Aqdam أقدام

Companion of the Prophet ﷺ

الحسن بن علي

رضي الله عنه

al-Hasan ibn Ali

al-Hasan ibn Ali ibn Abi Talib al-Hashimi al-Qurashi

The Prophet's grandson, called a leader of the youth of Paradise, who chose peace and the unity of the Muslims in 41 AH.

  • Sayyid Shabab Ahl al-Jannah
  • Sibt Rasul Allah (grandson of the Prophet)
A day in his footsteps
  • KunyaAbu Muhammad
  • Family and tribeQuraysh (Banu Hashim)
  • Bornc. 625 CE / 3 AH, Madinah
  • Diedc. 670 CE / 50 AH, Madinah
  • Resting placeal-Baqi', Madinah
  • Counted amongAhl al-Bayt

Introduction

Al-Hasan was the first son of Ali and Fatimah and the Prophet's first grandson. He grew up on the Prophet's lap, and companions remarked how closely he resembled his grandfather. Abu Bakr was seen carrying him and telling him that he resembled the Prophet and not his father.

The Prophet loved him openly and said that al-Hasan and his brother al-Husayn were leaders of the youth of Paradise. He also said from the pulpit that this grandson was a chief through whom Allah would reconcile two groups of Muslims. After the death of his father, al-Hasan led the Muslims for a short time, then made peace with Mu'awiyah to stop the bloodshed and unite the community.

He is remembered for gentleness, restraint and generosity, and for a handful of hadith that he preserved from childhood, such as the supplication he was taught for witr and the advice to leave what causes doubt.

The story

  1. 3 AH / 625 CE

    Born in Madinah, first grandchild of the Prophet.

  2. Childhood

    Seen with the Prophet, who prayed that Allah love him and those who love him.

    Read the wording
    Sahih Muslim 2421Sahih
    Arabic text

    أَنَّهُ قَالَ لِحَسَنٍ " اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أُحِبُّهُ فَأَحِبَّهُ وَأَحْبِبْ مَنْ يُحِبُّهُ".

    “O Allah, behold, I love him. Thou too love him and love one who loves him”

    Grade: Sahih (Sahih Muslim)

  3. 40 AH / 661 CE

    After the martyrdom of his father, the people gave him allegiance.

  4. 41 AH / 661 CE

    Made peace with Mu'awiyah, ending the war between the Muslims.

    Read the wording
    Sahih al-Bukhari 3746Sahih
    Arabic text

    سَمِعْتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَلَى الْمِنْبَرِ وَالْحَسَنُ إِلَى جَنْبِهِ، يَنْظُرُ إِلَى النَّاسِ مَرَّةً وَإِلَيْهِ مَرَّةً، وَيَقُولُ " ابْنِي هَذَا سَيِّدٌ، وَلَعَلَّ اللَّهَ أَنْ يُصْلِحَ بِهِ بَيْنَ فِئَتَيْنِ مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ".

    “perhaps Allah will bring about an agreement between two sects of the Muslims through him”

    Grade: Sahih (Sahih al-Bukhari)

  5. c. 50 AH / 670 CE

    Died in Madinah and was buried in al-Baqi'.

A day in their footsteps

4 small, repeatable practices from al-Hasan ibn Ali's life. Each comes with the Arabic text and English wording of its source, and links to read the full report.

  1. Witr dua (Allahumma-hdini fiman hadayt)

    Al-Hasan said the Prophet taught him words to say in witr: asking Allah for guidance, wellbeing, His protection, blessing and protection from the evil that He decrees, ending with praising Him.

    Try this today

    Add this short dua to your witr prayer.

    Sit with this

    Do you know the words of qunut to say in your witr?

    Source

    Sunan Abi Dawud 1425Sahih

    قَالَ قَالَ الْحَسَنُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ رضى الله عنهما عَلَّمَنِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَلِمَاتٍ أَقُولُهُنَّ فِي الْوِتْرِ قَالَ ابْنُ جَوَّاسٍ فِي قُنُوتِ الْوِتْرِ " اللَّهُمَّ اهْدِنِي فِيمَنْ هَدَيْتَ وَعَافِنِي فِيمَنْ عَافَيْتَ وَتَوَلَّنِي فِيمَنْ تَوَلَّيْتَ وَبَارِكْ لِي فِيمَا أَعْطَيْتَ وَقِنِي شَرَّ مَا قَضَيْتَ إِنَّكَ تَقْضِي وَلاَ يُقْضَى عَلَيْكَ وَإِنَّهُ لاَ يَذِلُّ …

    “The Messenger of Allah taught me some words that I say during the witr”

    Grade: Sahih (al-Albani)

  2. Leaving what is doubtful for what is certain

    Al-Hasan recorded that the Prophet taught him to leave what makes him doubt for what does not, because truth brings tranquillity while falsehood sows doubt.

