الرحلةThe Journey

الحسن بن علي

al-Hasan (RA)

al-Hasan ibn 'Ali

Also known as: Hasan, Sayyidina Hasan

3–c. 50 AH · 625–c. 670 CE

Companions

Grandson of the Prophet ﷺ, who gave up the caliphate to reunite the Muslims.

Al-Hasan was the elder son of 'Ali and Fatimah. The Prophet ﷺ loved him dearly, carried him on his shoulders and let him climb on his back during prayer. He said of al-Hasan and al-Husayn that they were the leaders of the youth of Paradise.

After 'Ali was killed in 40 AH, al-Hasan was chosen as caliph in Kufa. About six months later he handed rule to Mu'awiyah to end the bloodshed between Muslims, in what became known as the Year of Unity ('Am al-Jama'ah). This fulfilled the Prophet's words: 'This son of mine is a sayyid, and perhaps Allah will reconcile two great groups of Muslims through him.'

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Life journey

  1. 625 CE Madinah المدينة
  2. 656 CE Kufa الكوفة
    With his father during his caliphate.
  3. 661 CE Madinah المدينة
    Died c. 670 CE · c. 50 AH
    Returned to Madinah after giving up the caliphate. Buried in al-Baqi'.

Places in their life

al-Masjid al-Nabawi, the Prophet's Mosque, Madinah
al-Masjid al-Nabawi, the Prophet's Mosque, Madinah
Photo: TheHadiRahim, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Great Mosque of Kufa
The Great Mosque of Kufa
Photo: ن.عامری, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Sources

  • Sahih al-Bukhari (Book of Peacemaking, 'This son of mine is a sayyid')
  • Sunan al-Tirmidhi (Book of Virtues, 'leaders of the youth of Paradise')
  • Ibn Hajar al-'Asqalani, al-Isaba fi Tamyiz al-Sahaba
Draft, awaiting scholarly review.
Death reported as 49 or 50 AH.