Imam Hasan Mujtaba’s (PBUH) tragic martyrdom

Heartfelt condolences on the day of double grief, which also happens to be the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Hasan Mujtaba (PBUH), the elder grandson of Prophet Mohammad (Blessings of God upon him and his progeny), on the 39th anniversary of his grandfather’s departure from the mortal world.

The following is a special article on the blessed firstborn son of the peerless couple, the Noblest Lady of all times Hazrat Fatema Zahra and the Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali (Peace be upon them).

 “The likeness of my Ahl al-Bayt is that of the Ark of Noah; whoever boards it is salvaged, and whoever does not, is drowned”.

This famous saying of the Prophet recorded by both Sunni and Shi’a Muslims, is an explanation of several ayahs of the holy Qur’an, where God Almighty commands Muslims to adhere to the path of the blessed progeny of the Messenger of Mercy – rather than going astray by following as leaders persons not Divinely-Designated.

Today, the 28^th of Safar affords us the opportunity to focus on Imam Hasan Mujtaba (AS), who upheld the torch of guidance for the faithful in the face of the deception, hypocrisy, and tyranny.

Imam Hasan (AS) needs no introduction. All Muslims, whatever school of jurisprudence they follow, unanimously hail him and his younger brother, Imam Husain (AS) – the Martyr of Karbala – as “Leaders of the Youth of Paradise”, in accordance with the famous hadith in this regard of the Prophet, who also said: “Hasan and Husain are Imams (Divinely-Designated Leaders), whether they sit (make peace) or rise (with the sword against deviation).”

As a matter of fact, Imam Hasan (AS) in a sermon to the people of Iraq, when lack of faith made them waver between worldly caliphate and Godly Imamate, introduced himself as follows:

“O people! Those who recognize me know me; as for those who do not, know, I am Hasan the son of Ali (AS). I am the (grand)son of the Messenger of Allah. I am the son of the (Prophet’s) Testamentary Legatee (Wasi). I am the (grand)son of the Bearer of Good Tidings (Bashir) and the Warner (Nazir). I am the (grand)son of the Caller towards Allah by His permission. I am the (grand)son of the Bright Lamp (Sirajan Munir). I am from the house where (Archangel) Gabriel used to descend… I am from the Ahl al-Bayt from whom Allah has kept away all uncleanness and preserved them totally pure. I am from the Household whose love Allah has made an obligation on every Muslim, as He, the Glorious and the Most High, revealed (in ayah 23 of Surah Shura) to His Prophet: “Say (O’ Prophet to mankind), I do not ask of you any reward for it (for enlightening humanity with Islam) but love for my near relatives…”

Seven years at the time of the Prophet’s departure from the mortal world, the young Imam Hasan (AS) was plunged into further grief when three months later his Impeccable Mother, Hazrat Fatema Zahra (SA), was martyred as a result of the flinging upon her of the burning door of her house by some roguish companions of her father, demanding allegiance of her husband, Imam Ali (AS) – the Prophet’s Vicegerent – to the coup leaders of Medina.

He grew up into a picture of piety, patience, and prudence, while standing steadfastly beside his father during those twenty-five years of the usurpation of the political leadership of the Islamic state. During the next almost five years, he displayed both his political acumen and swordsmanship on the battlefields, when those who had clearly deviated from Islam, imposed three wars upon his father – Jamal, Siffeen, and Nahrwan.

In 40 AH, following martyrdom of Imam Ali (AS) on being struck by the poisoned sword of a Kharejite (renegade from Islam) while engrossed in the Morning Prayer in the Mosque of Kufa, Imam Hasan (AS) became the Caliph of Muslims, but found himself by that vile and wicked sworn enemy of Islam, Mu’awiya ibn Abu Sufyan.

Imam Hasan (AS) resolved to expose this charlatan in his true heathen colours and wrote the following letter to him:

“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.”

The Omayyad rebel instead of obeying the Imam, bribed and bought some treacherous leaders of tribes in Iraq to plot against the life of Imam Hasan (AS).

Thus, in order to unmask hypocrisy, at a time when the Byzantine Emperor was fully prepared to attack Palestine and occupy Bayt al-Moqaddas, in case of internal war among Muslims, Imam Hasan (AS) after repeated admonitions that had no effect, either on the rebel Mu’awiya or those duped by him, decided to enter into a treaty with specified conditions, which Mu’awiya blatantly violated.

1. Authority will be handed to Mu’awiya provided that he should act according to the Book of Allah, and the Sunnah of the Prophet.
2. In case of the death of Mu’awiya, the caliphate should return to Imam Hasan (AS), and if an accident occurs, it should be handed over the Prophet’s younger grandson, Imam Husain (AS).
3. Mu’awiya has no right to entrust the caliphate to anyone else.
4.  Mua’wiya should stop the blasphemous practice of reviling the memory of the Commander of the Faithful, Imam Ali (AS). He should not mention the name of Imam Ali (AS), unless in a good and respectable manner.
5.  The revenues of Darabgerd in Fars Province of Iran should be given to the families of the Martyrs of the Battles of Jamal, Siffeen, and Nahrwan.
6. The people should be safe wherever they are in the Islamic realm.
7. Mu’awiya should give security to all, especially to the companions of Imam Ali (AS).
8. Mu’awiya should not hatch plots, either openly or secretly against the Imam Hasan and Imam Husain, nor for any of the Prophet’s Ahl al-Bayt.

Prophet Muhammad (blessings of God upon him and his progeny), 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.

In 41 AH, Imam Hasan (AS) retired to Medina, but nine year later, Mu’awiya had him fatally poisoned to death. Before leaving the mortal world, he embraced his younger brother, Imam Hussein (AS), and said: 

“It is my destiny that I have been poisoned with trickery that would kill me. However, no day is like your day O Aba Abdillah! On that day thirty thousand hordes from those who claim to be Muslims and part of the ummah of our grandfather will get together to spill your blood and kill you… (They will) take your ladies and children as prisoners and plunder your possessions.

It was Divine Providence that on the 39th anniversary of the Prophet’s passing away, his elder grandson left the world, a martyr,

When arrows riddled the coffin and corpse of the Prophet’s elder grandson in Medina, it became clear to Muslims that the holy Qur’an and the Ahl al-Bayt are indeed inseparable, while it is their enemies who are against the letter and spirit of the Book of God, which they shamelessly hoist on spear points and distort its contents even while claiming to be its reciters and memorizers – just as the Israelites have done with the Torah and the Evangel.

AS/ME