A Brief History of Imam Hasan's Life
The Son of the Prophet
Imam Hasan Mujtaba -upon whom be peace- was the
second Imam. He and his brother Imam Husayn were the two sons of Amir al-mu'minin Ali and
Hadhrat Fatimah, the daughter of the Prophet. Many times the Prophet had said, "Hasan
and Husayn are my children". Because of these same words Ali would say to his other
children, "You are my children and Hasan and Husayn are the children of the
Prophet." Imam Hasan was born in the year 3 A.H. in Medina and shared in the life of
the Prophet for somewhat over seven years, growing up during that time under his loving
care. After the death of the Prophet which was no more than three, or according to some,
six months earlier than the death of Hadhrat Fatimah, Hasan was placed directly under the
care of his noble father.
Imam Hasan and Mu'awiyah
After the death of his father, through Divine
Command and according to the will of his father, Imam Hasan became Imam; he also occupied
the outward function of caliph for about six months, during which time he administered the
affairs of the Muslims. During that time Mu'awiyah, who was a bitter enemy of Ali and his
family and had fought for years with the ambition of capturing the caliphate, first on the
pretext of avenging the death of the third caliph and finally with an open claim to the
caliphate, marched his army into Iraq, the seat of Imam Hasan's caliphate. War ensued
during which Mu'awiyah gradually subverted the generals and commanders of Imam Hasan's
army with large sums of money and deceiving promises until the army rebelled against Imam
Hasan. Finally, the Imam was forced to make peace and to yield the caliphate to Mu'awiyah,
provided it would again return to Imam Hasan after Mu'awiyah's death and the Imam's
household and partisans would be protected in every way. In this way Mu'awiyah captured
the Islamic caliphate and entered Iraq. In a public he officially made null and void all
the peace conditions and in every way possible placed the severest pressure upon the
members of the Household of the Prophet and the Shi'ah. During all the ten years of his
imamate, Imam Hasan lived in conditions of extreme hardship and under persecution, with no
security even in his own house. In the year 50 A.H. he was poisoned and martyred by one of
his own household who, as has been accounted by historians, had been motivated by
Mu'awiyah.
Imam Hasan's Character
In human perfection Imam Hasan 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 Hasan and Husayn: "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). |