Hasan ibn Ali
Hasan ibn Ali ibn Abu Talib (c. 625 - 669) (alternative spelling Hassan) was the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, and first son of his daughter Fatima Zahra with Ali ibn Abu Talib. Hasan is a revered figure in Islam, and is considered the second Shia Imam by some Shia sects. (His brother Hussein is considered to be second Shia Imam by some Shia sects). Hasan is also, especially from the Sunni point of view, the fifth Caliph of Islam.
Hasan was the first grandchild of Muhammad and according to tradition was named by Muhammad upon a revelation from Allah. The name Hasan means "handsome" in Arabic. Hasan and his brother Hussein were greatly beloved by their grandfather, and numerous hadith testify to this. There are also hadith that exist which claim that Hasan and Husayn will be the leaders of the youth in heaven.
Upon the death of his father at Kufa, a number of people in that town and neighboring regions swore allegiance to Hasan, making him the sucessor to his father. This put him in conflict with Muawiyah, who had been in competition with Ali for the caliphate. Muwaiyah began building an army to face Hasan, but at the same time sent him letters asking him to give up his claim. If Hasan was to abdicate, then Muawiyah would have a legal claim to the caliphate, if however, Muawiyah were to defeat Hasan, he would have absolute power, but his claim would be shaky.
The armies of Hasan and Muawiyah would fight some battles, but eventually Hasan would give up his claim in order to maintain peace among the Muslim people. He would then retire to Medina and was given a pension by Muawiyah. At one point, Muawiyah asked Hasan to help him quell a Kharijite rebellion, but Hasan refused to help, writing that he had given up fighting for the sake of peace.
Hasan would die in Medina in the year 669 and is buried at the famous Jannat ul-Baqi cemetery across from the Masjid al Nabawi.
Some believe that he was poisoned by his wife at the urging of Muawiyah, but the validity of this claim is unknown.
| Preceded by: Ali |
Caliph | Succeeded by: Muawiyah |
| Preceded by: Ali |
Shia Imams | Succeeded by: Husayn |