Alhassanain(p) Network for Heritage and Islamic Thought

Lesson 37: The Best Of All Women (Fatimatu -Zahra’))

1. Birth to Hijra

Fatimatu ‘z-Zahra’ was born in the fifth year of the bi’that and she was the only child who survived from among the children of Khadija.

Fatima’s birth and the fact that only she gave the Prophet grandchildren is itself a revolutionary statement: in the pre-Islamic society, the birth of a baby girl was considered a disgrace for the family; and lineage was only recognized through male children.

When the male children of the Prophet and Khadija died in infancy, some of the unbelievers of Mecca taunted the Prophet saying that he is an “abtar- a person who is cut off, that is, he has no progeny.”

In response to this taunting, Allah revealed chapter 108 of the Qur’an: “We have verily given to you (O Muhammad) plentiful [i.e., in the form of Fatima and her progeny]; therefore, pray to your Lord and offer sacrifice. Surely the one who taunts you is an abtar.”

Fatima’s life is intertwined with the emergence and growth of the Islamic movement. She was just three years old when her parents -the Prophet and Khadija- had to go with other family members to Abu Talib’s castle outside Mecca when the Quraysh imposed an economic and social boycott against them.

Soon after the boycott ended, at the age of five, Fatima lost her mother. She was thereafter brought up by the Prophet himself.

A famous incident from the Meccan period shows that Fatima, even in childhood, was part of her father’s struggle. Once the Prophet was praying near the Ka’bah while a group of Qurayshi unbelievers were sitting and watching him.

Abu Jahl, their leader, said, “Who amongst you can go and bring the intestine of a slaughtered camel and put it on Muhammad when he is in prostration?” Uqba bin Abi Mu’it complied with the suggestion of Abu Jahl and placed the filthy intestine of a camel on the Prophet’s shoulder when he was in the state of sajdah.

The Prophet remained in that position while the unbelievers laughed so much so that they fell on each other. A passerby went to the Prophet’s home and informed Fatima. Fatima, though still in her childhood, came running to the Ka’bah and removed the filth from the Prophet and cursed the unbelievers on their faces.

After the death of Khadija and Abu Talib, life became most constrained and difficult for the Prophet and his followers in Mecca. When the Quraysh planned to kill the Prophet, he left Mecca and migrated to Medina, and thus began a new era in the history of Islam.

‘Ali bin Abi Talib had been left behind by the Prophet to mislead the enemies, to return the property of others entrusted to the Prophet, and also to bring the remaining members of the Prophet’s immediate family to Medina.

After accomplishing the tasks given to him, ‘Ali started the journey towards Medina with three Fatimas: Fatima bint Asad (‘Ali’s mother), Fatima bint Zubayr ibn ‘Abdul Muttalib (aunt of Ali and the Prophet), and Fatimatu ‘z-Zahra’.

The Prophet, who had left Mecca earlier, waited for ‘Ali and his family at Quba on the outskirts of Medina. When Abu Bakr suggested that they enter the city of Medina, the Prophet refused to do so until his cousin and his beloved daughter reached him in Quba.

And, indeed, the Prophet entered Medina only after those closest to him in family ties as well as in spiritual affiliation had joined him from Mecca!

2. Father & Daughter

After Khadija’s death, the Prophet used to pay special attention to his daughter Fatima. Whenever he went on a journey, the last person to whom he would bade farewell was Fatima; and when he returned to Medina, the first person whom he would meet would be Fatima. Every day before going to bed, the Prophet would kiss the cheeks of his daughter and say a prayer for her.

When the verse “Do not call the Prophet like the way you call one another”(24:63) was revealed, even Fatima, like everyone else, started to address him as “O the Messenger of Allah” instead of saying “O Father!”

After hearing Fatima calling him in this very formal manner, the Prophet said, “O Fatima, this verse does not apply to you or your children...You should still call me ‘O Father’ because it brightens my heart and pleases Allah.”

3. Marriage to ‘Ali

Many proposals came for Fatima to the Prophet but he always rejected them saying that he was waiting for the divine commandment. Finally, ‘Ali bin Abi Talib approached the Prophet for Fatima’s hand in marriage.

The Prophet went inside the house and asked Fatima about ‘Ali’s proposal. Fatima just bowed her head in modesty. According to Umm Salama, the Prophet’s wife, “The face of Fatima bloomed with joy and her silence was so suggestive that the Prophet stood up saying ‘Allahu Akbar, Fatima’s silence is her acceptance.”

The Prophet asked ‘Ali about the mahr (dowry; marriage gift given by the groom to the bride). ‘Ali said he just had three things from the possessions of this world: a sword, a shield and a camel which he used for watering the farms.

