By: Seyyed Ali Shahbaz

 

“Think, because thinking is the life of the heart of a man who sees, and is the key to doors of wisdom.”

The Arabic word “Tafakkur” and its derivatives, which mean contemplation, thinking, pondering, and reflecting, has been emphasized by the Almighty in the holy Qur’an in several of its Ayahs, in order to firm up faith, realize the realities of creation, sift truth from falsehood, discover the bezels of wisdom, and find the facts of salvation.

The above-quoted aphorism from a person at whose birth the Almighty’s Last and Greatest Messenger, Prophet Muhammad (SAWA), became grandfather for the first time and by the command of God Almighty named him “Hasan” which means the Most Excellent.

The proud parents were the Noblest Lady of all times, Hazrat Fatema az-Zahra (SA), and the One and Only Amir al-Momineen (Commander of the Faithful), the Prophet’s Divinely-designated Vicegerent Imam Ali ibn Abi Taleb (AS)

The auspicious 15th of the fasting month of Ramadhan, the birthday of this blessed figure in Medina in 3 AH, provides us an opportunity for us to dwell on this unrivalled excellence one of the Fourteen Infallibles known as the “Speaking Qur’an”.

In other words, Imam Hasan (AS), along with his grandfather, parents, younger brother Imam Husain (AS), nephew and son-in-law Imam Zain al-Abedin (AS), grandson (daughter’s son) Imam Muhammad Baqer (AS) and the latter’s Seven Infallible descendants – Imam Ja’far as-Sadeq (AS), Imam Musa al-Kazem (AS), Imam Ali ar-Reza (AS), Imam Muhammad at-Taqi (AS), Imam Ali an-Naqi (AS), Imam Hasan al-Askari (AS), and the awaited Saviour of mankind, Imam Mahdi (AS) – is often referred to as “Qur’an an-Nateq”.

This is further proof of God’s infinite mercy in making the progeny of the “Mercy unto the creation” – Prophet Muhammad (SAWA) – as the Gateways of Salvation for mankind.  

What an excellent Leader Imam Hasan (AS) proved is borne out by his wise move in unmasking hypocrisy through a masterstroke of a peace treaty with the most sinister heathen of his time (Mu’awiya ibn Sufyan), who was masquerading as a Muslim in order to deceive Muslims so as to subject the Ummah to the un-Islamic rule of the Godless Omayyads.

Imam Hasan al-Mujtaba (AS), who along with  Imam Husain (AS), has been hailed by the Prophet as “Leaders of the Youth of Paradise”, spared no efforts in guiding the seekers of truth.

In 40 AH, on assuming the caliphate (temporal rule of the Islamic realm) on the martyrdom of his father, Imam Ali (AS), he sensed the danger to the Muslim community, in view of the weak faith of the Iraqis, the gross ignorance of the Syrians, the intransigence of the Hijazis, and the hesitancy of the Yemenis (the four main Muslim elements of those days), coupled with the devilishness of Mu’awiya in stirring up sedition, at a time when the Christian Byzantine Emperor, Constantine 1V was waiting for civil war amongst Muslims, to launch an attack to seize Palestine and Bayt al-Moqaddas.

Like his grandfather, Prophet Muhammad (SAWA) at Hudaibiyya decades earlier in agreeing to truce with the pagan Arabs of Mecca (Mu’awiya was in the heathen camp at that time), Imam Hasan (AS) agreed to relinquish the caliphate on certain terms and conditions.

An elated Mu’awiya eagerly seized the caliphate and then proceeded to violate every clause of the treaty with the Prophet’s elder grandson and 2nd Infallible Heir, thereby exposing himself in his true heathen colours.

Imam Hasan (AS), whose God-given right of Imamate was beyond the grasp of any usurper retired to Medina to continue his guiding role, without the trappings of officialdom.

Once when a certain self-styled mystic named Hasan al-Basri wrote to Imam Hasan (AS), asking him about the Divine decree, the Grandson of the Messenger of Allah (SAWA) answered him in these words:

“Mind you, he who does not believe that all sudden incidents that happen whether good or bad, are known earlier by Allah, is an infidel. The one who blames sins on Allah, is unchaste. Allah is not obeyed against His will. He is not sinned against by force. He does not leave aside His servants in His Kingdom. He is the Owner of what He gives to them. He is the Power over whatever He puts at the disposal of them. Nay, He orders them with no coercion, and prohibits them as a warning. If they opt to obey Him, none would stand in their way, and if they choose to sin, He may prevent them from doing it. But if He does not, He is not to blame, because it is not He Who forces them to do it or compels them into committing it against their will. But He does them a favour by opening their eyes, teaching, warning, ordering and prohibiting them. He does not force them to do what He orders, so as to be like the angels, not does He pressure them to keep away from what He forbids. Allah’s is certainly the conclusive argument. If Allah willed, He would have guided you to the right path...”

Another instance of Imam Hasan’s (AS) excellent characteristics was the encounter with a Syrian, who was imbued with hatred and spite against the blessed family of the Prophet, by Mu’awiya. On seeing Imam Hasan (AS) he emitted a series of curses!

The Imam did not put in a word of protest or interruption. When the Syrian had finished his tirade, the Imam approached him with a tender smile, and said:

“O old man! I think you are a stranger here. Maybe you mistook me for someone else? If you propitiate us, we will satisfy you. If you ask us, we will give you what you need. If you ask our advice, we will guide you. If you ask us to give you a ride, we will take you with us. If you are hungry, we will satisfy you. If you are naked, we will clothe you. If you are in need, we will make you rich. If you are a refugee, we will give you lodgings. If you have a request, we will grant it. If you join your luggage to ours, and be our guest until the time of your travel, it will be more useful to you, because we have a spacious place, a good social position, and a vast amount of money.”

 On hearing these words, the Syrian broke into tears, and said: “I bear witness that you are the Vicegerent of Allah on the earth. Allah knows best whom to entrust with His message. You and your father were the most hateful creatures of Allah to me. But now you and your father are the most beloved from among all the creatures of Allah to me.”

 Then the Imam took the Syrian to his house as his guest till the time of his departure from Medina. The man had completely changed his opinion and position toward Ahl al-Bayt (AS).

 This was Imam Hasan al-Mujtaba (AS) whose birthday we celebrate today, and one of whose famous aphorisms is:

 “It is love which brings closer those who are remote by ancestry, and it is (the absence of) love which causes dissociation between those who are related by ancestry.”