Biography of Hazrat Imam-e-Hasan رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہ

It is reported in a hadith that once the beloved Prophet صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ was carrying a child and he was saying “O Allah عَزَّ وَجَلَّ I love him, so you love him too” You must have come to know that “the child was both beloved of Allah عَزَّ وَجَلَّ and the beloved of His beloved Prophet صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ.” 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 صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ Hazrat Imam Hasan bin Ali رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہ.
In the following lines we will learn about his biography very briefly and will also be blessed to read some of his excellences.

His Birth:

Imam Hasan was born in the 3rd year after Hijrah in Madina. Hazrat Ali and Fatimah رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہماare his parents while the noblest of all the Prophets the beloved Mustafa صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ and Hazrat Khadija رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہا are 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 Rasool صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ commanded that the weight of his shaved hair in silver should be given in charity.

The Excellence of Their Name:

The grandsons of the beloved Prophet صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ 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 (Hasan) was not known at all in the pagan times (Jahiliyya).”

Another Narrartion says:

“Hasan and Husayn are two names from paradise; none of the Arabs knew of these names before in the pre-Islamic days i.e. Jahiliyyah.”

Resemblance to Beloved Mustafa صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ
Many companions have reported his resemblance to the beloved Prophet صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ. He was like his Beloved grandfather صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ more than anyone else in his time. Imam Bukhari narrates from Hazrat Anas رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہ:

“No one resembled the Prophet صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ more than Hasan ibne Ali رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہ.”

Excellence
It is reported that from the childhood the signs of blessings were evident from his character and the beloved Mustafa صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ would praise him in front of different gatherings. Hazrat Abu Bakar رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہ says: “I have seen the noble Prophet صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ on the pulpit [minbar] with Hasan رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہ on his side. He صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ looked at the assembly and Hasan alternately, and said: ‘Verily, this son of mine is a great leader. And Allah عَزَّ وَجَلَّ will unite two groups of Muslims on his account.”

(Bukhari)

On another occasion the beloved Prophet صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ said: “Hasan and Husayn are the two leaders of young men in paradise.” They were so dear to the noble prophet صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَthat he would say,

“Both [Hasan and Husayn] are my two perfumes in this world.”

(Bukhari)

The beloved Rasool صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ 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 صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ was carrying Hasan on his shoulders. A man met him on the way and said: ‘What a magnificent mount that you ride, young man.’ The noble Prophet صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ replied, ‘And what a magnificent rider is he!’

Some Examples of His Beautiful Character

His efforts in the path of Allah in form of worships and steadfastness are worth following it is stated that ‘Hasan رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہ had gone on Ĥajj twenty-five times on foot, even though very fine camels were driven alongside.’ He was very generous it is reported that He رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہ would give [charity] from his wealth twice. The Ahl-e-Bait are famous for their forbearance and why not when they have seen The noble Prophetصَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ who would show mercy and kindness to everyone and forgive even the worst of his enemies.

It is reported that when Imam Hasan رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہ passed away, Marwan sobbed at his funeral. Imam Husayn رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہ said: ‘Now, you cry? Weren’t you impudent when he was alive?’ Marwān replied: ‘I used to do all that I did, to a man who was more forbearing than this’ and he pointed towards the mountain.

May Almighty Allah عَزَّ وَجَلَّ makes us steadfast on faith and grants us His love and love of His beloveds! Ameen