page_title: Hasan ibn Ali
section_title: Life under the first four Caliphs
hierarchical_section_title: Hasan ibn Ali / Life under the first four Caliphs
caption_attribution_description: Folio from a Tarikhnama (Book of history) by Balami
context_page_description: Al-Hasan ibn Ali ibn Abi Talib, sometimes spelled Hasan or Hassan, was the eldest son of Ali and Muhammad's daughter Fatimah, and was the older brother of Husayn, as well as the fifth of Rashidun, or "Rightly Guided Caliphs". Muslims respect him as a grandson of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad. Among Shia Muslims, Hasan is revered as the second Imam. Hasan was elected for the caliphate after his father's death, but abdicated after six or seven months to Muawiyah I, the founder of the Umayyad dynasty to end the First Fitna. After Hasan's abdication, the caliphate turned into kingship. al-Hasan was known for donating to the poor, his kindness to the poor and bond men, and for his knowledge, tolerance and bravery. For the rest of his life, Hasan lived in Medina, until he died at the age of 45 and was buried in the Jannat al-Baqi cemetery in Medina. His wife, Ja'da bint al-Ash'at, is commonly accused of having poisoned him.
context_section_description: Al-Hasan was one of the guards defending ‘Uthman ibn ‘Affan during his assassination. During the reign of ‘Ali, he was a participant in the Battles of Siffin, Nahrawan and Jamal.
caption: The Battle of Siffin, in which followers of Caliph ‘Ali, including Al-Hasan, fought the party of Mu‘awiyah.
exif: {}