He asked about the third person, and it was said to him that he was al-Hasan bin Ali.[1]
Some of al-Hasan’s Sermons
Imam al-Hasan (a.s) was an eloquent orator. He was the most skillful and capable of orators in improvising and creating speeches. We will mention to noble readers some of his sermons.
He (a.s) has said: “We are the successful party of Allah, and the closest family of the messenger of Allah (to Allah), and his pure, good household. We are one of the two weighty things (Thaqalayn) that Allah’s Apostle (a.s) has left behind him. The second is Allah’s Book, in which there are details about all things, falsehood shall not come to it from before it nor from behind it[2] , and depended on. We do not make mistakes in interpreting it; rather we are sure of the facts in it. Therefore obey us, for the obedience to us is obligatory if it is coupled with the obedience to Allah, the Apostle, and those in authority. Then if you quarrel about anything, refer it to Allah and the Apostle.[3] If they referred it to the Apostle and those in authority from among them, then those who conclude it from among them would know it. I warn you against listening to Satan’s call, for he is your clear enemy, lest you should be like his friends to whom he has said: No one can overcome you this day, and surely I am your protector. But when the two parties came in sight of each other, he turned upon his heels, and said: Surely I am clear of you, surely I see what you do not see.[4] Therefore, you throw strength before the spears, slaughtering before the swords, errors before intention, and a target before the arrows. Then its faith shall not profit a soul which did not believe before, or earn good through its faith.[5] And Allah is more knowledgeable.”
One day Imam Ali fell ill, and he ordered Imam al-Hasan to lead the people in the Friday Prayer. He (a.s) went up on the pulpit, praised and lauded Allah, and then said: “Allah did not send a prophet unless he chose for him a self (associate), a group, and a household. By Him who sent Muhammad with the Truth, when someone decreases something of our right, Allah decreases his lifetime equal to that. When the time turns against us, the end will be to us.And most certainly you will come to know about it after a time.[6] ”[7]
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[1] Ibn al-Sabbagh, al-Fusool al-Muhimma, p. 160.
[2] Qur’an, 41, 42.
[3] Qur’an, 4, 59.
[4] Ibid., 8, 48.
[5] Ibid., 6, 158.
[6] Qur’an, 38, 88.
[7] Al-Mas‘udi, Muruj al-Thahab, vol. 2, p. 306.