Did Imam Husayn (‘a) Oppose the Peace Treaty of Imam Hasan (‘a)?

پرسش : Did Imam Husayn (‘a) oppose the peace treaty of Imam Hasan (‘a) with Mu‘āwīyah?

پاسخ اجمالی:

In some of the sources of the Ahl al-Sunnah, it has been mentioned that Imam Husayn opposed his brother in the peace treaty that he signed with Mu‘āwīyah. In the following article, we will research this issue and critique it from the perspective of authenticity and historical accuracy. From looking at the historical sources, it appears that Ṭabarī was the first to narrate this from ‘Uthmān ibn ‘Abd al-Raḥmān. He has written: ‘Uthmān ibn ‘Abd al-Raḥmān has narrated that Hasan ibn ‘Alī wrote to Mu‘āwīyah in regards to a peace treaty and asked for safety. Hasan said to Husayn and ‘Abdullah ibn Ja‘far (his cousin) that: I have written Mu‘āwīyah in regards to a peace treaty. Husayn responded: I ask you by God not to confirm Mu‘āwīyah’s story and not to deny ‘Alī’s story. Hasan said to him: Be silent, for I know what to do better than you.[1] The following other historians have also mentioned this report: Ibn ‘Asākir[2] in his book Tārīkh Damishq[3], Ibn Athīr[4] in his book Kāmil Fī Tārīkh[5], Ibn Khaldūn[6] in his book Tārīkh al-‘Ibr[7] and Ḥamdullah Mastūfī[8] in his summarized history text.[9]

Hasan: A Name from God

پرسش : How have the sourcebooks of the Ahl al-Sunnah narrated how Imam Hasan (‘a) was given his name?

پاسخ اجمالی:

Answer: Muḥib al-Dīn Ṭabarī has narrated from AsmāÞ, the daughter of ‘Amīs that: Fatimah (‘a) gave birth to her son Hasan (‘a). The Prophet (s) came to visit me and said: Oh AsmāÞ, bring me my grandson. I brought him to the Prophet (s) while he was wrapped up in a yellow colored cloth. He unwrapped the child from the cloth and said: Did I not tell you not to wrap any newborns in a yellow colored cloth? AsmāÞ narrates: I wrapped the child in a white colored cloth. The Prophet (s) then took him and he recited the Adhān in his right year and the Iqāmah in his left ear.

Imam Husayn: The Object of Special Respect from the Prophet (s)

پرسش : Was Imam Husayn specially respected by the Prophet (s) according to the viewpoint of the Ahl al-Sunnah?

پاسخ اجمالی:

Although the Ahl al-Sunnah do not look at Imam Husayn (‘a) as a divinely appointed Imam, yet, they have still narrated many reports in regards to his virtues and sublime characteristics and they do recognize that he was specially respected by the Prophet of Islam (s). We will narrate some of these reports, which can be found in the history books and the books of tradition of the Ahl al-Sunnah, below:

The Night of Qadr: A Night for All of Humanity

پرسش : Is the Night of Qadr a single night for all of the earth? This night has been accorded much importance and greatness in our religion and it has been mentioned that this night falls either on the 19th, 21st, or 23rd of the month of Ramaḍān; in addition, many acts of worship and devotion have been listed for this night. It appears that the Night of Qadr is only one night out of all the nights of the year. Yet at the same time, we know that the month of Ramaḍān begins one day earlier or later in various countries in the world. Due to this reason, the Night of Qadr can potentially take place on various nights depending on which part of the world we are in. Does this mean that the Night of Qadr is in reality two nights or sometimes three, or is this a night that only applied to the time of the Prophet (ṣ) and the region of Mecca (in the Ḥijāz)?

پاسخ اجمالی:

According to the sources that we have at hand, it is certain that the Night of Qadr was not exclusive to the time of the Prophet (s) and the region of the Ḥijāz. It is something that will continue forever and in all lands. This is something which is certain and there is no controversy regarding it. The main question here is whether the night begins during a specific and set time and then ends at a set time as well for all those on this earth.

Which Night is the Night of Qadr?

پرسش : Which night is considered to be the Night of Qadr?

پاسخ اجمالی:

There is no question that the Night of Qadr takes place during the month of Ramaḍān; the reason behind this certainty is that the verses of the Quran all express this understanding. For example, one verse states: “The Quran was revealed during the month of Ramaḍān.”[1] Another verse states: “It was revealed during the night of Qadr.”[2]

The Night of Qadr Is a Gift amongst the Gifts of God

پرسش : Did the night of Qadr exist amongst previous nations?

پاسخ اجمالی:

The verses of Surah Qadr appear to convey the meaning that the night of Qadr is not exclusive to the time of the Prophet (s) and the revelation of the Quran; rather, it is something that will take place each year and will continue until the end of this world. The present tense use of the word ‘sent down’ and the sentence structure of the verse stating: “It is peaceful until the rising of the dawn.”[1] all show that this is something which will continue throughout time. In addition to the sentence structure of the verses of Surah Qadr, there are also many traditions (which may reach the rank of Tawātur) which confirm such a meaning.

The Reason behind the Naming of the Night of Qadr

پرسش : Why has the Night of Qadr been named as such?

پاسخ اجمالی:

There are many things to be said as to why the Night of Qadr has been named as such:

The Relationship between Our Efforts and the Divine Decree

پرسش : What is the relationship between our efforts and the divine decree?

پاسخ اجمالی:

There is no question that the divine decree extends along with the level of our own efforts and hard work. The verses of the Quran have explicitly mentioned this issue: “and that nothing belongs to man except what he strives for”[1] and “Every soul is hostage to what it has earned”[2].