Blessed Birthday of Imam Hasan Mujtaba (AS)

Heartiest congratulations to you all on a very auspicious day of the blessed month of Ramadhan. Today is the 15th of the fasting month, the day on which the first grandson was born to Prophet Mohammad (SAWA). On the command of God Almighty, the grateful grandfather named the newborn Hasan, which in Arabic means the Most Excellent.

The 15th of Ramadhan, on which the Almighty’s Last and Greatest Messenger became a grandfather for the first time in the year 3 AH draws our attention to the vital issue of continuation of divine guidance for human societies – especially when past history and present events are a pathetic tale of how terrorists, mass murderers, and Godless elements have masqueraded as caliphs and forced Muslims to pay allegiance to their caliphate,

The Prophet of Peace was indeed happy on this day as his Immaculate Daughter, Hazrat Fatema Zahra (peace upon her), presented the radiant baby to him, while the proud father, his cousin and son-in-law, Imam Ali (AS), beamed with joy.

Was this happiness the mere doting of a middle aged man unable to control his natural emotions, or did the Seal of Messengers see in his newborn grandson inborn excellence that ordinary human beings cannot perceive?

The Prophet was not a king to tighten dynastic tentacles on temporal power, but neither was Abraham, yet God entrusted the mission for guidance of human societies after him to his two sons, Ishmael and Isaac, and ensured that prophet-hood continued in dynastic form among the latter’s offspring in answer to his prayer as mentioned in ayah 124 of Surah Baqara of the holy Qur’an:

“And when his Lord tested Abraham with certain words, and he fulfilled them, He said, ‘I am making you the Imam of mankind.’ Said he, ‘And from among my descendants?’ He said, ‘My pledge does not extend to the unjust’”

As is crystal clear, in Qur’anic terminology, the “Imam” is an infallibly just Leader of mankind, who is both the spiritual and temporal guide. He is designated by God, and not elected, selected, or nominated by fallible persons. Now we understand why the Heavenly Scripture speaks of Solomon inheriting David, and Yahya being the heir of Zacharias.

Prophet Mohammad (SAWA), regarding whom the opening ayahs of Surah Najm say that he neither errs nor speaks by himself but whatever he speaks is revelation revealed by God, did not mince words, either when on God Almighty’s express commandment he proclaimed Imam Ali (AS) his vicegerent at Ghadeer-Khom to a huge gathering of over a hundred thousand pilgrims, or when he told his companions about his two grandsons, Imam Hasan (AS) and Imam Husain (AS):

“These (grand)sons of mine are Imams (Leaders – Just, Infallible and Divinely-designated ), whether they rise or (decide to) sit.”

Sadly, no sooner did the Prophet leave the mortal world, the Mowla of Ghadeer was cast aside, as a group of neo Muslims seized the political power of the Islamic state in violation of the ayahs of the holy Qur’an, and style themselves caliph.

In response to the grossly unjust act of persons who had spent the greater part of their life in sin and idolatry, Hazrat Fatama Zahra (SA) told them in her famous sermon of Fadak:   

“Now hang firmly to this cheap dromedary of caliphate of yours and release it not. But beware! The hump of this camel is injured while there are blisters and holes in its feet. It carries the scars of ignominy and the sign of the wrath of Allah. Eternal shame is attached to it.”

After 25 years of patience and prudence, when the caliphate came begging on his doorstep, Imam Ali (AS), on the pleas of the leaderless masses, reluctantly took the reins of political power and in the next four-and-a-half years presented to the world the model government of social justice, although he regarded the caliphate as more unworthy than the sneezing of a goat.

On his martyrdom in 40 AH, in this same blessed month of Ramadhan in the state of the ritual prayers, it was left to his elder son and the Prophet’s 2nd Infallible Heir, Imam Hasan Mujtaba (AS), the next Imam of mankind – a position that no usurper could snatch from him – to further expose the ignominious nature of the caliphate in order to unmask hypocrisy, after repeated admonitions such as the following statement that had no effect, either on the rebel, Mu’awiyah ibn Abu Sufyan, or those duped by him through threats and bribes.

“O Mu’awiya! Desist from falsehood and further revolt and pay allegiance to me like the masses have done, as you are well aware that I am entitled to caliphate much more than you in the eyes of Almighty God, his angels and those having a rational mind. So, you should fear God and abandon revolt. Do not shed the blood of Muslims.”

Prophet Mohammad (SAWA), who had foretold the tragedy of Karbala and how his younger grandson Imam Husain (AS), would rise against an openly Godless tyrant in order to save Islam by giving his lifeblood, had also said that his elder grandson, Imam Hasan (AS), would unmask the hypocrisy of an ungodly charlatan, by giving away political rule of a vast realm, in order to save the Ummah from unwarranted bloodshed and discord.

The Treaty of Imam Hasan (AS) that Mu’awiya blatantly violated was thus a masterstroke of peace to save the Muslim World at a time when Byzantine or the Eastern Roman Empire was looking for an opportunity to seize Bayt al-Moqaddas and Palestine, in case of civil war among Muslims.

This proved that only divinely-decreed Imamate can save Islam and Muslims and not the scandalous institution of caliphate.

AS/SS