Hadhrat Hasan Basri (Rahmatullahalayh) : The Paradigm of Piety and Eloquence – Part 1

Hasan al Basri (Rahmatullahalayh) was a Taabi’i, a person in the generation after the Sahabah. As a student of the Sahaba in Madina, Hasan al Basri (Rahmatullahalayh) amassed knowledge of the Deen that spurred him into becoming a scholar of the highest caliber.

1. Hadhrat Hasan Basri’s mother was a servant of Rasulullah’s (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) noble wife, Hadhrat Umm-e-Salmah (radhiyallahu anha). Sometimes during infancy when his mother was engaged in some service, he would cry. To pacify the infant, Hadhrat Umm-e-Salmah (radhiyallahu anha) would place her blessed breast in his mouth. The baby would suck and miraculously milk would emerge. It is said that the innumerable blessings acquired by Hadhrat Hasan Basri were the product of this milk of the holy household of Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam). Hadhrat Umm-e-Salmah (radhiyallahu anha) undertook the responsibility of caring for Hasan. She would always make dua: “O Allah! Make him the leader (i.e. spiritual leader) of men.”

2. Once during childhood Hadhrat Hasan drank water from a mug in which water was left for Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) in the home of Hadhrat Umm-e-Salmah (radhiyallahu anha). When Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) enquired about the person who had drunk from his mug, he was told that it was Hasan. Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) commented: “My knowledge will be diffused into him in proportion to the water he drank from the mug.”
Once Hadhrat Umm-e-Salmah (radhiyallahu anhua) placed Hasan on Rasulullah’s (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) lap. Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) made much dua for him. Thus, the greatness of Hadhrat Hasan Basri is attributable to all the spiritual blessings he gained from the holy household of Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam).

3. When Hadhrat Hasan was born he was brought to Hadhrat Umar (radhiyallahu anhu) who said: “Name him Hasan because his face is so beautiful.” (He was extremely handsome.)

4. Hadhrat Hasan Basri was a Taabi-ee who had the good fortune of meeting 120 Sahaabah among whom 70 were participants of the Battle of Badr. He was the mureed of Hadhrat Hasan, the son of Hadhrat Ali (radhiyallahu anhu). According to another version recorded in Tuhfah, it is said that he was the mureed of Hadhrat Ali (radhiyallahu anhu) who had conferred on him the mantle of spiritual mentorship (i.e. made him his Khalifah in the spiritual realm).

5. The fear of Maut was so overwhelming in him that from the time of his youth when he pledged himself to prepare for the Aakhirah, he never laughed until death overtook him at the age of 70.

6. For his entire life, until the age of 70, he always remained with wudhu.

7. Once a Wali said: “Hasan has surpassed us all because the whole creation is in need of his knowledge while he needs none besides Allah Ta’ala. He is therefore our chief.”

8. Hadhrat Hasan was asked: “What is the meaning of Islam and who is a Muslim?” He replied: “Islam is in the books and Muslims are in the grave.”

9. When asked: “What is pure Deen?”, he said; “Piety”. People asked: “What destroys piety?” He said: “Greed and desire.”

10. Hadhrat Hasan said that an ill physician (i.e. spiritual mentor) should first treat himself before treating others (i.e. he should first reform himself morally and spiritually).

11. People complained: “Our hearts are asleep, hence your advices do not benefit us.” Hadhrat Hasan said: “Your hearts are dead. A sleeping person can be woken up, but a dead man cannot be aroused.”

12. Someone said to Hadhrat Hasan: “Some people overwhelm our heart with fear with their talks.” (He was referring to the advices of Hadhrat Hasan.) He replied: “It is better today to be in the company of those who instil fear in you so that tomorrow on the Day of Qiyaamah you will have hope in the mercy of Allah.”

