Al-Hasan ibn Ali (The Grandson of the Prophet)
Al-Hasan and Al-Husayn are two memorable names well known to everyone in the world of Islam. For they are no other than the children of the daughter of the Prophet, Fatimah and his dear cousin Ali ibn Abi Talib.
One night Ummul-Fadl, the wife of the Prophet's uncle Al-Abbas, saw in a dream that a part of the Prophet was in her house. She was worried. So she informed the Prophet about it. The Prophet smiled, and informed her that her dream meant that his daughter would have a son, and that Ummul-Fadl would feed him of her milk.
Ali ibn Abi Talib heard the news and he rushed to convey it to his wife Fatimah. And it was on the fifteenth of Ramadan of the third year after the Hijrah that Fatimah had her first child. As soon as the Prophet heard the news, he went to his daughter's house and asked for the baby in whose ears he recited the Adhan (call to Prayer) and Iqamah (call of readiness for Prayer). On the seventh day, the Prophet asked Ali ibn Abi Talib: "What name have you given the boy?"
"Harb," said Ali.
"No, but he is Al-Hasan (the good and good-looking)," said the Prophet.
At the Prophet's suggestion, a sheep was slaughtered and its meat was distributed in charity to the poor Al Hasan had the fortune of being brought up in the most blessed home in the lap of the Prophet (his grandfather) and Fatimah, the daughter of Prophet Muhammad(his mother) and Ali ibn Abi Talib the Prophet's cousin (his father). He opened his eyes to prayers and devotional activities going at home and in the Prophet's mosque at Madinah.
Since the residence of Ali ibn Abi Talib was adjacent to the Prophet's mosque and rooms, Al-Hasan was often raised (as a baby and child) in the mosque. The Prophet's affection for Al-Hasan was limitless. He was many a time heard saying, "O God, I love him. Please love him and love those who love him."
Through the Prophet's attitude and behavior towards Al-Hasan and his brother, Muslims find the Prophetic example in the treatment of children.
We are told that once, the Prophet was in prostration in Prayer when the little Al-Hasan mounted his back. The Prophet remained for quite a while in that position. When some of the Companions later expressed their worry, he informed them that the young child was happy riding his grandfather's back. The Prophet did not want to disturb him and deprive him of the pleasure. So he remained in prostration until Al-Hasan got down off his back.
The second instance occurred when once while the Prophet was delivering a sermon in the mosque, Al-Hasan came treading on the edge of his garment, falling down every now and then. The Prophet could not stand the sight. So he stopped his sermon, came down from the pulpit, carried Al-Hasan, and resumed the sermon.
Unfortunately, Al-Hasan could not enjoy the company of his loving grandfather for long, because the Prophet died when Al-Hasan was only eight years of age. Hardly six months passed when he was deprived of his mother as well. However, this fact does not mean that he did not learn anything from the Prophet.
For despite the death of Prophet Muhammad, during the childhood of Al-Hasan, he was constantly educated by the Prophet himself during his lifetime. Al-Hasan reports: "Once while as a small child I took a date from the dates of the charity. I put it in my mouth, but the Prophet took it out. When asked about the reason, he explained, "We the Household of Muhammad do not eat from charity."
It was from such lessons that Al-Hasan learnt self-respect and all the exemplar qualities he was well-known for.
In his youth, Al-Hasan was sent along with his younger brother Al-Husayn to defend Caliph Uthman ibn Affan when the Caliph was attacked by a group of rebels.
A little later, Al-Hasan had to witness the death of the fourth righteous Caliph, his own father, who was assassinated in Iraq. The Iraqis elected Al-Hasan as a successor to his father, but when he realized that his acceptance of the Caliphate meant war between the two Muslim camps, his and that of Muawiya ibn Abi Sufyan, he refused it saying: "I would not like to be Caliph while a drop of blood is shed because of it."
Al-Hasan's piety is best illustrated in the fact that he insisted on travelling on foot not less than ten times to Makkah for the purpose of pilgrimage.
Al-Hasan died in Madinah in the year 49 or 50 after Hijrah, and was buried in the cemetery of Madinah.
