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His Social Life
Imam Hassan (PBUH) had fifteen children, seven of whom were from three women: Umm Bashir, daughter of Abu Mas’ud bin Aqbah al-Khazraji; Khawla, daughter of Manzur al-Fazari; and Umm Ishaq, daughter of Talhah bin Ubayd Allah al-Tamimi. The rest were from other concubines, three or four in number.
As for the well-known claim that Imam Hassan (PBUH) married many women, up to three hundred, and was a frequent divorcer, with Amir al-Mu’minin (PBUH) warning people from the pulpits of Kufa about his marriages—this is a product of Umayyad propaganda aimed at degrading Imam Hassan’s character. They sought to portray him as a lustful man who cared only for pleasure and had no concern for the religion or the Ummah. This propaganda grew in later times as a justifying narrative for the behavior of corrupt caliphs who amassed women for their animalistic desires.
These claims do not hold up under scientific scrutiny for the following reasons:
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The story of marrying three hundred women first appeared in Abu Talib al-Makki’s book Qut al-Qulub and was later adopted by others. He was a Sufi from the Sunni tradition.
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Imam Hassan (PBUH) only had fifteen children during his fifty-year life. Had he married as many as claimed—or even a quarter or a tenth of that number—he would have had hundreds of children.
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History only preserves the names of the three women mentioned above. Had Imam Hassan (PBUH) divorced over seventy women, this would have been a point of pride among Muslims, considering his status as the grandson of the Prophet (PBUH).
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The reports about the number of women Imam Hassan (PBUH) married or divorced are contradictory. Had these reports been true, they would not have contradicted each other so strongly. His male children are: Zayd, Hassan, Amr, Qasim, Abdullah, Abdurrahman, Hussain, and Talhah.
His Character (PBUH)
It is essential for an infallible Imam to possess all virtues and be free from any vices. The Imam is the epitome of all noble qualities, and to him belong the highest moral traits. However, each Imam has been known for specific virtues that distinguished them from others.
One of the qualities that Imam Hassan (PBUH) was famous for was his majesty, dignity, and honor. It was narrated that whenever he sat at his door, the street would be blocked, and no one would pass by out of respect for him. People would only continue walking once he entered his house. He walked through the streets of Makkah, and whenever someone saw him walking, they would dismount from their camels and walk behind him. Even Sa’d bin Abi Waqqas did this out of respect.
In Al-Manaqib, it is reported that someone told Imam Hassan (PBUH) that he had great magnificence, to which he replied: “No, I have dignity, for Allah says: ‘To Allah belongs the dignity, to His Messenger, and to the believers.'” Wasil bin Ata said that Imam Hassan (PBUH) had the appearance of the Prophets and the majesty of kings.
Imam Hassan (PBUH) was also known for his generosity and magnanimity. It was narrated that a man asked him for a gift, and Imam Hassan gave him fifty thousand dirhams and five hundred dinars, saying, “Bring me a porter to carry this.” When the porter arrived, Imam Hassan gave him his cloak, saying, “This is the porter’s payment.” It was also reported by Ibn Shahr Ashub in Al-Manaqib that Imam Hassan (PBUH) gave away his property as charity and gave four hundred dirhams to someone who asked for assistance.
Imam Hassan (PBUH) was also known for his humility and love for the poor. It was narrated that he passed by some poor people who were sitting on the ground, picking up crumbs of bread to eat. They invited him to join them for lunch, and he sat with them, reciting the verse from the Quran: “Indeed, Allah does not like the arrogant.” He ate with them until they were full, and the food remained as it was due to his blessing. Later, he invited them to his home, where they were fed and clothed.
His Worship (PBUH)
Imam Hassan (PBUH), along with his brother Imam Hussain (PBUH), was one of the most devout individuals of his time. He exemplified the very purpose for which Allah created mankind: “And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me.”
There are numerous reports about his devotion. It is narrated that when Imam Hassan (PBUH) performed wudu (ablution), his body would tremble and his face would pale. When asked about this, he replied: “It is right for anyone who stands before the Lord of the Throne to tremble and turn pale.”
He would remain silent after the Fajr prayer until the sun rose. Imam al-Sadiq (PBUH) narrated that Imam Hassan (PBUH) performed pilgrimage (Hajj) twenty-five times on foot, and gave half of his wealth in charity twice.
Imam al-Sadiq (PBUH) also said: “My father, from his father, narrated that Imam Hassan (PBUH) was the most devout, ascetic, and virtuous of people. He would walk to Hajj, sometimes barefoot, and whenever death, the grave, resurrection, or the passage over the Sirat (bridge) was mentioned, he would weep uncontrollably. His body would tremble in his prayers, and whenever he remembered Paradise and Hell, he would shake with fear, asking Allah for Paradise and seeking refuge from the Fire.”