poisoned, which led to his tragic death, just at the age of 44 years. The date of his martyrdom is reported as April 2, 670 CE, corresponding to the 5th of Rabi Al-Awwal, 50 AH. When he consumed the poisonous drink, it is reported that his liver was ruptured. He repeatedly vomited blood and ultimately lost his life.
It is a consensus among historians and earlier commentators that poisoning Hazrat Hasan رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ was not a result of open conflict; instead, it was a political assassination, conspired by his enemies. Although he himself did not blame anyone for this conspiracy, many historians are of the view that it was Mu’awiya who planned this assassination. Some earlier commentators have reported that he influenced or bribed Ja’ada, a wife of Hazrat Hasan رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ, to poison him. However, these are all assumptions and carry no evidence.
On the other hand, while on his deathbed, Hazrat Hasan رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ refused to name anyone for this act of poisoning. Per some traditions, his younger brother Hazrat Husayn رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ insisted that he name the suspect, but he refused to do so and remained firm on his faith in Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ.
When Hazrat Hasan سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ was poisoned, he asked his family to bury him next to his grandfather, the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ. Another report mentions that he asked his family to bury him next to his mother in Al-Baqi cemetery, if not allowed next to his grandfather. It is believed that, given the fear of unrest and potential controversy, Hazrat Aisha رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهَا and some others suggested that he should not be buried in Masjid Nabavi, next to his grandfather.
Eventually, he was buried in Al-Baqi Cemetery. His younger brother, Hazrat Husayn رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ, decided to make it as a gesture of honoring his brother's commitment to avoiding conflicts and supporting unity among different groups of Muslims.
The martyrdom of Hazrat Hasan Ibn Ali رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ is a remarkable depiction of restraint, sacrifice, and wisdom. The lesson learnt from his life is how one needs to be steadfast in one's principles. He always remained steadfast in his principles, regardless of the circumstances. His main idea was to create harmony among Muslims, rather than fighting with each other. He even sacrificed his Caliphate to safeguard the interests of the Muslim world. He preferred peace over his powers. The immediate result of his sacrifice was a relatively peaceful phase in the earlier history of Islam, but his legacy remains eternal in the hearts of Muslims, irrespective of what sect they follow. Let us remember and honor him by striving for unity, justice, and compassion.