The Prophet said that you need your sword for jihad and your camel for your livelihood, so go and sell the shield. ‘Ali sold the shield for about 500 dirhams and gave the money to the Prophet as mahr. The Prophet used a portion of the mahr to buy jahiz (the household necessities given to the bride by her family).

The jahiz of the Mistress of the Women consisted of the following: 1. a shirt, 2. a large veil, 3. a black plush cloak, 4. a bed, 5. two mattresses, one filled with wool and another with palm tree fiber, 6.

four cushions stuffed with good smelling leaves, 7. a curtain made of wool, 8. a mat, 9. a few jugs and bowls, 10. waterbag made of leather, and a few other simple items. This is how simple the marriage of ‘Ali and Fatima was! It should serve as a lesson for those who think that one must have “all” before making the decision of marriage!

4. Fatima’s Status in the Qur’an & the Sunnah

Our Lady Fatimatu ‘z-Zahra’ (a.s.) stands on the highest pedestal of spiritual ranks. She is an integral part of many verses in the Qur’an. The most important of those verses are the following:

1. The verse of purity: This is the verse in which Allah says:

“Verily Allah intends to keep off from you, O Ahlu ‘l-bayt, all kinds of abomination, and to purify you (spiritually) a thorough purification.” (33:33) In spite of all the differences among the Muslims about those on whom this verse can be applied, no one has ever disputed the fact that Fatimatu ‘z-Zahra’ is part of it.

She has been kept away from all abomination and impurities, thus rendering her an infallible and sinless person by the will of Allah, subhanahu wa ta’ala.

2. Fatimatu ‘z-Zahra, ‘Ali, Hasan, Husayn and, their servant, Fizza, fasted for three days. At sunset on the first day, a beggar came to the door; next day, an orphan came to the door; and on the third day, a captive came to the door all asking for food. On all three days ‘Ali gave away his food -which consisted of one loaf of bread only- and others also followed his example even though they had nothing left for themselves.

Allah was so much pleased with the selflessness and sincerity of Fatima and her family that He revealed Chapter 76 of the Qur’an highly praising them. “And they give away food, out of love for Him, to the poor, the orphan and the captive; saying ‘We feed you only for God’s sake, we do not expect from you any recompense nor gratitude!”’ (76:8-9) After describing their reward in the paradise, Allah says: “Verily, this is unto you a recompense, and your endeavour is appreciated.” (76:22)

This verse, in reality, is Allah’s good tiding that Fatima and her family will surely have an honourable place in Paradise.

3. In the ninth year of the hijrah when the Christian scholars and leaders from Yemen came to see the Prophet, they refused to agree with his logical arguments against Jesus being the “Son of God”. Then Allah ordered (3:54) the Prophet to challenge the Christians for malediction1 and to bring themselves, their women and their children as partners in this event.

The Prophet of Islam, on his side, took ‘Ali (as representing “yourselves”), Hasan and Husayn (as representing “your children”), and Fatimatu ‘z-Zahra’ (as representing “your women”).

Not that there were no other women in Medina; no, there were many: his wives, relatives and women of his companions. But he just selected Fatimatu ‘z-Zahra’ because she alone was sufficient to stand by the Messenger of Allah in praying against the Christians.

There are many sayings from the Prophet about Fatimatu ‘z- Zahra. For instance, he said, “The best women of Paradise are Khadija bint Khuwaylid, Fatima bint Muhammad, Maryam bint ‘Imran and Asiya bint Muzahim the wife of Fir’awn.”

(al-Hakim in Mustadrak ‘ala ‘s-Sahihayn.) ‘Aisha, the wife of the Prophet, narrates another hadith that once the Prophet welcomed Fatima and told her a secret which she disclosed only after the Prophet’s death.

In that statement, the Prophet said to Fatima: “...Do not you like to be the mistress of all the ladies of Paradise or the mistress of all the lady believers?” (al-Bukhari in his Sahih.) There a third very famous saying of the Prophet about Fatima which has also been

26 quoted by al-Bukhari in his Sahih: “Verily Fatima is a part of me; whosoever makes her angry, makes me angry.”

These remarks cannot be seen just in the context of “fatherdaughter” relationship; it throws light on the spiritual status of Fatima. After all, the Prophet “does not talk from his own accord; [whatever he says is] nothing except a revelation which is revealed to him.” (53:3-4)

5. After the Prophet

One of the darkest pages of Muslim history consists of the events which took place after the Prophet’s death. These events directly affected our Lady Fatimatu ‘z-Zahra (a.s.).

