4. His Noble Character
Inhuman perfection Imam Hasanwas reminiscent of his fatheranda
perfectexampleofhisnoblegrandfather.Infact,aslongastheProphet
wasalive,heandhisbrotherwerealwaysinthecompanyoftheProphet
whoevensometimeswouldcarrythemonhisshoulders.BothSunniand
Shi’itesourceshavetransmittedthissayingoftheHolyProphetconcern-
ingHasanandHusayn:“ThesetwochildrenofmineareImamswhether
theystanduporsitdown”(allusiontowhethertheyoccupytheexternal
functionofcaliphateornot).AlsotherearemanytraditionsoftheHoly
Prophet and‘Alīconcerningthe fact that Imam Hasanwould gainthe
function of imamate after his noble father.
Imam Hasan was well-known for spiritual wayfaring; he had also
gone for pilgrimage 25 times bywalking all the way from Medina to
Mecca.
TheImamwasalsoknownforhisgenerosity.Onhearingamanpray-
ingbytheKa’bahtoAllāhforrelievinghimofa10,000dirhamdebt,the
Imamwenthome,returnedwiththatmoneyandgaveittothatperson.
Threetimesinhislife,theImamdividedhisentirepropertyandposses-
sions and gave away onehalf in charity.