When we look into the biographies of prominent Islamic figures throughout history, you look at accomplishments, traits and lineage.

For example Sheikh Al-Sadooq, the well-known author of Man La Yahtharhu al-Faqih, which is found in every Shia home and mosque. He was a man of great piety and a sincere lover of the Prophet and his progeny, peace be upon him. His was a student of his father Ali Ibn Babawayh, who was a prominent scholar from the time of the Ghaybat al-Sughra.

In this article we will be talking about a person whose lineage, traits and accomplishments cannot be neglected.
 

Birth and lineage

Born in Medina 15th Ramadan 3rd year of Hijri. The elder son of the Father of the Imams, Ali, and the Greatest woman Fatima, grandson of the greatest creature the Prophet of Islam. When he was born and the news of the birth of a grandson was conveyed to the Holy Prophet he came to the house of Fatima, took hold of the baby in his arms, said Adhan and Iqamah in his ears and said, this is a beautiful child, I name him Hasan.

He will keep Islam and Muslims safe from the hands of its destroyers. Historians note that this child looked like his grandfather the Holy Prophet in looks and in manners.

His Traits

Maybe the most eminent of Imam Hasan's (as) attributes is his generosity. He believed that money was only a means to clothe the naked, help the poor, pay the debts of the indebted, or satisfy the hungry. Once, he was asked: “We do not see you disappoint a beggar. Why?”

He replied:

“I am asking Allah for His favors, and I love to be near Him. I am ashamed, as I am myself in need of Allah, to repulse a beggar. Allah got me used to a habit; to shower me with His bounties, and I get Him used to me showering His bounties on the people. I fear that should I stop my habit, He may stop His habit.”

Following are examples of his unlimited generosity:

An Arab desert-dweller once asked for help. In response Imam said: “Give him what is in the safe.” In it there was ten thousand Dirhams.

“Sir,” the Bedouin said, “won't you allow me to reveal my need and praise you?”

Imam's reply was something like this:

“We are people whose bounties are flowing. In them hopes and wishes dwell. Our souls give out before we are asked in fear of the disgrace of the one who asks. Should the sea know how much we give who asks us, it will shrink, after its flooding, in shame.”

The grandson of the Holy Prophet (S) bought an orchard from the Ansars (the supporters of the Holy Prophet (S) in Madina), at the price of 400,000 Dirhams. Then he got word that they lost their wealth. He gave them the orchard back with no charge.

These are only a few insights into Imam Hasan's (as) generous acts. Such good deeds had the greatest effect in personifying his high Islamic ethics.

His Accomplishments

Imam Hasan succeeded his father Imam Ali. He exerted all his efforts for the religion and faith of his father to continue and be spread peacefully.

After Imam Ali's death, there was a military conflict between Ahl al-Bayt and Muawiya ibn Abu Sufyan (Battle of Siffin); and to avoid the agonies of a further civil war, Hasan signed the well-known peace treaty with Muawiyah, which included the following:

1. The blood of the Shias must remain respect worthy and their rights must not be confiscated and crushed.

2. Filthy language must not be used against Hazrat Ali (a.s.) and his Shias.

3. Muawiyah should practice upon the Book of God (The Quran) and the Sunnah of Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw).

4. The friends and companions of Imam Hassan (a.s.) must remain safe and secure from his mischief’s and brutalities wherever they live and no one has the right to resist them.

5. Imam Hassan (a.s.) does not call Muawiyah, Ameerul Momineen and will not take his name in the Khutbas (sermons).

6. Muawiyah must not hand over the caliphate to anybody after himself.

Now as we said earlier, today is the 7^th of Safar. It is the martyrdom anniversary of the Imam.

One of the agreements in the peace treaty was that would Mu'awiya does not appoint his Yazid as his successor upon his death and that Imam Hassan would be the next Caliph. Even though Muawiya agreed to this, his sense of betrayal just like all enemies of the Ahlulbayt kicked in. He planned to kill Imam Al-Hasan in order to pave the way for his son Yazid to be his successor.  

Mu'awiya sent one of his agents to contact Imam Al-Hasan's wife Joda who was the daughter of Al-Ash'ath. Joda was told to put poison in Al-Hasan's food, and in return Muawiya would give her a large sum of money and also make her wife of his son Yazid. She found the offer too attractive to ignore, and foolishly agreed to accept it.

A few days later, when the weather was extremely hot and the Imam Hassan was fasting, Joda poisoned put poison in the beloved Imam’s milk pot and presented to him for breaking the fast.

Imam Hassan drank a portion of the poisonous milk, here narrations say that his pure liver was being ripped apart by the strength of the poison. He then addressed her, “Oh the enemy of God and Prophet Muhammad (saw) you have killed me. God kill you. By God, you and Muawiya both will become abject, despised and helpless.” And the same happened as he had foretold, and predicted. Jodah bint Asash was turned out of Muawiyah’s court with humility and not very long had passed that she died. And Muawiyah too died of a terrible life taking pain.

Sensing that his death was imminent, the Imam designated his brother Al-Hussain to be the third Imam. Although Imam Al-Hasan knew he was poisoned, he did not reveal that to anyone but to his brother Al-Husain.  

One thing Al-Hasan had wished was to have his burial by the side of his grandfather, Prophet Muhammad. Imam Husain made all the arrangements to fulfill that wish but Mu'awiya's governor over Medina did not let that happen and used military force to stop it.

He was buried in the Cemetery of Baqee in Medina.

Now what can you do for Imam Hassan?

1.  Post something, even as simple as an image from the internet, on your social media pages so your friends can see. Even if just one of out your thousand friends clicks on a link that you shared, there are many blessings and good deeds for it.

2.  Attend majalis (mourning ceremonies) in the honor of Imam Hassan. I’m sure there are at least a few centers in your area holding majalis commemorating this sorrowful occasion. Be sure to take your family and friends.

3.  Organize or participate in events in your community to raise awareness for the Imam. Alhamdulilah, in these days we see many events for Imam Hussein in western countries and that’s amazing. But we shouldn’t forget the other 11 imams, and in today’s case, Imam Hassan.

4.  Protest and demand that the Baqee Cemetery is reconstructed so that we can visit the holy shrine of the Imam. Every year, people around the world protest for the reconstruction of Baqee on International Baqee Day, again this is important, but one day in a year is not enough, we should put more pressure and let the world know what needs to be done.

These is the legacy of Imam Hassan and the example he set for us.