The Eulogy of al-Hasan after the Death of his Father
- Anonymous
- Jun 9
- 15 min read
Updated: Jul 15
This article was inspired by Bilal Muhammad’s article regarding the Night of Power and the ascension of Isa (AS), which can be read here.
One of the most important ways of establishing the creed of the Imammiyah is by referring back to the righteous predecessors, as this demonstrates that these beliefs have a basis within Islam and are not innovated. Our righteous predecessors include the Holy Prophet ﷺ and the Imams, as well as his righteous companions.
One of the most important examples of early Imami creed comes from Imam al-Mujtaba al-Hasan b. ‘Ali (AS), who in the aftermath of his father's martyrdom delivered a powerful eulogy wherein he praised his father and highlighted his status within Islam.
We will go over some of the sources for the sermon, in order to highlight Imam al-Hasan’s belief regarding his father and then we shall leave the reader to decide which sect of Muslims truly follows him.
The Traditions of the Tabi’in |
Traditions of the Ahl al-Bayt
Abu Ja'far al-Baqir (AS) is reported to have narrated this sermon in al-Kafi, Vol 2, pg. 486 - 487, Hadith # 1240:
محمد بن يحيى عن أحمد بن محمد وعلي بن محمد عن سهل بن زياد جميعاً عن ابن محبوب عن أبي حمزة عن أبي جعفر قال:
لما قبض أمير المؤمنين قام الحسن بن علي في مسجد الكوفة فحمد الله وأثنى عليه وصلى على النبي ثم قال:
أيها الناس إنه قد قبض في هذه الليلة رجل ما سبقه الأولون ولا يدركه الآخرون، إنه كان لصاحب راية رسول الله، عن يمينه جبرئيل وعن يساره ميكائيل، لا ينثني حتى يفتح الله له
والله ما ترك بيضاء ولا حمراء إلا سبعمائة درهم فضلت عن عطائه، أراد أن يشتري بها خادماً لأهله . والله لقد قبض في الليلة التي فيها قبض وصي موسى يوشع بن نون والليلة التي عرج فيها بعيسى بن مريم، والليلة التي نزل فيها القرآن.
Muhammad b. Yahya from Ahmad b. Muhammad and Ali b. Muhammad from Sahl b. Ziyad all from Ibn Mahbub from Abu Hamzah from Abu Ja‘far who said:
When the Commander of the Faithful passed away, al-Hasan b. Ali stood in the mosque of Kufa. He praised God, extolled Him, and sent blessings upon the Prophet, then said:
O people, tonight a man has passed away the like of whom none among the former ones have preceded and none among the later ones will reach. He was the bearer of the banner of the Messenger of God, with Gabriel on his right and Michael on his left. He would not retreat until God granted him victory.
By God, he left neither silver nor gold except for seven hundred dirhams that remained from his stipend, which he intended to use to buy a servant for his family. By God, he passed away on the same night that the successor of Moses, Joshua b. Nun, died, and the same night that Jesus b. Mary was raised up, and the same night on which the Quran was revealed.
Allama al-Majlisi certified this tradition as Sahih in Mir'at al-’Uqul Vol. 5, pg. 310 and further comments:
« ما سبقه » أي في الفضل والعلم والكمالات، والأولون الأنبياء السابقون وأوصياؤهم ، والآخرون من يأتي بعده من الأوصياء وغيرهم لأنه عليهالسلام كان أفضل منهم فهم لا يدركونه في الفضل وفي رواية أخرى في مجالس الصدوق : والله لا يسبق أبى أحد كان قبله من الأوصياء إلى الجنة ولا من يكون بعده.
