The life of Imam Hasan ( A.S).

On the 15th day of the Holy month of Ramazan, 3rd A.H, the first son of Imam Ali (A.S) and Hazrat Zahra (A.S) was born. [ kafi: vol=1; pg.461].

The Kunyat of Imam Hasan (A.S) was Abu Mohammad [Al – Irshad : vol = 2; pg .5].
- His laqab (title) has been narrated as Sayyed , Sebt, Hujjat, Taqi, Zaki, Mujtaba, - ---- Zahed, Amir and Wali [Manqeb Ibn Shahr Ashob; vol=3; pg.192/ Taarikh Ahlul Bait; pg. 130 ] .

- The growth and development of Imam Hasan (A.S) was in the company of the Holy - Prophet of Islam (S.A) for seven years. And for thisty years, he was in the company of his holy father, Hazrat Amiral Momeneen Ali (A.S). [ Taarikh Ahlul Bait; pg. 74&75].

- After the Shahadat ( martyrdom) of Imam Ali (A.S) in the year 40 A.H, Imam Hasan (A.S) undertook the responsibility of the reins of the government as per the request of the Muslims.[ Al- Kamil: vol= 2; pg 443 ] .

- He sent his personnel’s to different cities  [ Murooj – uz – Zahab; vol= 3; pg.4 ].as the Bani Ummayya harboured deep enmity and vendetta against Bani Hashim. They conspired and hatched several plots to snatch the Khilafat from Imam Hassan (A.S) and to take over the control of the Muslim affairs for themselves.

Thus, Moawiya sent several spies and secret agents to several cities so as to lay the ground for weakening the government of Imam Hasan (A.S) [Al – Fusool – Ul – Mohemma; pg= 161].

He prepared an army to assault Iraq [ Al- Kamil; vol= 2; pg. 445].
After being informed of the happenings, Imam Hasan (A.S) sent many warnings to - -- Moawiya. [ sharh Nahjul Balagah ; vol = 16; pg .31] . Then he called the Muslims to prepare themselves in the combat against Moawiya. With a mighty army, he prepared himself for the battle [ Ibid; pg. 38&39].

Before facing the army of Imam Hasan (A.S), Moawiya decided to resort to trick and deceit.
-       On one hand, he falsely implicated  Imam Hasan (A.S) and spread the rumour amongst the people about  the peace treaty with him [ sharh Nahjul Balagah ; vol = 16; pg. 42]. Moawiya resorted to this trick so as to weaken the morality of the army of Imam (A.S).

-       on the other hand, he resorted to bribery, debauchery and promising big government post, he seduced the top army officers of Imam Hassan (A.S) in to submission.

- In this way, they joined the ranks of the army of Moawiya one after the other [ sharh Nahjul Balagah ; vol= 16; pg 22 ].

Disloyalty and treason had penetrated in the army and companions of Imam Hassan (A.S)….
They devoured his tents, unfastened his button, pulled the carpet from beneath him and slit his thigh leg with a dagger. [ sharh Nahjul Balagah ; vol= 16 pg. 4 ; Moruj Az _ Zahra ; vol = 3 pg 9].

Seeing his army resorting to such dubious methods and his companions being in disturbed and agitated mood, Imam Hassan (A.S) thought it advisable that for stopping the disunion and the killing of the Shiahs, he accept the proposal of the peace treaty with Moawiya but with special conditions.

As per the writings of Ibne Khalka, the peace treaty was concluded on 25 Rabiul Awwal 41 A.H. [ wafyat – ul – Ayat; vol= 2 pg. 66].

The most important conditions of the peace treaty were:
1-      Moawiya would not call himself as Amir – ul – Momeneen ( leader of the Believers) [ Alal –us – sharai pg 212 ; Tazkerat – Khawas pg 206 ].

2-      From thence onwards. Imam Ali (A,S) would not be cursed or abused in bad language [ Al – Ibhadi vol2; pg 14].
3-      The life, wealth and chastity of the female members of shiahs would be secured and protected.
4-      All the rights and privileges of the Shiahs would be granted to them [ Al – Irshad; vol 2 pg 14].
5-      Moawiya would not appoint anybody as his successor [ Insabul Ashraf ; vol 3 pg 42] .
As can be seen from the conditions of the peace treaty, Imam Hassan (A.S) while showing Moawiya as a usurper and tyrant allayed the flames of disunity; saved the Islamic society from total annihilation and safeguarded the rights of the Shiahs.

It can be rightly said that the biggest achievement of the peace treaty was the discernment of the truth from falsehood. Neither truth could be introduced as lowliness and abject nor falsehood could be pretended to be right.

The holy Imam, through his behaviors and action made the people realize that Moawiya is the pillar of falsehood, deceit and treachery while the right of khilafat belonged to the true Awsiya of the Holy Prophet of Islam (S.A).

They do not want to rule over the people by resorting to force, bribery and deceit. - The same matter was pursued during the events of Kerbala.

After the signing of the peace treaty, some of the people found fault with this important and wise work of Imam Hassan (A.S).

