Prophecy
of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم)
Following the process of
establishing this peace treaty through all the stages, one can marvel at the
accuracy of the prophecy of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه
وآله وسلم) about Hasan رضى الله عنه:
"This son of mine is a chief and Allâh the Almighty will bring about peace
between two groups of the Muslims through him." When Hasan رضى الله عنه descended from the pulpit, Mu'awiyah رضى الله عنه got up and said "Abu Muhammad! You
have shown such a boldness and bravery the like of which nobody has seen so
far."
This peace treaty was signed in 41
AH, only six months after the martyrdom of Ali رضى الله
عنه, that is why this year is named as 'Âm-ul-Jamâ'at.
After the finalization of peace,
Mu'awiyah رضى الله عنه left Kufah for
Damascus. He showed high regard for Hasan رضى الله عنه
while he remained alive and kept sending him the amount agreed upon. In the
wake of Mu'awiyah's departure from Kufah, the people indulged in complaining
against sending tribute to Hasan رضى الله عنه
from the Ahwâz province. Thereupon Hasan رضى الله عنه
assembled the people and said addressing them: "O the people of Iraq! I
have repeatedly forgiven you. You martyred my father, plundered my house, and
injured me with your lance. You keep in mind the two kinds of persons killed,
one killed in Siffin and another one killed demanding revenge for those killed
in Naharwân. What Mu'awiyah has done with you is not anything honorable for you
and this is quite justified. Thus, if you agree to die, I am ready to abrogate
the peace treaty and seek justice through the sword. But, in case you hold your
lives dear, I shall stick to this peace treaty."
Hearing this they pressed him to
keep the peace treaty. Since he was well aware of their ignorance and lack of
courage, he corrected the Kufis by simply administering a threat. Mu'awiyah رضى الله عنه had now risen as the unchallenged leader
and Caliph of Islam. Even Saad bin Abu Waqqâs رضى الله
عنه who had relieved himself of all the affairs of life and was
passing his days grazing his camels and goats and worshiping Allâh in a state
of seclusion, had also taken Bai'ah at the hand of Mu'awiyah رضى الله عنه. In short, none was there to hold himself
back from taking Bai'ah sooner or later. A few days after the peace treaty was
signed, Hasan رضى الله عنه left Kufah and
proceeded to Al-Madinah along with his relatives. The people of Kufah escorted
him for some distance. From Al-Madinah he went nowhere to settle.
Concocted
Story of Poisoning
He died in 50 or 51 AH. It is said
that his wife Ju'dah bint Al-Ash'ath poisoned him. However, Hasan رضى الله عنه and Husain رضى
الله عنه could not detect the culprit, so how can she be blamed for this
event? On the eve of his death, Hasan رضى الله عنه
called Husain رضى الله عنه and said, "The
caliphate reached Ali after the Prophet (صلى الله عليه
وآله وسلم) and swords were drawn but the issue remained unsettled. I have
now come to know it very well that Prophethood and caliphate cannot remain
combined in our family. I am afraid the ignorant of Kufah will try to take you
out of this city but you should foil their attempt. I had once requested Aishah
to allow me to be buried near the Prophet (صلى الله
عليه وآله وسلم). She had then agreed. Maybe, she will refuse permission now.
However, approach her for this purpose but without insistence." Following
this advice Husain رضى الله عنه contacted Aishah رضى الله عنها immediately after the demise of Hasan رضى الله عنه and sought permission for his brother's
burial and she gave her consent. But Marwân stood in the way. Husain رضى الله عنه and his comrades proceeded towards him
armed with their weapons but Abu Hurairah رضى الله عنه
intervened to save the situation. Hasan رضى الله عنه
was then laid to rest beside his mother, Fâtimah رضى
الله عنها. Nine sons and six daughters survived him.
A Glance
at Hasan's Caliphate
Some historians are reluctant to
accept the six-month caliphate of Hasan رضى الله عنه
as a part of the Rightly-Guided Caliphate on the plea of its being short-lived
and incomplete. However, this viewpoint appears to be untenable. Should this
argument be considered as acceptable, Ali's caliphate will also have to be
erased from the hierarchy of the Righteous Caliphs, which is not justified. The
shortness of his tenure is also not a valid reason. If the caliphate of Hasan رضى الله عنه is carefully taken into consideration, it
is an important part of the Rightly-Guided Caliphate. Even though the caliphate
of Hasan رضى الله عنه is devoid of
victories and cries of battles, it performed such a remarkable and magnificent
service to the world of Islam and its unity that a caliphate spreading over
scores of years and with a hundred victories could not have accomplished. In
respect of the marvelous role played by him in bringing unity to the two
warring groups of the Muslim Ummah, his caliphate is unforgettable.
He put an end to the enmity of a
decade in a stroke. He destroyed the conspiracies and mischief of the
hypocrites and Jews in the garb of Muslims developed through a decade and grown
strong and formidable. In this way he paved the way for future victories and
the swords of the Muslim Ummah turned once again towards the enemies of Islam.
He certainly surpassed the bravery of a great warrior with many victories when
taking Bai'ah at the hand of Mu'âwiyah رضى الله عنه,
he said: "Had the command and caliphate been his right, he has got it; if
it was mine, I bestowed it on him."
This remarkable event will serve to
the Last Day as a guiding light for the Muslim Ummah to keep to the right path.
This glittering example stands to this day as a lighthouse in the wild and
fathomless dark ocean. Hasan رضى الله عنه
had under his command forty thousand fighters. They might have been unsteady,
ignorant and impertinent, but all of them had taken the oath of fighting
against Mu'âwiyah رضى الله عنه to the last drop of
their blood. In such a situation it was a must for a young man of 37, an
experienced general and the son of a brave father to fight against his father's
rival. Hasan رضى الله عنه knew it well that he,
being the darling of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله
وسلم), would be able in a short period, to turn the tide of the
Companions and the world of Islam in his favor.
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