Hasan ibn Ali

Grandson of the Prophet ﷺ

Hasan ibn Ali was born in 3 AH, the elder son of Ali and Fatimah and the grandson the Prophet ﷺ cherished. He bore a close resemblance to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, who loved him and his brother Husayn dearly and named them the two masters of the youth of Paradise (see Virtues in the Hadith).

The Caliph Who Reconciled the Ummah

When Ali was martyred in 40 AH, the people of Kufa pledged the caliphate to Hasan. But seeing the Ummah torn by civil war, he chose peace over power: in Rabi al-Awwal 41 AH he handed the caliphate to Mu’awiya rather than spill more Muslim blood. When taunted as the one who had disgraced the Muslims, he answered that he had simply refused to sacrifice them — that he had given up rule “to seek the pleasure of Allah,” having held the heads of the Arabs in his hands. 1 History of Islam · Vol 1 · pp. 505–506 — Najeebabadi — Hasan hands the caliphate to Mu'awiya in Rabi al-Awwal 41 AH; his replies that he acted to spare the Muslims and to seek Allah's pleasure. This was the very reconciliation the Prophet ﷺ had foretold of him from the pulpit (see Virtues in the Hadith) — the year so famed it is called the Year of Unity. His generosity matched his selflessness: it is related that he gave away all he owned in charity twice over, and half his wealth three times. 2 History of Islam · Vol 1 · pp. 506 — Najeebabadi — Hasan gives all his wealth in charity twice and half three times.

Virtues in the Hadith

Holding Hasan beside him on the pulpit, the Prophet ﷺ foretold his future role:

ابْنِي هَذَا سَيِّدٌ، وَلَعَلَّ اللَّهَ أَنْ يُصْلِحَ بِهِ بَيْنَ فِئَتَيْنِ مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ

”This son of mine is a sayyid (chief), and perhaps Allah will reconcile two great groups of Muslims through him.”

Sahih al-Bukhari 3746 · Book 62 (Virtues of the Companions), Hadith 91 · USC-MSA: Vol. 5, Book 57, Hadith 89 · narrated by Abu Bakra

And he named Hasan and his brother the foremost of the young in Paradise:

الْحَسَنُ وَالْحُسَيْنُ سَيِّدَا شَبَابِ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ

”Al-Hasan and al-Husayn are the two masters of the youth of Paradise.”

Jami’ at-Tirmidhi 3768 · Book 49, Hadith 167 · narrated by Abu Sa’id al-Khudri · graded Sahih (Darussalam)

Death & Legacy

Hasan withdrew to Madinah and lived in worship and generosity until his death in Rabi al-Awwal 50 AH; it was suspected he had been poisoned. When Husayn pressed him to name the one responsible, he refused, leaving the matter to Allah rather than have anyone killed on mere suspicion for his sake. 3 History of Islam · Vol 1 · pp. 506 — Najeebabadi — Hasan's death in Rabi al-Awwal 50 AH; the suspicion of poisoning and his refusal to name a suspect. He was buried in Jannat al-Baqi, remembered as the grandson who looked most like the Prophet ﷺ and the caliph who chose the unity of the Ummah over his own rule.