When Abu Bakr was installed as the caliph, members of the Prophet’s family and some companions refrained from pledging allegiance to him.

This small group sought refuge with ‘Ali inside his home. The supporter of the caliph, led by Umar ibn Khattab, forcefully entered the house of ‘Ali and brought the men out to the mosque where they were compelled to pledge allegiance to Abu Bakr.

In the process of forcing the door open, they broke the door which fell upon Fatimatu ‘z-Zahra, injuring her severely and causing the loss of her unborn baby.

Fadak was a property in northern Arabia which the Prophet had gifted to Fatimatu ‘z-Zahra. But after his death, the caliphate establishment confiscated the property of Fadak. When Fatima complained against this injustice, the caliph quoted an alleged saying of the Prophet that, “We the prophets do not leave anything as inheritance [for our children); whatever we leave behind is charity.”

Fatima challenged the validity of this so-called hadith by reciting verses from the Qur’an in which Allah describes how the children of past prophets inherited their fathers! However, political expediency took precedence over truth and honesty. This was the first attack on the rights of women in Islam, and Fatimatu ‘z-Zahra was the first Muslim woman to stand up for her rights.

Fatima also stood by ‘Ali in defending his right for the caliphate. ‘Ali used to take her at night to the houses of the Ansar where she would address the women in support for ‘Ali’s right to the caliphate.

The physical hurt of the door falling upon her and the loss of her unborn baby combined with the emotional pain of ‘Ali’s deprivation and the confiscation of Fadak took its toll on Fatimatu ‘z-Zahra - she left this world at the age of 18.

‘Ali, who had just lost the Prophet three months ago, also lost his faithful wife. These were the loneliest days for ‘Ali bin Abi Talib. Hasan, Husayn, Zaynab and Umm Kulthum lost their loving and caring mother. And the Muslim world lost the best of all women.

This lesson has been written by Sayyid M. Rizvi.

Sources used for this lesson are: 1. Bdnu-e Banuiuan of Dar Rah-e Haq. 2. Sahih al-Bukhari. 3. Fatimatu ‘z-Zahra’ of S. M. Kazim al-Qazwini.

Lesson 38: The First Imam (‘Ali bin Abi Talib)

1. Birth to Bi’that

Amiru 1-Mu’minin2 ‘Ali -upon whom be peace- was born in the holy Ka’bah. ‘Abbas bin ‘Abdu ‘1-Muttalib and others were sitting by the Ka’bah when they saw Fatima bint Asad come to the Ka’bah and prayed to God to make her pregnancy easy for her.

No sooner had she finished the prayer when the wall of the Ka’bah split by a solemn miracle and Fatima entered inside the Ka’bah and the split area of the wall returned to its normal position.

‘Abbas and others flocked to the door of the Ka’bah and tried to open it but in vain. They realized that this was an act of miraculous nature and so they left the door alone.

After three days, Fatima bint Asad emerged from the Ka’bah carrying the infant ‘Ali in her arms. This was ten years before the commencement of the prophetic mission (bi’that).

For the first six years, ‘Ali was raised by his father Abu Talib who also was guardian of the Prophet of Islam. When he was six years old, a famine occurred in and around Mecca. The Prophet and his other uncles decided to help Abu Talib by sharing the burden of raising the latter’s sons.

‘Ali was requested by the Prophet to leave his father’s house and come to the house of his cousin. There he was placed directly under the guardianship and custody of the Holy Prophet.

‘Ali describes the time of childhood he spent with the Prophet in the following words: “Certainly, you know my position of close kinship and special relationship with the Prophet of Allah-peace and blessings of Allah be upon him and his descendants.

When I was only a child he took charge of me. He used to press me to his chest and lay me beside him in his bed, bring his body close to mine and make me smell his smell. He used to chew [the food] and then feed me with it. He found no lie in my speaking, nor weakness in any act.

From the time of his weaning, Allah had put a mighty angel with him to take him along the path of high character and good behaviour through day and night, while I used to follow him like a young camel following in the footprints of its mother.”3

2. Bi’that to Hijrat

A few years later, when the Prophet was endowed with the Divine gift of prophecy and for the first time received the Divine revelation in the cave of Hira’, after Khadijah, ‘Ali was the first to declare his faith in the Prophet’s mission. In the same sermon quoted above, ‘Ali said, “Every year he used to go in seclusion to the hill of Hira’, where I saw him but no one else saw him.

In those days Islam did not exist in any house except that of the Prophet of Allah and Khadijah, while I was the third after these two. I used to see and watch the effulgence of divine revelation and message, and breathed the scent of prophethood.”

