I asked, “(O Maula!) She greeted you and presented you with a vase of flowers, which is valueless and in return, why did you set her free?”
Imam (as) responded, “Allah (SWT) has taught me that when someone greets you, then in reply, greet the person in a better manner. ‘When you are greeted with a salute, greet with a better one than it, or return it; indeed Allah takes account of all deeds’ (4:86) My best form of returning her greeting was to set her free”.] (Manaqib Aali Abi Talib)
Once someone accused Imam Hasan (as) of enjoying haughtiness. Imam (as) said, “No! I enjoy honour. Allah says: ‘Honour belongs to Allah, His messenger and to the believers’. (63:8).” (Tuhaf al-‘Uqool)
HIS KNOWLEDGE OF QURAN
A Man came to Ibn Abbas and Ibn ‘Umar, and asked the interpretations of SHAAHID (Witness) and MASH-HOOD (One who is witnessed) in the Holy Quran.
Ibn Abbas said, “SHAAHID was the day of Friday whereas MASH-HOOD referred to the day of ‘Arafah”. Ibn ‘Umar said, “SHAAHID was the day of Friday but MASH-HOOD refers to the day of sacrifice in Hajj”.
The man then went to Imam Hasan al-Mujtaba (as) and asked him the same question. Imam (as) said, “SHAAHID is the Holy Prophet (saww) and MASH-HOOD refers to the day of Judgement”. When the man asked the Imam (as) to prove the same from the Holy Quran, Imam (as) recited the following two verses from the Holy Quran:
“O Prophet! Surely We have sent you as a SHAAHID (witness) and as a bearer of good news and as a warner”. (33:45)
“This is the day on which people shall be gathered together and this is the day of MASH-HOOD (that shall be witnessed)”. (11:103)
When the man heard this, he said, “The reply of al-Hasan is better.
