Al-Hasan ibn Abi-Al-Hasan Al-Basri

Hasan Al-Basri (Arabic: الحسن البصري‎; full name: Al-Hasan ibn Abi-Al-Hasan Al-Basri), (642–728), was a well-known Sunni preacher, theologian, and scholar of Islam who was born in 642 from Persian parents. Brought up in the house of Umm Salama the wife of prophet, The name of (Al basri) in Arabic means the person that the Basra city (in Iraq) is his homeland. Hasan met many companions of Muhammad including, it is said, seventy of the warriors who fought in the Battle of Badr. Hasan grew up to become one of the most prominent figures of his generation, being famous for his piety and condemnation of worldliness. When he died on Friday 5th of Rajab 110 AH, at the age of 89, the entire population of Basra attended his funeral, so that the first time in history of Basra the Jami Masjid of the city remained empty at the hour of the Asr prayer. Hasan quickly became an exemplar for other saints in the area and his personality made a deep impression upon his contemporaries.

Imam al-Hasan al-Basri رحمه الله  said:

"One who acts without knowledge is like one who travels off the path; and the one who acts without knowledge corrupts more than he rectifies. So seek knowledge in a way that does not harm your worship, and seek to worship Allah in a way that does not harm your seeking of knowledge. For verily, there were people {the Khawarij} who sought to worship Allah but abandoned knowledge until they attacked the Ummah of the Prophet Muhammad ~ peace and blessings of Allah be upon him ~ with their swords. But if they had sought knowledge, it would not have directed them to do what they did."

{Related by Hafiz Yusuf Ibn ‘Abd Al-Barr, Jami’ Bayan Al-’Ilm wa Fadlihi}

 

Imam Hasan Al-Basri رحمه الله was on his deathbed, some of his companions came to him and said:  "O Abu Sa’id, offer us some words you can benefit us with." He replied,

“I will equip you with three words, then you must leave me to face what I am facing. Be the farthest of people from those things you have been forbidden, and be the most involved of people in the good you have been commanded to do; and know that the steps you take are two steps: a step in your favor and a step against you, so be careful where you come and where you go.”

{Related by Imam Abu Nu’aym, Hilyatul’ Awliyah`, Volume 2, pg.154}