For the first three years of the mission, Prophet Muhammad had not been ordered to invite people to his message openly. When finally the order came, first the Prophet was asked to invite his relatives. In that gathering, the Prophet said that the first person to support his call would be his brother (akhi), inheritor (wasiyi) and vicegerent (khalifati).

The only person to rise from his place and accept the call was ‘Ali and the Prophet accepted his declaration of support and faith. Therefore ‘Ali was the first man in Islam to accept the faith and is the first among the followers of the Prophet to have never worshipped other than the One God.

‘Ali was always in the company of the Prophet until the Prophet migrated from Mecca to Medina. On the night of the migration to Medina (hijrah) when infidels had surrounded the house of the Prophet and were determined to invade the house at the end of the night and cut him to pieces while he was in bed, ‘Ali slept in place of the Prophet while the Prophet left the house and set out for Medina.

This sacrifice on the part of ‘Ali was so much appreciated by Allah that He revealed the following verse in his praise: “And there is one among the people who sells (i.e., sacrifice) his life to seek the pleasure of Allah;

and Allah is kind to people.” (2:207) When the infidels entered the house and found ‘Ali in the Prophet’s place, they asked “Where has Muhammad gone?” ‘Ali replied, “Who said that I was in charge to look after Muhammad?!” The Prophet had safely left the house and was on his way to Medina.

After the departure of the Prophet, according to the Prophet’s wish, ‘Ali gave back to the people the trusts and charges that they had left with the Prophet. Then he went to Medina with his mother, the daughter of the Prophet, and two other women.

3. Hijrat to the Prophet’s Death

In Medina also ‘Ali was constantly in the company of the prophet in private and in public. The Prophet gave Fatima, his beloved daughter from Khadijah, to ‘Ali as his wife in the 2nd year of the Hijrah.

When the Prophet was creating bonds of brotherhood among the Muslims of Medina and the Muslims who had migrated to Medina, he selected ‘Ali as his own brother. He said, “O ‘Ali, you are my brother in this world as well as the hereafter.”

‘Ali was present in all the wars in which the Prophet participated, except the battle of Tabuk when he was ordered to stay in Medina in place of the Prophet. He did not retreat in any battle nor did he turn his face away from any enemy. He never disobeyed the Prophet, so that the Prophet said, “‘Ali is never separated from the Truth nor the Truth from ‘Ali.”

The courage of ‘Ali was proverbial. In all the wars in which he participated during the lifetime of the Prophet, and also afterward, he never displayed fear or anxiety. Although in many battles such as those of Uhud, Hunayn, Khaybar and Khandaq the aides to the Prophet and the Muslim army trembled in fear or dispersed and fled, he never turned his back to the enemy.

Never did a warrior or soldier engage ‘Ali in battle and come out of it alive. Yet, with full chivalry he would never slay a weak enemy nor pursue those who fled. He would not engage in surprise attacks or in turning streams of water upon the enemy.

In the Battle of Khandaq, the Muslims had dug a ditch around their encampment. A very brave and famous Arab warrior, ‘Amr bin Ubayd, jumped over the ditch with his horse and challenged the Muslims for combat with him.

His courage and bravery was so well-known that no one among the Muslims dared to answer his challenge. The only person who readily agreed to face ‘Amr was ‘Ali bin Abi Talib. When ‘Ali was going to face ‘Amr, the Prophet said, “Today the total faith iman) is going to face the total disbelief (kufr).” ‘Ali defeated ‘Amr, and all other brave warriors of the enemy retreated.

In the Battle of Khaybar, the Muslim army attacked the fortresses of the Jews for many days but was not successful.

Finally the Prophet declared that, “Tomorrow I will give the flag (i.e., the command) to one who will be steadfast in his position and not retreat until Allah blesses him with victory. Allah and the Messenger are his friends and he is their friend.” ‘Ali, who had been in Medina because of eye ailment, joined the army on the next day and the Prophet gave the command to him.

‘Ali marched to the fort of Khaybar and first defeated the bravest of all Jewish soldiers, Marhab, and then conquered the fort. It has been definitively established historically that while moving to conquer the fort, ‘Ali reached the ring of the door and with sudden motion tore off the door and cast it away.

Also on the day when Mecca was conquered the Prophet ordered the idols to be broken. The idol “Hubal” was the largest idol in Mecca, a giant stone statue placed on the top of the Ka’bah. Following the command of the prophet, ‘Ali placed his feet on the Prophet’s shoulders, climbed to the top of the Ka’bah, pulled “Hubal from its place and cast it down.

