AHLU ALBAYT

Mubarad and Ibn Aisha narrated that a man from Syria saw Imam Hassan (A.S.) riding a horse and started insulting him. Imam Hassan (A.S.) did not reply to the man. When the Syrian stopped, Imam Hassan (A.S.) proceeded towards him and after cheerfully greeting him said:

"Old man, I believe you are a stranger. Maybe you have confused me with another person. If you ask forgiveness, it is granted to you. If you ask for a means of transportation, we shall provide it for you. If you are hungry, we shall feed you. If you are in need of clothes, we shall cloth you. If you are deprived, we shall grant you. If you are being sought, we shall give you refuge. If you have any need, we shall fulfill it for you. And if you wish to proceed with your caravan be our guest until you leave, it would be more useful to you, for we hold a good position, great dignity and vast belongings."

When the man heard the words of al-Hassan he cried and said:

"I testify that you are Allah's heir on His earth. Allah surely knows to whom He assigns His Message. You and your Father were the most resented of Allah's creatures to me, but now you are the most beloved of Allah's creatures to me."

The man then directed his caravan and became their guest of the town until he departed while believing in their love.

AMR BIL MA'ROOF

An old man sat to do his wudhu. But his wudhu was not correct. Imam Hasan (A.S.) and Imam Hussain (A.S.) the grandsons of the Prophet (S.A.W.), then two young boys, watched him. They immediately realized that the old man was not doing his wudhu correctly, but hesitated to tell him directly. Perhaps the old man would feel humiliated by two young boys, or he might even lose interest in the act of worship.

Sitting next to him, they started to do the wudhu and during the wudhu, Imam Hasan (A.S.) said: "Oh Hussain my wudhu is correct and more perfect than yours."

In reply, Imam Hussain (A.S.) insisted that his own wudhu was better than Imam Hasan's.

Finally they said: "Let us refer to this gentleman. He is older than us and should be able to decide."

The old man was listening patiently. The boys performed their wudhu under his supervision, one after the other. And when they had finished, he realized the wudhu done by the boys was methodical and correct. It was his own wudhu which was incorrect. Turning to Imam Hasan (A.S.) and Imam Hussain (A.S.), he gently said: "The wudhu done by you is correct. I am grateful that you chose to guide me in such a beautiful manner."

MAID SERVANT OF IMAM HASAN (AS)

The Holy Qur'an is not just there to read but to learn from and act upon. It is the word of Allah and teaches us everything we need to know if only we understood it.

Once a maid of our 2nd Imam, Imam Hasan (AS) dropped a hot bowl of soup on Imam (AS).

She was very scared because she thought the Imam (AS) would be angry and punish her.

She immediately recited the Ayah: "...Those who control (their) anger..."

Imam Hasan (AS) smiled and said he was not angry.

Then she recited the next part of the Ayah: "...And are forgiving towards people..."

Imam Hasan (AS) said he had forgiven her.

She then finished the Ayah: "...Allah loves those who do good..."

Imam Hasan (AS) told her she was free.

The above Ayah is from the Holy Qur'an: Surah Aal-e-Imraan (3), verse 134.