«أنزل فيها القرآن» أي إلى البيت المعمور ويدل على كون الحادية والعشرين ليلة القدر لقوله تعالى : « إِنَّا أَنْزَلْناهُ فِي لَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ » وسيأتي تحقيقه في كتاب الصوم إنشاء الله تعالى
No one preceded him” means in virtue, knowledge, and perfections. The “first ones” are the earlier prophets and their successors, and the “later ones” are those who come after him among successors and others, because he (AS) was superior to them, and thus they could not match him in excellence. In another narration in Amali al-Saduq, it states: “By Allah, no one before my father among the successors will precede him to Paradise, nor will anyone after him.”
“The Qur’an was revealed in it” refers to its descent to the “Bayt al-Ma’mur” (the Frequented House in the heavens), and this supports that the 21st night of Ramadan is Laylat al-Qadr (the Night of Decree), as indicated by Allah’s saying: {Indeed, We sent it down on the Night of Decree.} Further elaboration will be provided in the Book of Fasting, God willing.
The tradition of ‘Ali b. al-Husayn (AS) is recorded in al-Hakim's al-Mustadrak ‘ala al-Sahihain Vol 3, pg. 188 - 189, Hadith # 4802.
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مُحَمَّدٍ الْحَسَنُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ يَحْيَى ابْنِ أَخِي طَاهِرٍ الْعَقِيقِيُّ الْحَسَنِيُّ ثنا إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِسْحَاقَ بْنِ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ حَدَّثَنِي عَمِّي عَلِيُّ بْنُ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ حَدَّثَنِي الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ زَيْدٍ عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ عَلِيٍّعَنْ أَبِيهِ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ قَالَ:
خَطَبَ الْحَسَنُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ النَّاسَ حِينَ قُتِلَ عَلِيٌّ فَحَمِدَ اللَّهَ وَأَثْنَى عَلَيْهِ، ثُمَّ قَالَ: «لَقَدْ قُبِضَ فِي هَذِهِ اللَّيْلَةَ رَجُلٌ لَا يَسْبِقُهُ الْأَوَّلُونَ بِعَمَلٍ وَلَا يُدْرِكُهُ الْآخِرُونَ، وَقَدْ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يُعْطِيهِ رَايَتَهُ فَيُقَاتِلُ وَجِبْرِيلُ عَنْ يَمِينِهِ وَمِيكَائِيلُ عَنْ يَسَارِهِ، فَمَا يَرْجِعُ حَتَّى يَفْتَحَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ، وَمَا تَرَكَ عَلَى أَهْلِ الْأَرْضِ صَفْرَاءَ وَلَا بَيْضَاءَ إِلَّا سَبْعَ مِائَةِ دِرْهَمٍ فَضَلَتْ مِنْ عَطَايَاهُ أَرَادَ أَنْ يَبْتَاعَ بِهَا خَادِمًا لِأَهْلِهِ» ،
ثُمَّ قَالَ: " أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ مَنْ عَرَفَنِي فَقَدْ عَرَفَنِي وَمَنْ لَمْ يَعْرِفْنِي فَأَنَا الْحَسَنُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ، وَأَنَا ابْنُ النَّبِيِّ، وَأَنَا ابْنُ الْوَصِيِّ، وَأَنَا ابْنُ الْبَشِيرِ، وَأَنَا ابْنُ النَّذِيرِ، وَأَنَا ابْنُ الدَّاعِي إِلَى اللَّهِ بِإِذْنِهِ، وَأَنَا ابْنُ السِّرَاجِ الْمُنِيرِ، وَأَنَا مِنْ أَهْلِ الْبَيْتِ الَّذِي كَانَ جِبْرِيلُ يَنْزِلُ إِلَيْنَا وَيَصْعَدُ مِنْ عِنْدِنَا، وَأَنَا مِنْ أَهْلِ الْبَيْتِ الَّذِي أَذْهَبَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمُ الرِّجْسَ وَطَهَّرَهُمْ تَطْهِيرًا، وَأَنَا مِنْ أَهْلِ الْبَيْتِ الَّذِي افْتَرَضَ اللَّهُ مَوَدَّتَهُمْ عَلَى كُلِّ مُسْلِمٍ فَقَالَ تبارك وتعالى لِنَبِيِّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم: {قُلْ لَا أَسْأَلُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ أَجْرًا إِلَّا الْمَوَدَّةَ فِي الْقُرْبَى وَمَنْ يَقْتَرِفْ حَسَنَةً نَزِدْ لَهُ فِيهَا حُسْنًا} [الشورى: 23] فَاقْتِرَافُ الْحَسَنَةِ مَوَدَّتُنَا أَهْلَ الْبَيْتِ "
Abu Muhammad al-Hasan b. Muhammad b. Yahya ibn Akhi Tahir al-‘Aqiqi al-Hasani narrated to us, saying: Isma‘il b. Muhammad b. Ishaq b. Ja‘far b. Muhammad b. Ali b. al-Husayn narrated to us, saying: My uncle Ali b. Ja‘far b. Muhammad narrated to me, from al-Husayn b. Zayd, from ‘Umar b. Ali, from his father Ali b. al-Husayn, who said:
Al-Hasan b. Ali addressed the people when Ali was killed. He praised and glorified Allah, then said: “Indeed, a man has died tonight whose deeds were not surpassed by the first [generations], and whom the later [generations] cannot match. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) used to give him the banner, and he would fight with Gabriel on his right and Michael on his left, and he would not return until Allah granted him victory. He did not leave behind a single piece of gold or silver, except seven hundred dirhams left over from his stipend, which he intended to use to buy a servant for his family.”
Then he said: “O people, whoever knows me has known me, and whoever does not know me, then I am al-Hasan b. Ali. I am the son of the Prophet. I am the son of the trustee. I am the son of the bearer of glad tidings. I am the son of the warner. I am the son of the one who calls to Allah by His permission. I am the son of the illuminating lamp. I am from the household in which Gabriel would descend to and ascend from. I am from the household from whom Allah removed impurity and purified thoroughly. I am from the household whose love Allah has made obligatory upon every Muslim, as He said to His Prophet (peace be upon him): {Say, I do not ask you for any reward for it except love for my near relatives. And whoever commits a good deed — We will increase him in goodness} [ash-Shura: 23]. And committing a good deed is loving us, the Ahl al-Bayt.”
The tradition of Ja’far b. Muhammad al-Sadiq (AS) is found in Musnad Abi Ya'la, Vol. 12, pg. 124 - 125, Hadith # 6757:
حَدَّثَنَا السَّامِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا سُكَيْنُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الْعَزِيزِ، حَدَّثَنَا جَعْفَرٌ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ جَدِّهِ قَالَ:
لمَّا قُتِلَ عَلِيٌّ قَامَ حُسْنُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ خَطِيبًا، فَحَمِدَ اللَّهَ وَأَثْنَى عَلَيْهِ، ثُمَّ قَالَ: «أَمَّا بَعْدُ، وَاللَّهِ لَقَدْ قَتَلْتُمُ اللَّيْلَةَ رَجُلًا فِي لَيْلَةٍ نَزَلَ فِيهَا الْقُرْآنُ، وَفِيهَا رُفِعَ عِيسَى ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ، وَفِيهَا قُتِلَ يُوشَعُ بْنُ نُونٍ فَتَى مُوسَى عليه السلام» ،
Al-Sami narrated to us, Sukayn b. Abd al-Aziz narrated to us, Ja'far narrated from his father, from his grandfather who said:
When ‘Ali was killed, Hasan b. ‘Ali stood up to speak, praised Allah and glorified Him, then said: "As for what follows: By Allah, you have killed tonight a man on a night in which the Qur’an was revealed, on which Jesus son of Mary was raised, and on which Joshua b. Nun, the companion of Moses (AS) was killed."
The Traditions of the Tabi’in
Abu al-Tufayl's report is found in al-Mu’jam al-Awsat, Vol 2, pg. 236 - 237, Hadith # 2155:
حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ زُهَيْرٍ قَالَ: نا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى الصُّوفِيُّ قَالَ: نا إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ أَبَانَ الْوَرَّاقُ قَالَ: نا سَلَّامُ بْنُ أَبِي عَمْرَةَ، عَنْ مَعْرُوفِ بْنِ خَرَّبُوذَ،
عَنْ أَبِي الطُّفَيْلِ قَالَ: خَطَبَ الْحَسَنُ بْنُ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ، فَحَمِدَ اللَّهَ وَأَثْنَى عَلَيْهِ، وَذَكَرَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلِيًّا رضي الله عنه خَاتَمَ الْأَوْصِيَاءِ، وَوَصِيَّ خَاتَمِ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ، وَأَمِينَ الصِّدِّيقِينَ وَالشُّهَدَاءِ. ثُمَّ قَالَ: «يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ، لَقَدْ فَارَقَكُمْ رَجُلٌ مَا سَبَقَهُ الْأَوَّلُونَ وَلَا يُدْرِكُهُ الْآخِرُونَ، لَقَدْ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يُعْطِيهِ الرَّايَةَ، فَيُقَاتِلُ جِبْرِيلُ عَنْ يَمِينِهِ، وَمِيكَائِيلُ عَنْ يَسَارِهِ، فَمَا يَرْجِعُ حَتَّى يَفْتَحَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ، وَلَقَدْ قَبَضَهُ اللَّهُ فِي اللَّيْلَةِ الَّتِي قَبَضَ فِيهَا وَصِيَّ مُوسَى، وَعُرِجَ بِرُوحِهِ فِي اللَّيْلَةِ الَّتِي عُرِجَ فِيهَا بِرُوحِ عِيسَى ابْنِ مَرْيَمَ، وَفِي اللَّيْلَةِ الَّتِي أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ عز وجل فِيهَا الْفُرْقَانَ. وَاللَّهِ، مَا تَرَكَ ذَهَبًا وَلَا فِضَّةً وَلَا شَيْئًا يُصَرُّ لَهُ، وَمَا فِي بَيْتِ مَالِهِ إِلَّا سَبْعُمِائَةِ دِرْهَمٍ وَخَمْسِينَ دِرْهَمًا فَضَلَتْ مِنْ عَطَائِهِ، أَرَادَ أَنْ يَشْتَرِيَ بِهَا خَادِمًا لِأُمِّ كُلْثُومٍ» ،
ثُمَّ قَالَ: «مَنْ عَرَفَنِي فَقَدْ عَرَفَنِي، وَمَنْ لَمْ يَعْرِفْنِي فَأَنَا الْحَسَنُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ صلى الله عليه وسلم، ثُمَّ تَلَا هَذِهِ الْآيَةَ قَوْلَ يُوسُفَ: {وَاتَّبَعْتُ مِلَّةَ آبَائِي إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَإِسْحَاقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ} ، ثُمَّ أَخَذَ فِي كِتَابِ اللَّهِ فَقَالَ: أَنَا ابْنُ الْبَشِيرِ، وَأَنَا ابْنُ النَّذِيرِ، وَأَنَا ابْنُ النَّبِيِّ، وَأَنَا ابْنُ الدَّاعِي إِلَى اللَّهِ بِإِذْنِهِ، وَأَنَا ابْنُ السِّرَاجِ الْمُنِيرِ، وَأَنَا ابْنُ الَّذِي أُرْسِلَ رَحْمَةً لِلْعَالَمِينَ، وَأَنَا مِنْ أَهْلِ الْبَيْتِ الَّذِينَ أَذْهَبَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمُ الرِّجْسَ وَطَهَّرَهُمْ تَطْهِيرًا، وَأَنَا مِنْ أَهْلِ الْبَيْتِ الَّذِينَ افْتَرَضَ اللَّهُ عز وجل مَوَدَّتَهُمْ وَوِلَايَتَهُمْ، فَقَالَ فِيمَا أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ صلى الله عليه وسلم: {قُلْ لَا أَسْأَلُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ أَجْرًا إِلَّا الْمَوَدَّةَ فِي الْقُرْبَى} [الشورى: 23] »
لَمْ يَرْوِ هَذَا الْحَدِيثَ عَنْ أَبِي الطُّفَيْلِ إِلَّا مَعْرُوفُ بْنُ خَرَّبُوذَ، وَلَا عَنْ مَعْرُوفٍ إِلَّا سَلَّامُ بْنُ أَبِي عَمْرَةَ، تَفَرَّدَ بِهِ: إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ أَبَانَ "
Ahmad b. Zuhayr narrated to us, he said: Ahmad b. Yahya al-Sufi narrated to us, he said: Isma‘il b. Aban al-Warraq narrated to us, he said: Sallam b. Abi ‘Amrah, from Ma‘ruf b. Kharrabudh, from Abu al-Tufayl, who said:
Al-Hasan b. ‘Ali b. Abi Talib gave a sermon. He praised and glorified Allah, and mentioned the Commander of the Faithful ‘Ali (AS) as the Seal of the Trustees, the Trustee of the Seal of the Prophets, and the confidant of the truthful and the martyrs. Then he said:
“O people, a man has left you whom none among the former generations surpassed and none among the later will ever reach. The Messenger of Allah (SAW) used to give him the banner, and Gabriel would fight on his right and Michael on his left. He would not return until Allah granted him victory. Allah took him in death on the same night the trustee of Moses was taken, the same night the soul of Jesus b. Mary was raised, and the same night Allah sent down the Furqan (the Qur’an). By Allah, he left behind neither gold nor silver nor anything to be stored. There was nothing in his treasury except seven hundred and fifty dirhams left from his allowance, which he had intended to use to buy a servant for Umm Kulthum.”
Then he said: “Whoever knows me, knows me. And whoever does not know me: I am al-Hasan b. Muhammad (SAW).” Then he recited the verse from the words of Yusuf: {And I have followed the religion of my fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob}. Then he turned to the Book of Allah and said: “I am the son of the bearer of glad tidings, I am the son of the warner, I am the son of the Prophet, I am the son of the one who called to Allah by His permission, I am the son of the illuminating lamp, I am the son of the one who was sent as a mercy to the worlds, I am from the People of the House from whom Allah has removed impurity and purified thoroughly, I am from the People of the House whose love and allegiance Allah made obligatory, as revealed to Muhammad (SAW): {Say: I do not ask you for any reward except love for [my] near kin} [al-Shura: 23].”
Note that the content of this rendition of the sermon is very similar to Imam ‘Ali b. al-Husayn’s transmission.
Hubayra b. Yarim's report is found in Tabaqat Ibn Sa’ad Vol 3 pg. 28:
قال: أخبرنا عبد الله بن نمير وعبيد الله بن موسى قالا: أخبرنا إسماعيل بن أبي خالد عن أبي إسحاق عن هبيرة بن يريم قال:
سمعت الحسن بن علي قام يخطب الناس فقال: يا أيها الناس لقد فارقكم أمس رجل ما سبقه الأولون ولا يدركه الآخرون. لقد كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يبعثه المبعث فيعطيه الراية فما يرد حتى يفتح الله عليه. إن جبريل عن يمينه وميكائيل عن يساره. ما ترك صفراء ولا بيضاء. إلا سبعمائة درهم فضلت من عطائه أراد أن يشتري بها خادما.
قال: أخبرنا عبد الله بن نمير عن الأجلح عن أبي إسحاق عن هبيرة بن يريم قال:
لما توفي علي بن أبي طالب قام الحسن بن علي فصعد المنبر فقال: أيها الناس. قد قبض الليلة رجل لم يسبقه الأولون ولا يدركه الآخرون. قد كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يبعثه المبعث فيكتنفه جبريل عن يمينه وميكائيل عن شماله فلا ينثني حتى يفتح الله له. وما ترك إلا سبعمائة درهم أراد أن يشتري بها خادما. ولقد قبض في الليلة التي عرج فيها بروح عيسى ابن مريم ليلة سبع وعشرين من رمضان.
He said: 'Abd Allah b. Numayr and 'Ubayd Allah b. Musa told us, saying: Isma'il b. Abi Khalid told us, from Abu Ishaq, from Hubayrah b. Yarim, who said:
I heard al-Hasan b. Ali rise and address the people, saying:
“O people, yesterday you lost a man whom the former generations did not surpass, and the latter cannot hope to match. The Messenger of Allah (SAW) used to send him on missions and give him the banner, and he would not return until Allah granted him victory. Gabriel was on his right and Michael on his left. He did not leave behind gold or silver, except for seven hundred dirhams remaining from his allowance, which he intended to use to purchase a servant.”
He also said: 'Abd Allah b. Numayr narrated to us from al-Ajlah, from Abu Ishaq, from Hubayrah b. Yarim, who said:
When Ali b. Abi Talib passed away, al-Hasan b. Ali ascended the pulpit and said:
“O people, tonight a man has passed away whom the former generations did not surpass and the latter cannot hope to match. The Messenger of Allah (SAW) used to send him on expeditions, and Gabriel would be on his right and Michael on his left, and he would not turn back until Allah granted him victory. He left behind nothing except seven hundred dirhams, which he intended to use to purchase a servant. And indeed, he passed away on the night in which the soul of Jesus the son of Mary was raised — the night of the 27th of Ramadan.”
The chains of transmission for both traditions are sahih as affirmed by Wasi Allah b. Muhammad ‘Abbas in Fada'il al-Sahaba, Vol. 1, pg. 548, Hadith # 922.
We also read in Musannaf Ibn Abi Shayba, Vol. 18, pg. 70, Hadith # 34276:
حدثنا (عبد اللَّه) بن نمير عن إسماعيل بن أبي خالد عن (أبي إسحاق عن)
هبيرة بن يريم قال: سمعت الحسن بن علي قام خطيبًا فخطب الناس فقال: يا أيها الناس لقد فارقكم أمس رجل ما سبقه الأولون، ولا يدركه الآخرون، ولقد كان رسول اللَّه صلى الله عليه وسلم يبعثه المبعث فيعطيه الراية، فما يرجع حتى يفتح اللَّه عليه، جبريل عن يمينه وميكايل عن شماله، ما ترك بيضاء ولا صفراء إلا سبعمائة درهم فضلت من عطائه أراد أن يشتري بها خادما.
Abdullah b. Numayr narrated to us from Isma'il b. Abi Khalid from (Abi Ishaq from) Hubayra b. Yarim, who said:
I heard Al-Hasan b. ‘Ali stand up as a preacher and deliver a sermon to the people. He said:
"O people, yesterday a man passed away who no one before him preceded, nor will anyone after him catch up to him. Indeed, the Messenger of Allah (SAW) used to send him forth at the time of dispatch, and he would be given the banner, and he would not return until Allah granted him victory. Gabriel was on his right and Michael was on his left. He never left a white or yellow place except that he spent seven hundred dirhams from his bounty, intending to buy a servant with it.
This Hadith was also transmitted in the following sources:
Musnad Ahmad b. Hanbal, Vol 3, pg. 246 - 247, Hadith # 1719 authenticated by Shu'ayb al-Arna'ut
Musnad Ahmad b. Hanbal, Vol 2, pg. 344 authenticated by Ahmad Shakir
Majma’ al-Zawa’id, Vol 9, pg. 142 - 143, Hadith # 14798 - 14799 (authenticated the Musnad Ahmad version)
‘Asim b. Dhamra's version is found in Musannaf Ibn Abi Shayba, Vol. 18, pg. 65, Hadith # 34265:
حدثنا شريك عن أبي (إسحاق) عن عاصم بن ضمرة قال: خطب الحسن بن علي حين قتل علي فقال:
يا أهل الكوفة، أو يا أهل العراق، لقد كان بين أظهركم رجل قتل الليلة أو أصيب اليوم لم يسبقه الأولون بعلم، (ولا يدركه الآخرون)، كان النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم إذا بعثه في سرية كان جبريل عن يمينه وميكائيل عن يساره، فلا يرجع حتى يفتح اللَّه عليه.
Sharik narrated to us from Abu Ishaq, from Asim b. Dumrah, who said: Al-Hasan b. Ali gave a sermon when Ali was killed. He said:
"O people of Kufa, or O people of Iraq, there was among you a man who was killed last night or struck down today, whose knowledge was not preceded by the former ones, and will not be matched by the later ones. Whenever the Prophet (SAW) sent him on a military expedition, Gabriel was on his right and Michael was on his left, and he would not return until Allah granted him victory."
This report is disconnected, but Ahmad b. Hanbal transmitted a connected variant in Fada'il al-Sahaba Vol 2, pg. 600 - 601, Hadith # 1026:
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ قَالَ: حَدَّثَنِي أَبِي، نا وَكِيعٌ، عَنْ شَرِيكٍ، عَنْ عَاصِمٍ، عَنْ أَبِي رَزِينٍ قَالَ:
خَطَبَنَا الْحَسَنُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ بَعْدَ وَفَاةِ عَلِيٍّ وَعَلَيْه عمامة سَوْدَاءُ فَقَالَ: لَقَدْ فَارَقَكُمْ رَجُلٌ لَمْ يَسْبِقْهُ الْأَوَّلُونَ بِعِلْمٍ، وَلَا يُدركُه الْآخَرُونَ.
Abdullah narrated to us, he said: My father narrated to me, Waki’ narrated to us, from Shareek, from Aasim, from Abu Razin who said:
Al-Hasan b. Ali addressed us after the death of ‘Ali (AS), and he was wearing a black turban. He said: ‘Indeed, a man has departed from you whom the former ones did not surpass in knowledge, and whom the later ones will never reach
‘Amr b. Habshi's report is found in Musnad Ahmad b. Hanbal, Vol. 43, pg. 247, Hadith # 1720:
حَدَّثَنَا وَكِيعٌ، عَنْ إِسْرَائِيلَ، عَنْ أَبِي إِسْحَاقَ، عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ حُبْشِيٍّ قَالَ:
خَطَبَنَا الْحَسَنُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ بَعد قَتْلِ عَلِيٍّ رضي الله عنهما، فَقَالَ: لَقَدْ فَارَقَكُمْ رَجُلٌ بِالْأَمْسِ مَا سَبَقَهُ الْأَوَلون بِعِلْمٍ، وَلا أَدْرَكَهُ الْآخِرُونَ، إِنْ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم لَيَبْعَثُهُ، وَيُعْطِيهِ الرَّايَةَ، فَلا يَنْصَرِفُ حَتَّى يُفْتَحَ لَهُ، وَمَا تَرَكَ مِنْ صَفْرَاءَ وَلا بَيْضَاءَ، إِلا سَبْعَ مِئَةِ دِرْهَمٍ مِنْ عَطَائِهِ كَانَ يَرْصُدُهَا لِخَادِمٍ لِأَهْلِهِ (1).
Waki‘ narrated to us, from Isra’il, from Abi Ishaq, from Amr b. Hubshi who said:
Al-Hasan b. ‘Ali (AS) addressed us after the killing of Ali, and said:
“Yesterday, a man left you whom neither the first ones preceded in knowledge, nor the later ones can catch up to.
Indeed, the Messenger of Allah (SAW) used to send him and give him the banner, and he would not leave until victory was granted to him.
