The first grandson
Hasan b. Ali (a), the second Imam, was born in Madinah on 15 Ramadan 3 AH, the first child of Ali (a) and Fatima (a) and the first grandchild of the Prophet (s), who chose his name — unknown among the Arabs before — and carried him on his shoulders. He was seven when the Prophet died, old enough to remember the Mubahila, where he stood as one of the Prophet's "sons", and to be counted among the five under the Cloak.
Generosity
He gave away his entire wealth twice and half of it three times, and walked to the Hajj twenty-five times; the Shia call him the generous one of the family of the Prophet. He commanded at Jamal and Siffin under his father and, as caliph for some months after him, made the peace with Mu'awiya that saved the lives of his followers at the cost of his own authority.
Observance
His birthday falls in the middle of Ramadan, and is celebrated in the evening after the fast; in many communities it is a night of feeding the poor in his memory. He was martyred by poison in Safar 50 AH and buried in al-Baqi.
Written for Shia Online Community. Dates and facts are checked against the references listed under Research & books; where the tradition records more than one date, all are given.
