Hasan of Basra (Radi Allahu Anhu)

[Saalik]

Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem

Hasan of Basra (May Allah Almighty be pleased with him)

Al-Hasan ibn Abi al-Hasan Yasar Abu Sa`id al-Basri (May Allah Almighty be pleased with him), al-Faqih, the great Imam of Basra, leader of the ascetics and scholars of his time. The son of a freed woman of Umm Salama (May Allah Almighty be pleased with her)- [the blessed wife of the Prophet Muhammad (Peace & Blessings of Allah Almighty is upon Him)] and a freed man of Zayd ibn Thabit's (May Allah Almighty be pleased with him)- (the step son of the Prophet Muhammad (Peace & Blessings of Allah Almighty is upon Him). Umm Salama (May Allah Almighty be pleased with her) nursed him. His mother took him as a child to `Umar (May Allah Almighty be pleased with him) who supplicated for him with the words: "O Allah (Almighty)! Make him wise in the Religion and beloved to people." As a man he became known for his strict and encompassing embodiment of the Sunna of the Prophet Muhammad (Peace & Blessings of Allah Almighty is upon Him), famous for his immense knowledge, austerity and asceticism, fearless remonstrances of the authorities, and power of attraction both in discourse and appearance. One of the early formal Sufis in both the general and the literal sense, he wore all his life a cloak of wool (suf).

Al-Hasan (May Allah Almighty be pleased with him) was considered by the Salaf to be one of the "Substitute-Saints" (al-Abdal). Anas (May Allah Almighty be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet Muhammad (Peace & Blessings of Allah Almighty is upon Him) said: "The earth will never lack forty men similar to the Friend of the Merciful [Ibrahim (Alayhis Salaam)], and through them people receive rain and are given help. None of them dies except Allah Almighty substitutes another in his place." Qatada (May Allah Almighty be pleased with him) said: "We do not doubt that al-Hasan (May Allah Almighty be pleased with him) is one of them." [Narrated by al-Tabarani (May Allah Almighty be pleased with him)in al-Awsat]

Al-Hasan ibn Abi ‘l Hasan al-Basri (May Allah Almighty be pleased with him) was born at Medina in 21 (642), the son of a slave captured in Maisan who afterwards became a client of the secretary of the Prophet Mohammad (Peace & Blessings of Allah Almighty is upon Him). His name was Zaid ibn Thabet. Brought up in Basra, he met many Companions of the Prophet Muhammad (Peace & Blessings of Allah Almighty is upon Him) including, it is said, seventy of those who fought at the Battle of Badr. He grew up to become one of the most prominent figures of his generation, being famous for his uncompromising piety and outspoken condemnation of worldliness in high places. Whilst the Mo’tazelite theologians claim him as the founder of their movement (and ‘Amr ibn ‘Obaid and Wasel ibn‘Ata’ (May Allah Almighty be pleased with them) are counted amongst his pupils), in Sufi hagiography he is revered as one of the greatest saints of early Islam. He died at Basra in 110 (728). Many of his speeches (he was a brilliant orator and sayings) are quoted by Arab authors and not a few of his letters have been preserved.

[Saalik]

Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem

The conversion of Hasan of Basra (May Allah Almighty be pleased with him)

The beginning of the conversation of Hasan of Basra (May Allah Almighty be pleased with him) was asfollows. He was a jewel merchant and was called Hasan (May Allah Almighty be pleased with him) of the Pearls. He traded with Byzantium, and had to do with the generals and ministers of Caesar. On one occasion, going to Byzantium he called on the prime minister and conversed with him a while. “We will go to a certain place,” the minister told him, “if you are agreeable.” “It is for you to say,” Hasan (May Allah Almighty be pleased with him) replied. “I agree.” So the minister commanded a horse to be brought for Hasan (May Allah Almighty be pleased with him). He mounted with the minister, and they set out. When they reached the desert Hasan (May Allah Almighty be pleased with him) perceived a tent of Byzantine brocade, fastened with ropes of silk and golden pegs, set firm in the ground. He stood to one side. Then a mighty army, all accoutred in the panoply of war, came out; they circled the tent, said a few words, and departed.

Philosophers and scholars to the number of four hundred arrived on the scene; they circled the tent, said a few words, and departed. After that three hundred illumined elders with white beards approached the tent, circled it, said a few words, and departed. Thereafter more than two hundred moon-fair maidens, each bearing a plate of gold and silver and precious stones, circled the tent, said a few words, and departed. Hasan (May Allah Almighty be pleased with him) relates that, astonished and filled with wonder, he asked himself what this might be.

“When we alighted,” he went on, “I asked the minister. He said that the Caesar had a son of unsurpassable beauty, perfect in all the branches of learning and unrivalled in the arena of manly prowess. His father loved him with all his heart.” Suddenly he fell ill-so Hasan (May Allah Almighty be pleased with him) related on the authority of the minister. All the skilled physicians proved powerless to cure him. Finally he died, and was buried in that tent.

[Saalik]

Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem

Once every year people come out to visit him. First an immense army circles the tent, and they say: “O prince, if this circumstance that has befallen thee had come about in war, we would have all sacrificed our lives for thee, to ransom thee back. But the circumstance that has befallen thee is at the hand of one against whom we cannot fight, whom we cannot challenge.” This they say, and then return. The philosophers and the scholars come forward, and say: “This circumstance has been brought about by one against whom we cannot do anything by means of learning and philosophy, science and sophistry. For all the philosophers of the world are powerless before him, and all the learned are ignorant beside his knowledge. Otherwise we would have contrived devices and spoken words which all in creation could not have withstood.” This they say, and then return.

Next the venerable elders advance, and say: “O Prince, if this circumstance that has befallen thee could have been set right by the intercession of elders, we would all have interceded with humble petitions, and would not have abandoned thee there. But this circumstance has been brought upon thee by one against whom no mortal man’s intercession profits anything.” This they say, and depart.

Now the moon-fair maidens with their plates of gold and precious stones advance, circle the tent, and say: “Son of Caesar, if this circumstance that has befallen thee could have been set right by wealth and beauty, we would have sacrificed ourselves and given great moneys, and would not have abandoned thee. But this circumstance has been brought upon thee by one on whom wealth and beauty have no effect.” These they say, and return.

Then Caesar himself with his chief minister enters the tent, and says: “O eye and lamp of thy father, O fruit of the heart of thy father, O dearest beloved of thy father, what is in thy father’s hand to perform? Thy father brought a mighty army, he brought philosophers and scholars, intercessors and advisers, beautiful maidens, wealth and all manner of luxuries; and he came himself. If all this could have been of avail, thy father would have done all that lay in his power. But this circumstance has been brought about by one before whom thy father, with all this apparatus, this army and retinue, this luxury and wealth and treasure, is powerless. Peace be upon you, till next year!” This he says, and returns.

These words of the minister so affected Hasan (May Allah Almighty be pleased with him) that he was beside himself. At once he made arrangements to return. Coming to Basra, he took an oath never to laugh again in this world, till his ultimate destiny became clear to him. He flung himself into all manners of devotions and austerities, such that no man in his time could exceed that discipline.


(To be continued.........Inshah Allah)