IMAM AL HASAN BIN ALI AL MUJTABA AS: Rawdhat al-Wa`ideen (Orchard of the Preachers) mentions that whenever “Hasan would do his ablution, he would tremble and his face would turn pale. He was asked about it, and he replied: `It is only natural that one who stands in the presence of the Lord of the Throne turns ashen, and trembles.

Imam al-Sadiq (a.s.) is also reported to have said: “Hasan bin Ali (a.s.) had certainly gone to hajj twenty-five times on foot. He shared his property with Allah twice…or three times.”

Ali bin Jadh`an, and Abu-Na`im report in Hulyat al-Awaliya` (Ornament of the Saints) and Tabaqat bin Sa`d (Castes of bin Sa`d) that Imam Hasan had given all his money to the needy twice, seeking Allah`s pleasure, and had given half his money to the needy three times. When he approached the door of the mosque, he would say. `O Lord! Your guest is at Your gate. O Generous! The transgressor has come to You. Forgive me my ugly deeds with Your Generosity. O Generous!`

When he remembered death he wept. When he thought of the grave he wept. When he thought of the Resurrection and Day of Judgement he gasped so deeply and painfully that he fainted because of it.

When he recited the Quran and came across a verse addressing the faithful by these words: `O you who believe…,` he said: `Here I am, my Lord, here I am…”

“What is asceticism?” the Imam was once asked.

“The desire to be pious and abstemious in this life,” he replied.

“What is forbearance?” he was asked.

“Restraining one`s anger and controlling oneself,” he answered.

“What is righteousness?” he was asked.

“Replacing the bad with the good,” came the answer.

“What is honour?” they asked.

“Being kind to one`s relatives and shouldering people`s burdens of sin.”

“What is the succour?” he was asked.

“Defending the neighbour, patience in war, and advance during adversities,” he said.

“What is glory?” he was asked.

“Giving while being in debt and forgiving others their offences.”

“What is manliness?”

“Holding onto the faith, keeping one`s self-respect, being merciful, being kind, giving back people`s trusts, and ingratiating oneself to the people…” (Tuhaf al-‘Uqool)

A Syrian, imbued with hatred and spite against the family of the Messenger of Allah (saww), by Mu’awiya bin Abi-Sufyan, once saw the Imam on horseback. He at once emitted a series of curses! Imam Hasan (a.s.) did not put in a word of protest or interruption. When the man finished, Imam Hasan (a.s.) approached him with a tender smile. He said to him:

“O old man! I think you are a stranger here. Maybe you mistook me for someone else? If you propitiate us, we will satisfy you. If you ask us, we will give you what you need. If you ask our advice, we will guide you. If you ask us to give you a ride, we will take you with us. If you are hungry, we will satisfy you. If you are naked, we will clothe you. If you are in need, we will make you rich. If you are a refugee, we will give you lodgings. If you have a request, we will grant it. If you join your luggage to ours, and be our guest until the time of your travel, it will be more useful to you, because we have a spacious place, a good social position, and a vast amount of money.”

Upon hearing these words, the Syrian poke into tears. Then he said: “I bear witness that you are the viceroy of Allah on the earth. Allah knows best whom to entrust with His message. You and your father were the most hateful creatures of Allah to me. But now you and your father are the most beloved from among all the creatures of Allah to me.” Then the Imam took the Syrian to his house as his guest till the time of his departure. The man had completely changed his opinion and position toward Ahlul-Bait (a.s.).

The most eminent of Imam Hasan (a.s.)’s attributes is his generosity. He believed that money was only a means to clothe the naked, help the destitute, pay the debts of the indebted, or satisfy the hungry. Once, he was asked: “We do not see you disappoint a beggar. Why?”

He replied: “I am asking Allah for His favours, and I love to be near Him. I am ashamed, as I am myself in need of Allah, to repulse a beggar. Allah got me used to a habit; to shower me with His bounties, and I get Him used to me showering His bounties on the people. I fear that should I stop my habit, He may stop His habit.”