    Try this today

    When you are unsure whether something is right, step back.

    Sit with this

    What doubtful thing could you step back from today?

    Source

    Jami at-Tirmidhi 2518Sahih

    … مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " دَعْ مَا يَرِيبُكَ إِلَى مَا لاَ يَرِيبُكَ فَإِنَّ الصِّدْقَ طُمَأْنِينَةٌ وَإِنَّ الْكَذِبَ رِيبَةٌ". وَفِي الْحَدِيثِ قِصَّةٌ. قَالَ وَأَبُو الْحَوْرَاءِ السَّعْدِيُّ اسْمُهُ رَبِيعَةُ بْنُ شَيْبَانَ. قَالَ وَهَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ. حَدَّثَنَا بُنْدَارٌ، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ بُرَيْدٍ، فَذَكَرَ …

    “Leave what makes you in doubt for what does not make you in doubt”

    Grade: Sahih (al-Albani)

  3. Choosing peace over a fight he could win

    Al-Hasan led large forces against Mu'awiyah but accepted the peace offered, in order to prevent the killing of many people, fulfilling what the Prophet had said about him.

    Try this today

    Be willing to give up your claim for the sake of lasting peace.

    Sit with this

    Which argument could you give up for the sake of lasting peace?

    Sources

    Sahih al-Bukhari 2704Sahih

    … يَقُولُ رَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَلَى الْمِنْبَرِ وَالْحَسَنُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ إِلَى جَنْبِهِ، وَهْوَ يُقْبِلُ عَلَى النَّاسِ مَرَّةً وَعَلَيْهِ أُخْرَى وَيَقُولُ " إِنَّ ابْنِي هَذَا سَيِّدٌ، وَلَعَلَّ اللَّهَ أَنْ يُصْلِحَ بِهِ بَيْنَ فِئَتَيْنِ عَظِيمَتَيْنِ مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ". قَالَ لِي عَلِيُّ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ إِنَّمَا ثَبَتَ لَنَا سَمَاعُ الْحَسَنِ مِنْ أَبِي …

    “Al-Hasan concluded a peace treaty with Muawiya”

    Grade: Sahih (Sahih al-Bukhari)

    Sahih al-Bukhari 3746Sahih

    سَمِعْتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَلَى الْمِنْبَرِ وَالْحَسَنُ إِلَى جَنْبِهِ، يَنْظُرُ إِلَى النَّاسِ مَرَّةً وَإِلَيْهِ مَرَّةً، وَيَقُولُ " ابْنِي هَذَا سَيِّدٌ، وَلَعَلَّ اللَّهَ أَنْ يُصْلِحَ بِهِ بَيْنَ فِئَتَيْنِ مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ".

    “perhaps Allah will bring about an agreement between two sects of the Muslims through him”

    Grade: Sahih (Sahih al-Bukhari)

  4. Staying away from sadaqah as a member of the Prophet's family

    As a child, he put a date from the charity pile into his mouth. The Prophet took it out and explained that Muhammad's family do not eat charity.

    Try this today

    Learn the boundaries early; teach children them gently.

    Sit with this

    How do you teach children boundaries gently and early?

    Source

    Sahih al-Bukhari 1485Sahih

    … هَذَا بِتَمْرِهِ وَهَذَا مِنْ تَمْرِهِ حَتَّى يَصِيرَ عِنْدَهُ كَوْمًا مِنْ تَمْرٍ، فَجَعَلَ الْحَسَنُ وَالْحُسَيْنُ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ يَلْعَبَانِ بِذَلِكَ التَّمْرِ، فَأَخَذَ أَحَدُهُمَا تَمْرَةً، فَجَعَلَهَا فِي فِيهِ، فَنَظَرَ إِلَيْهِ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَأَخْرَجَهَا مِنْ فِيهِ فَقَالَ " أَمَا عَلِمْتَ أَنَّ آلَ مُحَمَّدٍ صلى الله عليه وسلم لاَ يَأْكُلُونَ …

    “Muhammad's offspring do not eat what is given in charity”

    Grade: Sahih (Sahih al-Bukhari)

Virtues

  • The Prophet said that al-Hasan and al-Husayn are the chiefs of the youth of Paradise.