While returning from the last pilgrimage, the Prophet openly and clearly introduced Imam ‘Ali at Ghadir Khumm to thousands of Muslims who had accompanied him to hajj and declared that: “Whosoever’s master am I, this ‘Ali is also his master.”

He repeatedly said, “I am leaving two things behind and as long as you hold fast to them, you will never go astray: the Book of Allah (the Qur’an) and my Ahlu ‘1-bayt (the Family).”

A few months after returning from hajj, the Prophet -peace and blessing of Allah be upon him- passed away from this world on 28th Safar, 11 A.H.

4. The Three Caliphs

On the day of the death of the Prophet, ‘Ali was thirty-three years old. Although he was foremost in religious virtues and the most outstanding among the companions of the Prophet, he was pushed aside from the caliphate on the claim that he was too young and that he had many enemies among the people because of the blood of the polytheists he had spilled in the wars fought alongside the Prophet.

Therefore ‘Ali was almost completely cut off from public affairs He retreated to his house where he began to train competent individuals in the Divine sciences. It should also be mentioned that he never let an opportunity pass by in which he expressed his opinion about his right to the caliphate.

On the other hand, his concern for the wellbeing of the Muslim ummah did not allow him to deprive the caliphs of his guidance whenever the opportunity arose.

For example, there are countless judicial cases which were solved by Imam ‘Ali during the caliphate of ‘Umar bin Khattab-many were cases in which ‘Umar said, “If it hadn’t been for ‘Ali, ‘Umar would have perished.”

In this way ‘Ali passed the twentyfour years of the caliphate of Abu Bakr (d. 13 A.H.), ‘Umar (d. 23 A.H.) and OJthman (d. 35) who came to power after the Prophet. When the third caliph was killed in a public revolt because of his unjust policies, people gave their allegiance to ‘Ali and he was chosen as caliph.

5. Caliphate to Death

During his caliphate of nearly four years and nine months (35 AH to 40 AH), ‘Ali followed the way of the Prophet and gave his caliphate the form of a spiritual movement and renewal and began many different types of reforms.

He forced the resignation of all the incompetent political elements who had a hand in directing affairs and began a major transformation of a “revolutionary” nature. Naturally, these reforms were against the interests of certain parties that had become used to the privileges during the previous caliphates and sought their own benefit.

As a result, a group of the companions (foremost among whom were Talhah and Zubayr, who also gained the support of ‘Aishah, and especially Mu’awiyah) made a pretext of the death of the third caliph to raise their heads in opposition and began to revolt and rebel against ‘Ali.

In order to quell the civil strife and sedition, ‘Ali fought a war near Basra against Talhah and Zubayr in which ‘Aishah, “the mother of the believers” was also involved. Actually this battle is known in history as the “Battle of the Camel after the camel on which ‘Aishah was riding.

Imam ‘Ali fought another war against Mu’awiyah bin Abi Sufyan on the border of Iraq and Syria which lasted for a year and a half and is famous as the “Battle of Sifiin.” He also fought against the Khawarij4 at Nahrawan, in a battle known as the “Battle of Nahrawan.”

Therefore, most of the days of ‘Ali’s caliphate were spent in overcoming internal opposition. And so it is a sign of ‘Ali’s excellence that in spite of such great problems during his short caliphate, he has left behind a vast and rich legacy in form of sayings, letters, circulars and decisions on the political system of Islam.

Finally, in the morning of the 19th of Ramadhan in the year 40 A.H., while praying in the mosque of Kufa, he was wounded by one of the Khawarij and died as a martyr during the night of the 21st.

6. The Personality of ‘Ali

According to the testimony of friend and foe alike, ‘Ali had no shortcomings from the point of view of human perfection. And in the Islamic virtues he was a perfect example of the upbringing and training given by the Prophet.

The discussion that has taken place concerning his personality and the books written on this subject by Shi’ites, Sunnis and members of other religious bodies, are hardly equaled in the case of any other personality in history. In science and knowledge, ‘Ali was the most learned of the companions of the Prophet, and of Muslims in general.

In his learned discourses he was the first in Islam to open the door for logical demonstration and proof and to discuss the “divine sciences” or metaphysics (ma’arif-i ilahiyah).

He spoke concerning the esoteric aspect of the Qur’an and devised Arabic grammar in order to preserve the Qur’an’s form of expression. He was the most eloquent Arab in speech. The Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) said, “I am the city of knowledge and ‘Ali is its gate.”

‘Ali was also without equal in religious asceticism and the worship of God. In answer to some who had complained of ‘Ali’s anger toward them, the Prophet said, “Do not reproach ‘Ali for he is in a state of Divine ecstasy and bewilderment.”

