These (grand)sons of mine are Imams (Leaders), whether they rise or (decide to) sit.” –Prophet Muhammad (SAWA).
The above is one of the famous statements of the “Messenger of Mercy” regarding Imam Hasan (AS) and Imam Husain (AS), who as per the commandment of God in the holy Qur’an (3:61) had accompanied him, along with their parents, Imam Ali (AS) and Hazrat Fatema Zahra (SA) – and no one else from among the Muslims besides – for the memorable Mubahela with the Christians of Najran to make Islam triumphant in that dynamic debate.
Not for no reason did the “Seal of Prophets” hail his two grandsons as the “Leaders of the Youths of Paradise”, because leaders ought to have exceptional qualities, and as is clear till this day, none from amongst the Muslim Ummah have ever matched the virtues of Imam Hasan (AS) and Imam Husain (AS), who along with their parents and grandfather, were granted the aura of spotless purity by God Almighty Himself. (33:33).
The Prophet, who had foretold the heartrending tragedy of Karbala and how his younger grandson, Imam Husain (AS), would rise against an openly Godless tyrant in order to save Islam from extinction by giving his lifeblood, had also said that his elder grandson, Imam Hasan (AS), would unmask the hypocrisy of an ungodly charlatan masquerading as a Muslim, by giving away political rule of a vast realm, in order to save the Ummah from unwarranted bloodshed and discord.
Today the 15th of Ramadhan, the birth anniversary of Imam Hasan (AS), makes us recall his “Great Sacrifice” in relinquishing the reins of the caliphate for the acquisition of which his archenemy Mu’awiyah Ibn Abu Sufyan had resorted to every lie and deceit, including shedding of Muslim blood and spreading of sins in society.
Imam Hasan (AS), whose spiritual authority was God-given and far above any election, selection, nomination and defection of masses, thus showed the worthlessness of a dubious institution that had its beginnings in the scandalous gathering of Saqifa Bani Sa’da in Medina where his father’s divine-right of political leadership was usurped, and for which in the coming generations every vicious power-hungry ruler would stake claim, plunging Muslims into unwanted wars, bloodshed, and misery.
This master stroke of peace by Imam Hasan (AS) not only saved Islam and its ethereal teachings from any defilement, but ensured till the end world the prime position of the Prophet’s Ahl al-Bayt as the barometers of faith.
“O people! Surely the pious is the cleverest of the clever, and the sinful is the most foolish of the foolish. By Allah, if you search for a man whose grandfather is Allah’s Messenger, may Allah bless him and his family, between the east and the west, you would not find him other than me and other than my brother Husain. You have come to know that Allah has guided you through my grandfather (Prophet) Muhammad, may Allah bless him and his family. So He has saved you from misguidance through him, raised you from ignorance through him, strengthened you after the abasement through him… Mu’awiya has disputed with me about a right that belongs to me, with the exclusion of him. So I have considered that which sets right the community and puts an end to the discord. You had pledged allegiance to me provided that you should make peace with whom I make peace with and fight him whom I fight. So I think I have to make peace with Mu’awiya and to put an end to the war between him and me… I think that sparing blood is better than shedding it. Through that I do not want anything except setting you right and your survival. I know that that may be a trial for you and a provision for a time.”
This is how Imam Hasan (AS) addressed the Kufans in a speech that has been preserved till this day as a testament of his right and truthful nature, while exposing at the same time the falsehood of Mu’awiya and all those imposters who styled themselves as caliphs in history.
No doubt, Islam will forever remain indebted to the Infallible Progeny of Prophet Muhammad (SAWA), whom God describes as “Rasekhouna fi Ilm” (Repositories of Divine Knowledge), whose mission was to safeguard Islam and all humanitarian values, as per needs of the times, whether through foregoing their rights, or foregoing their life as well – as Imam Husain (AS) did at Karbala.
Thus, once when Mu’awiya after becoming ruler and violating all terms and clauses of the Treaty that he had signed with Imam Hasan (AS), tried to boast of his superiority, the Prophet’s grandson put him in place with the famous statement:
“O son of the woman who chewed the (Hamza’s) liver! Those who have unanimously agreed on you are two men. They are either obedient or forced. The one who is obedient to you is disobedient to Allah, and the one who is forced is excused according to Allah’s Book. Allah forbids that I say that I am better than you, for you have no good. Surely Allah has cleared me from vices as He has cleared you from virtues.”
Courtesy -- Kayhan International, Iran's English Language Daily
source : irib