Al-Hasan and Al-Husayn are two memorable names well known to everyone in the world of Islam. For they are no other than the children of the daughter of the Prophet, Fatimah and his dear cousin Ali ibn Abi Talib.
One night Ummul-Fadl, the wife of the Prophet's uncle Al-Abbas, saw in a dream that a part of the Prophet was in her house. She was worried. So she informed the Prophet about it. The Prophet smiled, and informed her that her dream meant that his daughter would have a son, and that Ummul-Fadl would feed him of her milk.
Ali ibn Abi Talib heard the news and he rushed to convey it to his wife Fatimah. And it was on the fifteenth of Ramadan of the third year after the Hijrah that Fatimah had her first child. As soon as the Prophet heard the news, he went to his daughter's house and asked for the baby in whose ears he recited the Adhan (call to Prayer) and Iqamah (call of readiness for Prayer). On the seventh day, the Prophet asked Ali ibn Abi Talib: "What name have you given the boy?"
"Harb," said Ali.
"No, but he is Al-Hasan (the good and good-looking)," said the Prophet.
At the Prophet's suggestion, a sheep was slaughtered and its meat was distributed in charity to the poor Al Hasan had the fortune of being brought up in the most blessed home in the lap of the Prophet (his grandfather) and Fatimah, the daughter of Prophet Muhammad(his mother) and Ali ibn Abi Talib the Prophet's cousin (his father). He opened his eyes to prayers and devotional activities going at home and in the Prophet's mosque at Madinah.
Since the residence of Ali ibn Abi Talib was adjacent to the Prophet's mosque and rooms, Al-Hasan was often raised (as a baby and child) in the mosque. The Prophet's affection for Al-Hasan was limitless. He was many a time heard saying, "O God, I love him. Please love him and love those who love him."
Through the Prophet's attitude and behavior towards Al-Hasan and his brother, Muslims find the Prophetic example in the treatment of children.
We are told that once, the Prophet was in prostration in Prayer when the little Al-Hasan mounted his back. The Prophet remained for quite a while in that position. When some of the Companions later expressed their worry, he informed them that the young child was happy riding his grandfather's back. The Prophet did not want to disturb him and deprive him of the pleasure. So he remained in prostration until Al-Hasan got down off his back.
The second instance occurred when once while the Prophet was delivering a sermon in the mosque, Al-Hasan came treading on the edge of his garment, falling down every now and then. The Prophet could not stand the sight. So he stopped his sermon, came down from the pulpit, carried Al-Hasan, and resumed the sermon.
Unfortunately, Al-Hasan could not enjoy the company of his loving grandfather for long, because the Prophet died when Al-Hasan was only eight years of age. Hardly six months passed when he was deprived of his mother as well. However, this fact does not mean that he did not learn anything from the Prophet.
For despite the death of Prophet Muhammad, during the childhood of Al-Hasan, he was constantly educated by the Prophet himself during his lifetime. Al-Hasan reports: "Once while as a small child I took a date from the dates of the charity. I put it in my mouth, but the Prophet took it out. When asked about the reason, he explained, "We the Household of Muhammad do not eat from charity."
It was from such lessons that Al-Hasan learnt self-respect and all the exemplar qualities he was well-known for.
In his youth, Al-Hasan was sent along with his younger brother Al-Husayn to defend Caliph Uthman ibn Affan when the Caliph was attacked by a group of rebels.
A little later, Al-Hasan had to witness the death of the fourth righteous Caliph, his own father, who was assassinated in Iraq. The Iraqis elected Al-Hasan as a successor to his father, but when he realized that his acceptance of the Caliphate meant war between the two Muslim camps, his and that of Muawiya ibn Abi Sufyan, he refused it saying: "I would not like to be Caliph while a drop of blood is shed because of it."
Al-Hasan's piety is best illustrated in the fact that he insisted on travelling on foot not less than ten times to Makkah for the purpose of pilgrimage.
Al-Hasan died in Madinah in the year 49 or 50 after Hijrah, and was buried in the cemetery of Madinah.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment