Seerah

Al-Hasan's ethics were excellent examples for peoples. So everyoune respected Him. Everyoune loved Him when he associated with Him. When his friend or his enemy heard Him taking or delivering a speech, he was sorry that he (Al-Hasan) would end his talking or his speech.

In his book vol.8, p, 37, b. Kuthayr has reported on the authority of b. al-Zubayr, who sadi: "By Allah no woman had born (a boy) like Al-Hasan b. 'Ali.

Mohammad b. Ishaq said: "After Allah's Apostle, may Allah bless Him and his family. no one had a high social position as Al-Hasan b.'Ali had. (Mat) were spread out at the door of his house. When he came out and sat, the street was over crowded. So no one of Allah's creatures could pass to show respect for Him. When he knew that, he stood up and entered his house. So the people could pass."
Al-Hasan dismounted his camel on the road to Mecca, so all those who saw Him dismonted their camels. Also Sa'ad b. Abu Waqas dismounted his camel and walked beside Him.

Ibn Abbas cought the stirrup for Al-Hasan and al-Husayn, peace be on them, and arranged their clothes. So Mudrik b. Zyyad said to Him: "you are older than them, so why do you catch the stirrup for them? Ibn "Abbas said " Woe unto you Do you know who they are? They are the greandons of the Apostle of Allah. What a great blessing is that Allah has made me catch the stirrup for them and arrange their clothes"

Although Al-Hasan, peace be on Him, had a high social rank, he was kind to people. One day he passed by poor persons. The poor person were sitting on the ground. There were pieces of bread before them. They were picking up the pieces of bread and eating them. When they saw Al-Hasan, peace be on Him, they said to Him: "Son of the Apostle of Allah, come to lunch" So he dismounted his camel and said: " Indeed, Allah does not love the proud. "He ben eating with them. Then he invited them, so he gave them food and clothes.

The following are some examples about Al-Hasan's generosity: A man came to Him and asked Him for a need. He (Al-Hasan) said to the man: "Write your need on a piece of paper and submit it to me." The man submitted his need to Him. He (Al-Hasan) doubled the man's need. So some of those who were sitting with Al-Hasan said to Him: "Son of the Apostle of Allah, the blessing of the piece of paper was great for the man." So Al-Hasan said: "Its blessing for us is greater, for Allah has made us appropriate for doing good. Do you not know that doing good should be optional, namely without request. As for Him whom you give after the request, you give Him after he has lost face. He may spend his night restless and sleepless. He rocks between despair and hope. He does not know whether he will face a sad answer or a glad success. He comes to you while he shakes all over and his heart is fraid (of you). Then if you met his need through losing face, that (losing face) would be greater than what he has obtain from your favour."

Al-Hasan, peace be on Him, gave a poet (some money). So one of those who were sitting with Him said to Him: Glory be to Allah Do you give the poet who disobeys the Merciful (Allah) and tells lies?" Al-Hasan, peace be on Him, said: "Servant of Allah, the best of your money is what you spend to protect your dignity. It is act of kindness to avoid the evil."

A man asked Al-Hasan, peace be on Him, for a need. So Al-Hasan gave the man one thounsand dirhams and five hundred dinars and said to Him: Fetch a carrier to help you." The man fetched a carrier. So Al-Hasan gave the carrier his loak and said: This is the wage of the carrier."

A Bedouin came to a-Hasan, pece be on Him, and asked Him for a need. So Al-Hasan said: "Give Him all the money in the safe." There werw twenty thousand dirhams in the safe. All the money was given to the Bedouin, so he said: " My master, do you not let me tell you about my need and praise you?" Al-Hasan, peace be on Him, began saying:

Our gifts are many

The hopeful enjoy them.

Our selves give generously before the request

For fear of losing face.

al-Mada'ini said: "Al-Hasayn, and Abd Allah b. Ja'far went out. However, their luggage went before them. So they became hungry and thirsty. They saw an old woman sitting in a tent. They asked the old woman for water. She said to them: "Milk this ewe, They did. Then they asked her for food. She did: 'I have noting but this ewe, Let one of you slaughter it. So one of them slaughtered and skinned it. Then she grilled some meat of the ewe for them. They ate the meat and took nap at the old women's tent. When they got up. they said to her: We are a group of people from Quraysh. We want to go through this direction. When we come back, visit us. For we will do good for you. Then they went away. When the old woman's husband came, she told Him about her entertainment. Her husband said: Woe unto you! you have sacrificed my ewe for people whom you do not know, then you say that they are from Quraysh. Days passed. the old woman's condition became worse. So she departed till she passed through Medina. Al-Hasan, peace be on Him. saw her and recognized her. He said to her: Do you know me? No, she answered. He said: I was your guest on the day so and so. The he gave her one thousand ewes and one thousand dinars, and he sent her to al-Husayn, peace be on Him. al-Husayn gave her like that (number) and sent her to Abd Allah b. Ja'far. The latter gave her like that (number)

A Hashimite and and an Umayyad one quarreled with one another (about generosity). The hasHimite man said: " My people are more generous (than yours). The Umayyad one said: "My people are generous (than yours)."The HasHimite man said to the Umayyad one: "Go and asked ten of his people (for money)" The Umayyad man people gave Him ten thousand dirhams. In the meantime the HasHimite man went to Al-Hasan b. 'Ali. So Al-Hasan gave Him one hundred and fifty thousand dirhams. Then the HasHimite man went to al-Hasayn So al-Husayn asked Him: " had you asked anyoune for money before me?" "I had asked Al-Hasan, answered the HasHimite man.

Al-Husayn said: "I cannot give more than what my master (Al-Hasan) has geven you." Then al-Husayn gave the HasHimite man one hundred and fifty thousand dirhams. Then the Umayyad man came back with one hundred thousand dirhams from ten people while the HasHimite man came back with three hundred thousand dirhams from two people, So the Umayyad man became angry and returned the money to its owners who received it. Meanwhile the HasHimite man went to Al-Hasan and al-Husayn to return the money, but they refused to accept it. Then they said: We do not mind whether you take the money or throw it away on the road."

One day Al-Hasan, peace be on Him. saw a black boy. The black boy was eating a piece of bread and giving a piece of bread to his dog. So Al-Hasan said to Him: "What has you do this? "I feel shame of my dog when I eat and do not feed Him,"answered the black boy. Then Al-Hasan said to Him: "Do not leave your place till I come to you." At that moment Al-Hasan went to the black boy's master. He bought the black boy and the wall (the garden)where he lived. He (Al-Hasan) freed the black boy and made Him possess the wall.

The traditions about Al-Hasan's generosity are numerous, but we do not intend to mention them all
As for Al-Hasan's clemency, it was as heavy as the mountains, as Marwan and concerning Al-Hasan.
Al-Hasan, peace be on Him, renounced worldly pleasures every much. So Mohammed b. 'Ali b. al-Hasayn. Babawayh, who died in the year 381 A.H. wrote, a book, He called the book Zuhd Al-Hasan. How an outstanding merit was that Al-Hasan renounced all life in this world for the sake of the religion.

Adopted from the book: "Sulh al-Hasan (a.s.)" by: "Sheykh Radi al-Yasin"