Abu Darda’, a companion of the Prophet, one day saw the body of ‘Ali in one of the palm plantations of Medina lying on the ground as stiff as wood. He went to ‘Ali’s house to inform his noble wife, the daughter of the Prophet, and to express his condolences. The daughter of the Prophet said, “My cousin (‘Ali) has not died. Rather, in fear of God he has fainted. This condition overcomes him often.”

There are many stories told of ‘Ali’s kindness to the lowly, compassion for the needy and the poor, and generosity and munificence towards those in misery and poverty. ‘Ali spent all that he earned to help the poor and the needy, and himself lived in the strictest and simple manner.

‘Ali loved agriculture and spent much of his time digging wells, planting trees and cultivating fields. But all the fields that he cultivated or wells that he built he gave in endowment (waqf) to the poor. His endowments, known as the “alms of ‘Ali,” had the noteworthy income of twenty-four thousand gold dinars towards the end of his life.

Mas’udi, the famous historian of third Islamic century, writes:

“If the glorious name of being the first Muslim, a comrade of the Prophet in exile, his faithful companion in the struggle for faith, his intimate associate in life, and his kinsman; “if a true knowledge of the spirit of his teachings and of the Book;

“if self-abnegation and practice of justice; “if honesty, purity, and love of truth; if a knowledge of law and science, “constitute a claim to pre-eminence, then all must regard ‘Ali as the foremost Muslim. We shall search in vain to find, either among his predecessors (save one) or among his successors, those attributes.”

7. ‘Ali’s Last Words

When Ibn Muljim, the Kharijite, wounded Imam ‘Ali bin Abi Talib (a.s.), the Imam gathered his family members and made a will to his sons Imam Hasan and Imam Husayn as a general advice for them and also for his followers. Some excerpts from that will is presented here:

I advise you (both) and all my children and members of my family and everyone whom my writing reaches, to fear Allah, to keep your affairs in order, and to maintain good relations among yourselves for I have heard your grandfather (the Prophet) saying, “Improvement of mutual differences is better than general prayers and fastings.”

Fear Allah and keep Allah in view in the matter of orphans. So do not allow them to starve and they should not be ruined in your presence.

Fear Allah and keep Allah in view in the matter of your neighbours, because they were the subject of the Prophet’s advice. He went on advising in their favour till we thought he would allow them a share in inheritance.

Fear Allah and keep Allah in view in the matter of the Qur’an. No one should excel you in acting upon it. Fear Allah and keep Allah in view in the matter of prayer, because it is the pillar of your religion.

Fear Allah and keep Allah in view in the matter of your Lord’s House (Ka’bah). Do not forsake it so long as you live, because if it is abandoned you will not be spared.

Fear Allah and keep Allah in view in the matter of jihad with the help of your property, lives and tongues in the way of Allah. You should maintain respect for kinship and spending for others.

Avoid turning away from one another and severing mutual relations.

Do not give up bidding for good and forbidding from evil lest the mischievous gain positions over you, and then if you will pray, the prayers will not be granted.5 This lesson has been compiled by Sayyid M. Rizvi by using the following sources.

1. Shi’a Islam’ of Allamah Sayyid Muhammad Husayn at-Tabataba’i.

2. A Brief History of the Fourteen Infallibles published by WOFIS, Tehran.

Lesson 39: The Second Imam (Hasan bin ‘Ali)

1. Birth & Early Life

Imam Hasan al-Mujtaba -upon whom be peace- was the second Imam. He and his brother Husayn were the two sons of Amir al-mu’minin ‘Ali and Lady Fatimah, the daughter of the Prophet.

He was born in the year 3 A.H. in Medina. The Prophet came to ‘Ali’s home, congratulated the new parents and named the child, on Allah’s order, as “Hasan”.

He shared in the life of the Prophet for over seven years, growing up during that time under his loving care. The Prophet used to carry him over his shoulder and say: “O Allah! I love him, so You also love him.” Many other sayings of the Prophet have been recorded by historians - both Shi’a and Sunni- about Hasan and Husayn:

• “Whoever loves Hasan and Husayn, he also loves me; whoever hates these two, he also hates me.”

• “Hasan and Husayn are the chiefs of the youths of Paradise.”

• “These two children of mine are Imams’(leaders) no matter whether they rise up (against a tyrant) or make peace.”

Hasan and Husayn, in spite of their young age, were blessed with such a high level of spiritual purity that the Prophet would ask them to witness some of the treaties and documents issued by him.

Waqidi narrates that when the Prophet wrote a treaty for the tribe of Thaqif, Khalid bin Sa’id wrote the treaty whereas Hasan and Husayn have been named as witnesses to that treaty. Similarly, when the Prophet did mubahala with the Christians of Najran, Hasan and Husayn were among those whom he asked to accompany him.

