had gathered around a man. He asked, “Who is that?” They answered, “Al-Hasan.” He said, “It is the grinding of camels that have never learned to grind. Every people has someone who turns them back, and the one who turns us back is al-Hasan.”

Jaʿfar ibn Muḥammad reported from his father that ʿAlī once declared, “People of Kūfah, do not marry your daughters to al-Hasan, for he is a habitual divorcer. I fear he will leave us with lasting enmity among the tribes.”

Suwayd ibn Ghafalah said, “A woman from Khathʿam was married to al-Hasan. After ʿAlī was killed and al-Hasan was given the oath of allegiance, he entered upon her and she said, ‘May the caliphate bring you joy.’ He replied, ‘So you gloat over ʿAlī’s death! You are thrice divorced.’ She protested, ‘By Allah, that was not my intention.’ He later sent her 20,000 dirhams, and she said:
‘A paltry gift from a beloved who departs.’ (1)

Shurayk narrated from ʿĀṣim, from Abū Razīn: “Al-Hasan ibn ʿAlī addressed us on a Friday and recited Sūrah Ibrāhīm from the pulpit until he completed it.”

Manṣūr ibn Zādhān narrated from Ibn Sīrīn: “Al-Hasan ibn ʿAlī would never invite anyone to a meal, saying, ‘Feeding a person without formality is easier than inviting him.’”

Al-Mubarrad said: It was said to al-Hasan ibn ʿAlī, “Abū Dharr says, ‘Poverty is dearer to me than wealth, and sickness is dearer to me than health.’” He replied, “May Allah have mercy on Abū Dharr. As for me, I say: Whoever relies upon Allah’s wise choice for him will wish for nothing else.”

This is the utmost degree of accepting with contentment whatever the divine decree brings. (2)