Imam Hassan (as); Master of the Youth of Paradise

Imam Hassan (A), the elder son of Ali (A), and Fatima al-Zahra (the daughter of the prophet Mohammad) is the second Shiite Imam, succeeding his father Ali (A) and preceding his younger brother Husain (A). Muslims respect him as the grandson of Muhammad and a member of Ahl al-Bayt and Ahl al-Kisa. [1] Imam Hassan (A) was born in medina in 3rd (A.H), and lived there until he was martyred at the age of 45 or 46, and was buried in Al-Baqi' cemetery in Medina. [2]

Merits and virtues of this Imam are too many which is impossible to be mentioned in this short article. but we are going to briefly look at some of the important virtues of the Imam which has been narrated from the holy Prophet Mohammad (P) by Sunnite and Shiite scholars and reporters. Imam Hassan (A) and his grand brother imam Husain (A) are introduced as the two Masters of the youths in paradise by the holy prophet Mohammad (P). Ahmad ibn-e-Hambal, [3] Tirmizi, [4] Nisai [5] and ibn-e-Habban quoted on authority of Huzaifa, and Abu Saeed Khudri, that Prophet Mohammad (P) said -

Hasan (A) and Hussain (A) are the leaders of the youth of paradise and Fatimah (S.A) is the leader of the women of paradise.

The holy prophet in another hadith says that:

"whoever loves Hassan and Husain he will be in paradise but whoever dislike and hate them he will be in the hell." [6]

in many other hadiths the prophet (s) says:

"I am the enemy of those who are the enemy of Hassan and Husain (A), and Allah (J) also is the enemy of the people who are the enemy of Hassan and Husain (A)"

These kinds of hadiths have also been narrated by many Sunnite and Shiite narrators such as Tirmizi, ibn-Maja and Ibn-e-Habban and etc. [7]

[1] Donaldson, Dwight M. (1933). The Shi'ite Religion: A History of Islam in Persia and Irak. BURLEIGH PRESS. pp. 66–78.
[2] ibid, and Tabataba'i, Muhammad Husayn (1981). A Shi'ite Anthology, Translated by William Chittick; State University of New York Press, p. 137.
[3] إنّ الحسن والحسين سيّدا شباب أهل الجنّة، وأنّ فاطمة سيّدة نساء أهل الجنّة. مسند احمد: 6 / 542، حديث حذيفة بن يمان، حديث 22818.
[4] سنن تِرمذى: 5 / 426، كتاب المناقب، باب مناقب الحسن بن على عليهما السلام، حديث 3793.
[5] خصائص اميرالمؤمنين: 36، تاريخ بغداد: 9 / 231، حلية الاولياء: 4 / 190، الاصابه: 1 / 226، أُسد الغابه: 5 / 574.
[6] اَلْحَسَنَ وَ الْحُسَیْنَ مَنْ أَحَبَّهُما فَفِی الْجَنَّةِ وَ مَنْ أَبْغَضَهُما فَفِی النّارِ
[7] See: Fazael al-khamsa, v3, pages 202, 203, 206, 208.