The verse of purity, as mentioned in earlier lessons, also included Hasan and Husayn.

Many times the Prophet had said, “Hasan and Husayn are my children.” Because of these same words ‘Ali would say to his other children, “You are my children, and Hasan and Husayn are the children of the Prophet.”

2. With ‘Ali Amiru ’1-Mu’minin

After the death of the Prophet which was no more than three, or according to some, six months earlier than the death of lady Fatimah, Hasan was placed directly under the care of his noble father.

He was part of all the struggles and trials that his father went through during the rule of the first three caliphs. For example, when Abu Dharr al-Ghifari, the famous companion of the Prophet, was to be sent into exile on orders of the third caliph, people had been forbidden from bidding him farewell.

The only persons who dared to come to the city’s gate to bid farewell were ‘Ali, Hasan and Husayn (may peace be upon them all). This was also a way of protesting against the unjust decision of the third caliph against Abu Dharr.

In 36 A.H., Imam Hasan accompanied his father to Basra, where the Battle of Jamal took place. Before reaching Basra, Hasan was deputized by his father to go to Kufa, with ‘Ammar bin Yasir, to raise additional forces for the Imam’s army. With his articulate and moving sermons, he exposed the falsehood of opponents at Basra, gathered a considerable number of people and joined his father in the Battle of Jamal.

In the Battle of Siffin also, Hasan was alongside his noble father till the very end. Mu’awiyah sent ‘Ubaydullah bin ‘Umar to try and incite Hasan by saying: “Stop supporting your father, and we will make you the caliph because the Quraysh do not like your father who is responsible for killing many of their elders but they are prepared to accept you as their leader.”

Imam Hasan replied: “The Quraysh wanted to destroy Islam, whereas my father killed their elders for Allah and for Islam. This is the basis of why they hate my father!”

When the outcome of the arbitration in Siffin became obvious, Imam Hasan made a speech and said: “These two persons were chosen so that they may put the Qur’an before their personal whims but they acted in the wrong manner; therefore, they do not deserve to be considered as arbiters...”

3. The Imamate of Hasan bin ‘Ali

After the death of his father, through Divine command and according to the will of his father, Hasan became Imam. At dawn on the night of ‘Ali’s death, Imam Hasan addressed the people in which he said: “...There has died tonight a man who was the first among the early (Muslims) in good actions.

Nor did any later (Muslim) attain his level in good actions. He used to fight alongside the Apostle of God, may Allah bless him and his family, and protect him with his own life.

The Apostle of God used to send him forward with his standard while Gabriel supported him on his right and Michael supported him on his left. He would not return until God brought victory through his hands...

“He has left behind him no gold and silver except seven hundred dirhams of his stipend, with which he was intending to buy a servant for his family.” Then tears overcame him and he wept and the people wept with him. Then he continued: “I am the (grand)son of the one who brought the good news. I am the (grand)son of the warner.

I am the (grand)son of the man who, with God’s permission, summoned the people to God. I am the (grand)son of the light which shone out to the world. I am of the House, from whom God has kept away abomination and whom God has purified thoroughly. I am of the House for whom God had required love in his Book...” Then he sat down.

‘Abdullah ibn al-’Abbas arose in front of him and said, “People, this is the son of your Prophet, the testamentary trustee (wasi) of your Imam. So pledge allegiance to him.” The people answered him saying: “No one is more loved by us nor has anyone more right to succession.”

Then they rushed forward to pledge allegiance to Imam Hasan as the successor of Amiru 1-mu’minin. He also occupied the outward function of caliphate for about six months, during which time he administered the affairs of the Muslims.

During that time Mu’awiyah, a bitter enemy of ‘Ali and his family, and had fought for years with the ambition of capturing the caliphate, first on the pretext of avenging the death of the third caliph and finally with an open claim to the caliphate, he sent spies into Iraq, the seat of Imam Hasan’s caliphate, to incite rebellion and opposition.

After the spies of Mu’awiyah were captured and punished, Imam Hasan wrote him “...It is surprising that after the Prophet’s death, the Quraysh fought for the caliphate and considered themselves as superior to other Arabs because they were from the tribe of the Prophet. The Arabs accepted their argument.

“But then the Quraysh [based on same line of thought] refused to accept our superiority and shunned us aside although we were more closely related to the Prophet than they. We adopted forbearance so that the enemies and hypocrites do not destroy Islam.

