Ghulam Yasin Nizami
It is reported in a Hadith that once the beloved Prophet was carrying a child and he was saying: O Allah! I love him, so you love him too. You must have come to know that the child was both beloved of Allah and the beloved of His beloved Prophet Muhammad(P.B.U.H). And now you must be thinking, who was that fortunate child? So my dear Islamic brothers! He was none other than the grandson of the Beloved Prophet Imam Hassan. In the following lines we will learn about his biography very briefly and will also be blessed to read some of his excellences. Imam Hassan was born in the year 3 A.H. in Medina. The beloved Prophet came tohouse of Ali, congratulated the new parents and named the child, on Allah’s order, as “Hassan”.Hazrat Ali and Fatimah are his parents while the noblest of all the Prophets the beloved Mustafa and Hazrat Khadijaare his maternal grandparents. On the seventh day of his birth his aqeeqah was performed and two lambs were sacrificed. His head was shaved and then the beloved Prophet commanded that the weight of his shaved hair in silver should be given in charity. He shared in the life of the Prophet for over seven years, growing up during that time under his loving care. The Prophet used to carry him over his shoulder and say: O Allah! I love him, so you also love him. Many other sayings of the Prophet have been recorded about Hassan and Husain:Whoever loves Hassan and Husain, he also loves me; whoever hates these two, he also hates me. Hassan and Husain are the chiefs of the youths of Paradise. These two children of mine are Imams no matter whether they rise up (against a tyrant) or make peace. The grandsons of the beloved Prophet were unique in many regards even their names were unique which came from Paradise and were never heard before in Arabian society. It is mentioned in one of the narrations: This name (Hassan) was not known at all in the pagan times. Another narration Says:Hassan and Husain are two names from paradise; none of the Arabs knew of these names before in the pre-Islamic days. Many companions have reported his resemblance to the beloved Prophet. He was like his Beloved grandfather more than anyone else in his time.Another narration Says: No one resembled the beloved Prophet more than Hassan bin Ali. It is reported that from the childhood the signs of blessings were evident from his character and the beloved Prophet would praise him in front of different gatherings. Hazrat Abu Bakarsays: I have seen the noble Prophet on the pulpit with Hassan on his side. He looked at the assembly and Hassan alternately, and said: Verily, this son of mine is a great leader. And Allah will unite two groups of Muslims on his account. On another occasion the beloved Prophet said: Hassan and Husain are the two leaders of young men in paradise. They were so dear to the noble prophet that he would say: both [Hassan and Husain] are my two perfumes in this world. The beloved Prophet would play with him and out of love for him would even make him sit on his blessed back or shoulders. It is reported that: Once the beloved Prophet was carrying Hassan on his shoulders. A man met him on the way and said: What a magnificent mount that you ride, young man. The noble Prophet replied, and what a magnificent rider is he! In human perfection Imam Hassan was reminiscent of his father and a perfect example of his noble grandfather. In fact, as long as the Prophet was alive, he and his brother were always in the company of the Prophet who even sometimes would carry them on his shoulders. Both Sunni and Shi’ite sources have transmitted this saying of the Holy Prophet concerning Hassan and Husain: “These two children of mine are Imams whether they stand up or sit down” (allusion to whether they occupy the external function of caliphate or not). Also there are many traditions of the Holy Prophet and Ali concerning the fact that Imam Hassan would gain the function of imamate after his noble father. His efforts in the path of Allah in form of worships and steadfastness are worth following it is stated thatImam Hassan was well-known for spiritual wayfaring; he had also gone for pilgrimage 25 times by walking all the way from Medina to Mecca, even though very fine camels were driven alongside.’ He was very generous it is reported that He would give [charity] from his wealth twice. The Imam was also known for his generosity. On hearing a man praying by the Kabah to Allah for relieving him of a 10,000 dirham debt, the Imam went home, returned with that money and gave it to that person. Imam Hassan’s patience and forbearance iseven acknowledged by his enemies. Marwan governor in Medina who always persecuted the Imam, participated in the latter’s funeral. Imam Husain said, While my brother was alive, you tried your best to oppose him and fight against him; and now you are showing up in his funeral! Marwan said: Whatever I did, I did to a person whose forbearance was stronger than this mountain, while pointing towards a mountain outside Medina.In the year 50 A.H. Imam Hassan was poisoned and martyredby one of his own wives and buried in Janatu al-Baqi. May Almighty Allah makes us steadfast on faith and grants us His love and love of His beloveds! Amen.