Dr.Mazhar Naqvi
Heartiest greetings to all Momneen
on the joyous occasion of the birth anniversary of Imam Hasan. He was grandson
of the Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad and son of Lion of Allah, Hazrat Ali and
mistress of the women in both the worlds Bibi Fatima. Born in Medina, on the
night of the 15th day of Ramadan, three years after the Hijra (624 AD), Imam
Hasan is also known as ‘ al-Sibt, al-Syed, al-Zaki, al-Mujtaba and al-Taqi. Historians and scholars have
described his appearance as "He had
a white, reddish face. He had black eyes, smooth cheeks, thick beard, and
curly, plentiful hair. His neck was as white as a jug of silver. His body was
good. He had large shoulders, and big fleshy bones. He was of medium height;
neither long nor short. He was handsome; the best of all people in face".
About his characteristics,
Muhammad b. Ishaq said: "After the Holy Prophet, no one had a high social
position as Imam Hasan had. Mats were spread out at the door of his house. When
he came out and sat, the street was over crowded. So no one of Allah's
creatures could pass to show respect for him. When he knew that, he stood up
and entered his house. So the people could pass." No one was more like the
Apostle of Allah, than Imam Hasan in form, manner, and nobility.
He
was the best of all people in worshipping and refraining from the life
in this world. His face used to run pale while offering prayers out of fear of
Allah. He gave people from his property twice in the way of Allah and mentioned the Almighty in all conditions
whether pleasant or otherwise. Imam performed Hajj on foot twenty-five times.
He always wept while mentioning death, grave, Paradise, fire of hell or Pul –E-Sirat-the bridge on the road to
Paradise.
In view of his exemplary behavior, he was a role
model to people. Imam was respected by one and all. Despite his exalted status, he was very kind
and generous to people. Once, a Bedouin came to
Imam and asked for help. He gave all the twenty thousand dirhams kept in the
safe to Bedouin. One day Imam saw a black boy, eating a piece of bread and
giving a piece of bread to his dog. So Imam Hasan asked the boy "Why are you feeding the dog? The boy
replied “I feel shame of my dog when I eat and do not feed him," .Then,
Imam told boy to stay at the place till he returns .Imam approached the master
of the boy, bought him and the garden where he lived. Later on, Imam freed the
boy and gifted the garden to him as well so that he lives comfortably rest of
his life. There are numerous other examples of his generosity besides the two referred
above.
After the martyrdom of Imam Ali, Imam Hasan became Caliph. His caliphate lasted for a short
time in view of the nefarious designs of those who were least interested in
religion and wanted bloodshed for the sake of throne. He preferred a peace
treaty in accordance with the teachings of Islam and abdicated his Caliphate in
41 A.H. He returned to Medina. Even though he dedicated himself to worshipping,
charity and guidance of the community, the hostile regime did not allow him to
live long. He was poisoned to death in 50 A.H. Before attaining martyrdom, he told
his brother Imam Hussain “ I am leaving you and meeting my Lord. I have been
given poison to drink, and I have spewed my liver into the basin. I am aware of
the person who poisoned me and from where I have been made a subject to this
deceitful action. I will oppose
him before Allah, the Great and Almighty." He wanted to be buried close to
his grandfather’s grave but followers of the Caliph Muwaiya did not allow it to
happen. As Imam had willed to his younger brother not to shed blood even if his
burial close to the grave of his grandfather is denied, Imam Hussain buried him
in Baqi cemetery. Some of his golden quotes that are a constant source of
guidance even today for mankind are :
- I wonder about the person who contemplates about his nutrition but he does not consider (the food of) his intellect. Thus, he avoids of what hurts him in his stomach but he lets his mind to be filled with what destroys him.
- The height of
intelligence is associating with people amicably.
- One who lacks
intelligence has no decorum, and one who lacks determination has no
magnanimity, and one who has no modesty has no religion.
- Do not be hasty
in punishing (someone's) sin, and leave (room) between the two (fault and
punishment) for apology.
- The most
preferable adornment is graceful manners.
- The best wealth
is contentment and the worst poverty is humility.
- Clemency is
suppression of anger and self-restraint.
- Generosity is
giving in prosperity and adversity.
- The annihilation
of people lies in three things: Arrogance, Greed and envy. Arrogance
causes destruction of the religion and because of it Satan was cursed, and
Greed is the enemy of one's soul, and because of it Adam was expelled from
Paradise, and envy is the guide to wickedness, and because of it Qabil
killed Habil.
(References
available on request .Photo Courtesy -Google Images)
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