-       They slandered him and used abusive language against his holy personality [ Tohaful Oqool ; pg 308 ] .
-        It was  as  if they had ignored his divine gifted position and unmistakable personality.
In their reply , Imam Hassan (A.S) said:
‘ Am I not the Hujat of the Almighty, being his remembrance upon his creatures. Did not the Holy Prophet of Islam (S.A) said, “Hassan and Hussain are two Imams, whether they are sitting or standing” …?!

- If i had not done this work ( signed the peace treaty), nobody  from amongst  the  shiahs would  have  remained in this world  and every body  would have  been  killed and annihilated . [ Alalus  Sharaya ; vol I pg 211 ] .

After  turning over  the  apparent  khilafat to  Moawiya. Imam Hassan  (A.S) left  Kufa for his  home land  in Medina ( Taarikh  - e – Tabari ; vol 4 pg 126 ).

He started to propagate the Divine Knowledge and spread it amongst the Muslims.
But Moawiya  did not stop from resorting  to conspiracy and  intrigue from the beginning, he started to break the articles of the peace treaty. [ shara Nahjul Balaga ; vol 16 pg 13 ].

- To gain certainty that the Khilafat will  remain  in his  house hold, he hatched a plot to kill Imam Hassan (A.S).
To accomplish his devilish plan, Moawiya poisoned  the son of Hazrat Zahra (A,S) on four occasions. ( sharh Nahjul Balagah ; vol 16 pg 10 ). On the fourth occasion, he made Imam Hassan (A.S) drink poison and was effective in the Shahadat of Imam Hassan (A.S) [ shah Nahjul Balagah ; vol 16 ; pg 11].

Based on this treacherous action, Imam (A.S) suffered heavy bleeding and the color of his face changed and he said, on several occasions , poison  was  given  to  me, but I had never  suffered  such  hardship as on this    occasion. [ sharh Nahjul Balagah ; vol 16 ; pg 49 ].

Jonada says; I went to visit Imam (A.S) during his illness which led to his death. I saw a tub in front of him. Due to the poison given by Moawiya ( May the Almighty  curse  him ) he was  spitting  blood  in  it . I said to  Imam (A.S)  “ O my Maula. why don’t you cure yourself”. He said “ O Abdullah. How can I cure death?! I said ,

- “ we  are  from  the Almighty  and  to  him  is our Return.”
In the end, during so A.H, at the age of 47 years ( Al – Kafi vol I pg 461 & 462 ) and due to the poison , Imam Hassan (A.S) attained Shahadat …. . After reciting Namaz on him, his holy body was taken towards the Haram of the Holy Prpphet of Islam (S.A ) [ Tazkeratul Khawas pg 213 ].

So as to bury him there ( Alalus  sharaye ; vol I  pg  225 ).
Tholat  Ibn  Malek  says “ there was such a tremendous  surge  of  heavy  crowd 
accompanying his dead  body  towards  his grave that  if the needle  would  be  thrown   on  the   ground,  it  would  hit the  men  ( in stead  of  striking  the  ground  ). [ Al – Isaba  vol =1  pg  331 ].

When  the  Bani  Umayyad  heard  about  the   events  and  the  huge  crowd  accompanying   the  holy  body  of  the  son  of  Hazrat  Zahra  (A.S),  they  prevented  from  getting  him  buried  near the  grave  of  his  holy  grand  father  them.   (  Tazkerat  - ul – Khawas  pg  213 ).

Ibn  shahr  Ashoob  writes ; they  showered  arrows  at  his  dead  body. Seventy   sticks  of  arrows  were  removed  from  the  holy  body  of Imam Hassan (A.S) [ Manageb  vol  4  pg  44 ].

As per  the  will of  Imam   Hassan (A.S) . Imam Hussain  (A.S)  refrained from fighting  with  them.
- He took  the holy body  of  his brother  towards  Baqi  and   buried  him  there (  Al _ Irshad  ;  vol  2 pg  17 ).
There is  a  difference  of  opinion  about  the  day  of  the  Shahadat  of  Imam (A.S).
- Shaikh  Mufid  and  Kafami  believe  that  he  attained  martyrdom  on  the  of  Safar  ( Awalem  ; vol  16  pg  277 ). Shaikh   Abbas  Qummi  accepts  this  saying  in  his  book,  “ Qurrat -  ul -  Basera”. Ibn Shahr  Ashoob  says  that  Imam Hassan  ( A.S)  achieved  Shahadat   on  28th  Safar [ Manageb  vol  3  pg  191 ].

Shaikh  Kulaini  and  Khazaz  Qummi  say ,  that  the  holy Islam was  martyred  on  the  lost  day  of  Safar  [ Kafi  vol  1  pg 461 ].

It   has  been  narrated  that  Imam Hassan (A.S)  had  thirteen to  sixteen childrens. From  amongst  his  childrens  are  Fatema.

- The  mother  of Imam Mohammad  Bager (A.S) [ Al – Fusool – ul – Mohemma  pg 166 ].
Qasem, Abdullah  and  Amir  are  also  his  childrens  who  achieved  Shahadat  during  the episode of Kerbala  behind their holy  uncle Imam  Hussain (A.S). 

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