13. A man said to him: “Some people find fault with your statements and criticize you.” Hadhrat Hasan replied: “I find myself full of fault. While I am searching for Divine Proximity, I cherish the desire for Jannat. But both these attitudes are contradictory. Furthermore, I do not hope to be immune from the criticism of people. Even Allah Ta’ala, The Absolute One, has not been spared by their tongues.”
(Although the wish or desire for both Jannat and nearness to Allah Ta’ala are in reality not negatory or contradictory, the exceptionally lofty spiritual status and proximity of the Auliyaa preclude them from all motives except the Goal of Divine Proximity. Their worship of Allah is neither for fear of Jahannum nor for the hope of Jannat. Their gaze is focussed on only Allah’s Pleasure.)

14. It was said: “Some say that preaching (giving naseehat) to people should be embarked on only after one has become morally purified.” Hadhrat Hasan commented: “Shaitaan desires that the door of Amr Bil Ma’roof Nahyi anil munkar (commanding righteousness and prohibiting evil) be closed.”

15. Once while Hadhrat Hasan was lecturing, the tyrant Hajjaaj with his unsheathed sword and army arrived. A pious man present in the gathering said to himself: “Today is a test for Hasan. Will Hasan proclaim his naseehat in the presence of Hajjaaj or will he resort to flattery?” Hajjaaj sat down in the gathering. However, Hadhrat Hasan did not pay the slightest attention and continued his talk. Hajjaaj’s presence did not exercise the slightest influence on him. He did not even look at Hajjaaj. The pious man said: “Indeed, Hasan is hasan (i.e. beautiful).”
On the termination of the lecture, Hajjaaj went forward. Kissing the hand of Hadhrat Hasan, he said: “If you wish to see a man, look at Hasan.”

16. Once Hadhrat Ali (radhiyallahu anhu) spent three days in Basrah. He had issued an order prohibiting lectures in the Musaajid. When he attended a gathering of Hadhrat Hasan he found him giving a lecture. Hadhrat Ali (radhiyallahu anhu) interrogated him: “Are you an Aalim or a student?”

Hadhrat Hasan replied: “I am neither an Aalim nor a student. However, I deliver the words of Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) which have reached me.” On hearing this reply Hadhrat Ali (radhiyallahu anhu) left without preventing Hadhrat Hasan from lecturing. When he was told that his interrogator was Hadhrat Ali (radhiyallahu anhu), he descended from the mimbar and went in search of Hadhrat Ali (radhiyallahu anhu). When he linked up with Hadhrat Ali (radhiyallahu anhu), he (Hadhrat Hasan) said:
“For Allah’s sake teach me how to make wudhu.”
A container of water was brought and Hadhrat Ali (radhiyallahu anhu) demonstrated the method of making wudhu. Since that time that spot is known as Baabut Tasht (Portal of the Basin).

17. Once during a severe drought in Basrah, two hundred thousand people gathered on the outskirts for Salatul Istisqa (to pray for rain). A mimbar was set up and Hadhrat Hasan was requested to mount it and supplicate for rain. He said: “If you wish for rain, expel me from Basrah.” (His humility constrained him to believe that he was the cause of the drought. Droughts are generally the consequences of the sins of people.)

18. One day Hadhrat Hasan heard the Hadith which says that the very last man of this Ummah to emerge from Jahannum after 80 years will be a person named Hannaad. Hadhrat Hasan lamented: “I wish Hasan was that man.” (The degree of his humility and overwhelming fear created in him the perception that he (i.e. Hadhrat Hasan) may never emerge from Jahannum. Therefore, if he was Hannaad, his salvation was ensured.)

19. Once when he spent the entire night weeping, he was asked: “Hadhrat, why do you weep so much inspite of being such an Aabid (worshipper) and Muttaqi (pious)? ” Hadhrat Hasan said: “I fear that I may have committed such a deed which negates my Ibaadat. As a result of it Allah Ta’ala may say: ‘Hasan! You have no position by Us. None of your acts of worship is acceptable.”

20. Once he accompanied a janaazah. After the burial he cried profusely and said: “O people! Know that the end of this world and the beginning of the Hereafter are this grave. The Hadith says that the qabr is a station among the stations of the Aakhirah. Why do you love a world whose end is the grave? Why do you not fear the world of the Aakhirah the beginning of which is the grave? This is your ending and your beginning.”

Scattered Pearls