“And today we are amazed by your claim to the caliphate even though you do not deserve it in the least; neither you have any religious superiority nor any good record in the past. You are a product of the group that fought against the Prophet and the son of the worst enemy of the Prophet among the Quraysh...” The Imam ended the letter with an advice for Mu’awiyah to accept the decision of the Muslim community and pledge allegiance to him.

Mu’awiyah replied: “...You and my situation is similar to your family and Abu Bakr’s situation. Abu Bakr occupied the caliphate on the pretext of having more experience than your father.

Similarly, I find myself to be more experienced than you...” Mu’awiyah not only refused to recognize Imam Hasan, he also marched with his army into Iraq.

War ensued during which Mu’awiyah gradually subverted the generals and commanders of Imam Hasan’s army with large sums of money and deceiving promises until the army rebelled against Imam Hasan.

One should realize that not all the people in the Imam’s army were Shi’as; they belonged to various groups: the Khawarij came because they also opposed Mu’awiyah; the opportunists who came for material gain if Imam Hasan succeeded; those who just followed their tribal leaders and owed loyalty to them and not the Imam.

The Imam was, finally, forced to make peace and to yield the caliphate to Mu’awiyah provided:

1. The caliphate would again return to Imam Hasan after Mu’awiyah’s death.

2. The Imam’s household and partisans would be protected in every way.

3. The practice of cursing Imam ‘Ali (peace be upon him) in Friday prayers will be discontinued.

4. Imam Hasan would not address Mu’awiyah as “amiru ‘1- mu’minin - leader of the believers.”

5. Mu’awiyah will rule on the basis of the Qur’an and the sunnah.

6. Mu’awiyah would distribute one million dirhams from the revenue of Dara among the children who became orphans during the battles of Jamal and Siffin.

In this way Mu’awiyah captured the caliphate and entered Iraq. In a public speech he officially made null and void all the peace conditions, and in every way possible placed the severest pressure upon the members of the Ahlul Bayt of the Prophet and the Shi’as.

During all the ten years of his imamate, Imam Hasan lived in conditions of extreme hardship and under persecution, with no security even in his own house.

4. His Noble Character

In human perfection Imam Hasan was reminiscent of his father and a perfect example of his noble grandfather. In fact, as long as the Prophet was alive, he and his brother were always in the company of the Prophet who even sometimes would carry them on his shoulders.

Both Sunni and Shi’ite sources have transmitted this saying of the Holy Prophet concerning Hasan and Husayn: “These two children of mine are Imams whether they stand up or sit down” (allusion to whether they occupy the external function of caliphate or not). Also there are many traditions of the Holy Prophet and ‘Ali concerning the fact that Imam Hasan would gain the function of imamate after his noble father.

Imam Hasan was well-known for spiritual wayfaring; he had also gone for pilgrimage 25 times by walking all the way from Medina to Mecca.

The Imam was also known for his generosity. On hearing a man praying by the Ka’bah to Allah for relieving him of a 10,000 dirham debt, the Imam went home, returned with that money and gave it to that person. Three times in his life, the Imam divided his entire property and possessions and gave away onehalf in charity.

5. His Death

In the year 50 A.H. Imam Hasan bin ‘Ali (may peace be upon them) was poisoned and martyred by one of his own wives who, as has been accounted by historians, had been motivated by Mu’awiyah. The latter did not want the caliphate to return back to ‘Ali’s family; he wanted to remove all the obstacles from the way of his own son, Yazid to inherit the kingdom.

The Umayyids, against all the high principles of Islam and humanity, forcefully and violently barred the Banu Hashim from burying Imam Hasan next to his grandfather’s grave. He was finally buried in Jannatu 1- Baqi’.

Imam Hasan’s patience and forbearance is even acknowledged by his enemies. Marwan bin Hakam, Mu’awiyah’s governor in Medina who always persecuted the Imam, participated in the latter’s funeral.

Imam Husayn said, “While my brother was alive, you tried your best to oppose him and fight against him; and now you are showing up in his funeral!” Marwan said, “Whatever I did, I did to a person whose forbearance was stronger than this mountain” while pointing towards a mountain outside Medina.

This lesson has been compiled by Sayyid M. Rizvi by using the following sources.

1. Shi’a Islam’ of Allamah Sayyid Muhammad Husayn at-Tabataba’i.

2. A Brief History of the Fourteen Infallibles published by WOFIS, Tehran.

3. Pishway-e Dawwum: Hazrat Imam Hasan (a.s.) by Dar Rah-e Haq, Qum.

The main sources have been extensively edited in order to fit the requirements of our course. Also, for the sake of brevity, we have not included the references quoted by our sources. Those who are interested to know the sources, may refer to item # 1 and # 3 mentioned above.