Hasan ibn Ali

Hasan was born in 3 AH, the first child of Ali and Fatimah. The Prophet named him Hasan (previously the name was not common among the Arabs), performed the aqiqah for him, and he closely resembled the Prophet in appearance. The Prophet's love for his grandsons was well known. He would carry Hasan on his shoulders, and once while he was giving a khutbah (sermon), Hasan came toddling in and the Prophet descended from the minbar to pick him up, saying: 'This son of mine is a sayyid (leader), and perhaps Allah will use him to reconcile between two great groups of Muslims.' This prophecy was fulfilled when Hasan abdicated the caliphate to Mu'awiyah in 41 AH to prevent Muslim bloodshed, in what became known as 'Am al-Jama'ah (the Year of Unity). The Prophet said: 'Whoever loves Hasan and Husayn has loved me, and whoever hates them has hated me.' He also said: 'Hasan and Husayn are the leaders of the youth of the people of Paradise.' Hasan was known for his generosity, his forbearance, and his resemblance to the Prophet. Abu Bakr used to say while looking at Hasan: 'He looks like the Prophet, not like Ali,' and Ali would smile at this.