Birth: In
Madinah during the reign of Sayyidinah Umar (R.A). Born in 21 AH, his
father was a freed slave of Zaid ibn Thăbit (R.A), a famous companion of
Nabi (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam). Hasan Basri (R) was himself brought up
in the house of Ummul Mu’meneen Ummi-Salmah (R.A).
Capabilities of
Hasan Basri (R): Hasan Basri (R) had been gifted with noble
virtues and brilliant capabilities essential to make his exhortation for
revival of Islăm. He was distinguished for his usual temperament, friendly
and considerate, winning and enchanting, on one hand. As also for his
scholarship and profound learning strengthened with good judgment and
wisdom on the other. In his knowledge of the Qur’ăn and Hadith he excelled
all the learned men of his times. He had the opportunity of being an
associate of the Sahăbah (R.A) he was fully aware of the deficiencies in
practises that had crept in among the different sections of the society,
and the measures necessary to eradicate them. Whenever he lectured on the
hereafter or described the by gone days of the Sahăbah (R.A) everyone was
seen brimming with tears.
Hajjăj ibn Yusuf is rightly renowned for his eloquence but Hasan Basri (R)
was considered to be an equally good elocutionist (to have an art of
speaking). On Hasan Basri (R) is encyclopaedic knowledge. Rabi ibn Anas (R.A)
says that he had the privilege of being closely associated with Hasan
Basri (R) for ten years and almost everyday he found something new not
heard of earlier in the lectures of Hasan Basri (R). Describing the
scholarly achievement of Hasan Basri, (R) Abu Hayyăn at-Thauhidi (R)
quotes Thăbit ibn Qurrah saying, “In his-learning and piety, forbearance
and restrain, frankness and large-heartedness, insight and good judgment
he resembled a bright star. He was always surrounded by students seeking
instruction in different branches of knowledge. He would be teaching
Tafseer to one, Hadith to another, Fiqh to a third, explaining a Fatwă
(Legal opinion) to someone else and imparting instruction in the
principles of Fiqh yet to another while continuing his advises in the
meantime for those who came to him for the purpose. His knowledge covered
a wide area as vast as an ocean, or he was like a dazzling radiance of
light illuminating every soul around him. What is more? His heroic efforts
to enjoin the good and to forbid the wrong, his support of the righteous
path before rulers and administrators could never be forgotten.” The
reason why Hasan Basri’s (R) words carried weight with his audience was
that he was not simply a preacher but he also possessed a noble and
supreme soul, whatever he said was heart-stirring because it came from the
depth of his heart, his speeches had a magnetism which no other scholar or
mentor of Kufă and Basra could attempt to surpass. Thăbit ibn Qurrah, a
non Muslim- philosopher of the third century (A.H), was of the opinion
that the few eminent persons produced by Islăm who could rightly by envied
by the followers of other faiths, one was Hasan Basri (R). He adds that
Makkah had always been a centre of Islămic piety and learning where
accomplished scholars in every branch of knowledge met all of parts of the
world but even Makkans were dumb founded by his scholarly achievements as
they had never seen a man of his calibre.
Sermons of Hasan Basri (R): The
sermons delivered by Hasan Basri (R) are stipulating memories of the
simplicity and moral courage of the Sahăbah (R.A). comparing the moral
condition of his own times with that of the Sahăbah (R.A), he observes:
“Dignified in the company of their friends, praising Allah when they were
left alone, content with the lawful gains, grateful when ease of means,
resigned when in distress, remembering Almighty Allah among the idle and
craving the grace of Allah. When among the pious, such were the companions
of the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) their associates and their
friends. No matter what position they occupied in life, they were held in
high esteem by their companions and when they passed away, their spirit
took flight to the blessed companionship on high as the most celebrated
souls. O Muslims, those were your righteous ancestors, but when you
deviated from the right path, Almighty Allah too withheld his blessings
from you.”
Fearlessness of Hasan Basri (R): Hasan
Basri (R) was as much distinguished for his moral courage and un-flattered
pursuit of justice as he was in the field of scholarship and delivering
public speeches. He opposed the then caliph, Yazid ibn Abdul Mălik, in his
presence when once someone asked Hasan Basri (R) to express his opinion
about the two rebellions, Yazid ibn al-Muhallab and Ibn al-Ash’ath. Hasan
Basri (R) replied, “Don’t be a party to either group”. A Syrian, springing
upon his feet, repeated the question. “And not even to the
Amir-ul-Mu’meneen?” Hasan Basri (R) replied angrily “Yes, not even to the
Amir-ul-Mu’meneen .”
Death of Hasan Basri (R): The
immaculate sincerity, outstanding piety and moral and spiritual excellence
of Hasan Basri (R) had earned the affection of everyone in Basra. When he
passed away in 110 (AH), on 5th Rajjab on a Friday at the age of 89, the
entire population of Basra attended his funeral which took place on
Friday, so that for the first time in the history of Basra the Juma Masjid
of the city remained empty at the hour of the Asr prayer.
Article taken (with Thanks) from I.T.A
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