Al-Hasan al-Muthanna: Difference between revisions

Hasan b. Hasan b. Ali b. Abi Talib known as Hasan al-al-Muthanna was the son of [[Imam Hasan (a)]] and one of the noblemen of Alawites. In the Event of Karbala, he was a member of Imam Husayn’s (a) army. Although he was injured in the Event of ‘Ashura, he was not killed through the intercession of one of his maternal relatives; and after recovering from injuries, he returned from Kufa to Medina. He was in charge of alms given by Imam Ali (a). He took part in the rebellion of ‘Abd al-Rahman b. Muhammad against Hajjaj b. Yusuf. There are disagreements among scholars whether Hasan al-Muthanna claimed to be an Imam.

His father was Imam Hasan al-Mujtaba (a). His mother was Khawla bint Manzur b. Zabban Fazari. After the death of her husband (36 AH), Muhammad b. Talha b. ‘Ubayd Allah, in the Battle of Jamal, Khawla married Imam Hasan (a).

His wife was his cousin, Fatima, the daughter of Imam Husayn (a). They got married before the Event of ‘Ashura.

His sons whose mother was Fatima, the daughter of Imam Husayn (a), were ‘Abd Allah Mahd, Ibrahim ‘Amr, and Hasan Muthallath, all of whom passed away in the prison of Abu Ja‘far Mansur, the Abbasid caliph.

His grandchildren, specially sons of ‘Abd Allah b. Hasan, who himself was a literate and knowledgeable man, such as Muhammad known as Nafs Zakiyyah and Ibrahim known as Qatil Bakhamra, led important movements against the Abbasids.

On the day of ‘Ashura, he bravely fought beside Imam Husayn (a) and was injured and captive. His maternal uncle, Asma’ b. Kharijah Fazari, saved him. He was cured in Kufa; and after recovering, he returned to Medina.

According to Imam Ali’s (a) will, Hasan al-Muthanna was the custodian of alms given by Imam (a) and the properties he (a) had endowed in Medina.

When Hajjaj b. Yusuf Thaqafi was the ruler of Medina, he wanted Hasan al-Muthanna to let ‘Umar b. Ali  help him in custodianship of alms, because ‘Umar was Hasan al-Muthanna’s uncle. But, since only the children of Lady Fatima (a) have the right to hold custodianship of alms, he refused and went to Sham to ‘Abd al-Malik b. Marwan, the Umayyad caliph; and the caliph prevented Hajjaj from that.

Hasan al-Muthanna put his son, ‘Abd Allah, in charge of custodianship of alms after his death. But Mansur ‘Abbasi imprisoned ‘Abd Allah and held custodianship of alms himself.

==Cooperation with ‘Abd al-Rahman b. Muhammad==

When ‘Abd al-Rahman b. Muhammad b. Ash‘ath Kindi rebelled against Hajjaj b. Yusuf, he intended to call himself the caliph. But because only someone from Quraysh could hold caliphate, he wrote letters to noblemen of Alawites, Imam Sajjad (a) and Hasan al-Muthanna, to convince them. Imam Sajjad (a) declined his request. Hasan al-Muthanna who thought rebels might break their allegiance, refused to accept caliphate of ‘Abd al-Rahman as well. But, after their insistence, finally he became convinced and paid allegiance to him as the caliph. Famous Iraqi scholars such as ‘Abd al-Rahman b. Abi Liyli, Sha‘bi, Muhammad b. Sirin, and Hasan Basri paid allegiance to him who was called al-Radi.

In Zaydis’ references, Hasan al-Muthanna has been mentioned as an Imam.

After the death of Ibn Ash‘ath in 85 AH, Hasan al-Muthanna fled. Finally, the agents of Walid b. ‘Abd al-Malik poisoned and killed him. They transferred his body to Medina and buried him in Baqi‘ graveyard.