    “Al-Hasan and Al-Husain are the chiefs of the youths of Paradise”

    Arabic text

    قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " الْحَسَنُ وَالْحُسَيْنُ سَيِّدَا شَبَابِ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ". حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ بْنُ وَكِيعٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا جَرِيرٌ، وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ فُضَيْلٍ، عَنْ يَزِيدَ نَحْوَهُ. قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ. وَابْنُ أَبِي نُعْمٍ هُوَ عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ أَبِي نُعْمٍ الْبَجَلِيُّ الْكُوفِيُّ وَيُكْنَى أَبَا الْحَكَمِ.

    Jami at-Tirmidhi 3768Sahih

  • The Prophet prayed for Allah to love al-Hasan and whoever loves him.

    “I love him. Thou too love him and love one who loves him”

    Arabic text

    أَنَّهُ قَالَ لِحَسَنٍ " اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أُحِبُّهُ فَأَحِبَّهُ وَأَحْبِبْ مَنْ يُحِبُّهُ".

    Sahih Muslim 2421Sahih

  • The Prophet called him a chief through whom Allah would reconcile two groups of Muslims.

    “This son of mine is a Saiyid (i.e. chief)”

    Arabic text

    سَمِعْتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَلَى الْمِنْبَرِ وَالْحَسَنُ إِلَى جَنْبِهِ، يَنْظُرُ إِلَى النَّاسِ مَرَّةً وَإِلَيْهِ مَرَّةً، وَيَقُولُ " ابْنِي هَذَا سَيِّدٌ، وَلَعَلَّ اللَّهَ أَنْ يُصْلِحَ بِهِ بَيْنَ فِئَتَيْنِ مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ".

    Sahih al-Bukhari 3746Sahih

  • Abu Juhaifa said that al-Hasan resembled the Prophet.

    “I saw the Prophet, and Al-Hasan resembled him”

    Arabic text

    قَالَ رَأَيْتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَكَانَ الْحَسَنُ يُشْبِهُهُ.

    Sahih al-Bukhari 3543Sahih

Sayings and moments

  • He said that the Prophet taught him to leave what makes him doubt for what does not.

    “Leave what makes you in doubt for what does not make you in doubt”

    Arabic text

    … مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " دَعْ مَا يَرِيبُكَ إِلَى مَا لاَ يَرِيبُكَ فَإِنَّ الصِّدْقَ طُمَأْنِينَةٌ وَإِنَّ الْكَذِبَ رِيبَةٌ". وَفِي الْحَدِيثِ قِصَّةٌ. قَالَ وَأَبُو الْحَوْرَاءِ السَّعْدِيُّ اسْمُهُ رَبِيعَةُ بْنُ شَيْبَانَ. قَالَ وَهَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ. حَدَّثَنَا بُنْدَارٌ، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ بُرَيْدٍ، فَذَكَرَ …

    Jami at-Tirmidhi 2518Sahih

Words on this page

Du'aدعاء
Supplication: calling on Allah and asking Him, in any language and at any time.
Hadithحديث
A report of what the Prophet ﷺ said, did or approved, passed down through a chain of narrators.
Jannahالجنة
Paradise, the Garden promised to the believers.
Madinahالمدينة
The city, formerly Yathrib, to which the Prophet ﷺ migrated and where the first Muslim community was built.
Sadaqahصدقة
Voluntary charity, of any size, given for the sake of Allah.
Witrالوتر
The odd-numbered prayer that closes the night's prayers, prayed after Isha and before dawn.

The full glossary

Sources and review

Hadith numbers follow sunnah.com. Each report links to sunnah.com, and, where the numbering matches, to al-Hadees or HadithUnlocked as well. Quran verses link to quran.com, Tafsir Ibn Kathir and Tanzil. The Arabic is taken from the hadith editions and trimmed around the quoted words, so read the full report at the source before relying on it. Grades are the ones those editions give.

This page is pending scholar review. It was compiled from public sources, and its citations were last checked on 7 October 2026. If you notice a mistake or a missing source, please tell us.

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