He did not leave from Safra’ or Bayda’ except that he would set aside seven hundred dirhams from his gifts for a servant to care for his family.”
This tradition was graded hasan by Shu’ayb al-Arnaut and Sahih by Ahmad Shakir in Musnad Ahmad b. Hanbal Vol 2, pg. 344, Hadith # 1720.
This tradition can also be found in
The Combined Report of Abu al-Faraj al-Esfahani
Many of these chains of transmission converge on Abu Ishaq al-Subay’i, who narrates the sermon on the authority of the tabi’in who we listed. Abu al-Faraj transmitted a combined report on their authority in Maqatil al-Talibiyyin pg. 61 - 62.
Question: Does this hadith indicate that ‘Ali (AS) is superior to the Prophet?
This is an excellent question, as we shall quote the answer of Imam Ja’far b. Muhammad al-Sadiq (AS). We read in Maʿānī al-ʾAkhbār Book 1, Chapter 157, Hadith # 2:
حدثنا أبي - رضي الله عنه - قال: حدثنا محمد بن يحيى العطار، عن محمد بن أحمد بن يحيى بن عمران الأشعري، عن حمدان بن سليمان، عن أيوب بن نوح، عن إسماعيل الفراء، عن رجل، قال:
قلت لأبي عبد الله عليه السلام: أليس قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله في أبي ذر - رحمة الله عليه -: " ما أظلت الخضراء ولا أقلت الغبراء على ذي لهجة أصدق من أبي ذر"؟
قال: بلى.
قال: قلت: فأين رسول الله وأمير المؤمنين؟ وأين الحسن والحسين؟
قال: فقال لي: كم السنة شهرا؟
قال: قلت: اثنا عشر شهرا،
قال: كم منهما حرم؟
قال: قلت: أربعة أشهر.
قال: فشهر رمضان منها؟
قال: قلت: لا،
قال: إن في شهر رمضان ليلة أفضل من ألف شهر، إنا أهل بيت لا يقاس بنا أحد.
We were told by my father (RA) that he said: We were told by Muhammed b. Yahya al-‘Attar, from Muhammed b. Ahmad b. Yahya b. Imran al-Ash’ari, from Hamdan b. Sulayman, from Ayyub b. Nuh, from Isma’il al-Farra’, from a man that said:
I said to Abu 'Abdillah (al-Sadiq) (AS): Did Rasulullah ﷺ not say with regards to Abu Dharr (RA): “The sky has not shadowed upon nor has the earth carried anyone with a tongue more truthful than Abu Dharr?”
He said: "Yes."
(The man) asked: "Then what about Rasulullah ﷺ and Amir al-Mu'minin (AS)? And what about al-Hasan (AS) and al-Husayn (AS)?”
He (the Imam) said: "How many months are there in a year?"
I said: "Twelve months."
He said: "How many of them are sacred?"
I said: "Four months."
He said: "Is the month of Ramadan among them?"
I said: "No."
He said: "Indeed, in the month of Ramadan there is a night that is better than a thousand months. Indeed, we are a Household to whom none is compared with."
While the primary transmitter of this tradition is unknown, the point made is valid: just as Ramadan is not one of the 4 sacred months yet it is still the greatest month of the year, likewise in any hadith that praises anyone other than the Prophet (SAW) and his Ahl al-Bayt, it goes without saying that they are superior. In this case, it goes without saying that the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) is greater than Imam ‘Ali (AS).
Conclusion
As we can clearly see in the traditions which we have presented, Imam al-Hasan (AS) stated none among the former ones have preceded and none among the later ones will reach the station of his father ‘Ali (AS). We now ask our reader, which sect of Muslims today affirms the creed of al-Hasan (AS)? Is it the Sunnis who claim that 3 men were superior to ‘Ali or the Imamis who affirm that after the Prophet (SAW) no one was greater than ‘Ali?
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