al-Hasan al-Basri

al-Hasan al-Basri (c. 21–110 AH / 642–728 CE) was an early Muslim scholar, jurist, and ascetic based in Basra, widely regarded as one of the preeminent figures of the Successor (Tabi'i) generation Qiladat al-Nahr fi Wafaya…+1.

Lineage and Early Life

His full name was Abu Sa'id al-Hasan ibn Abi al-Hasan Yasar al-Basri Tahdhib al-Tahdhib+1. His father, Yasar, was among the captives of Maysan (also reported as Bisan), who was brought to Medina and freed by al-Rubayyi' bint al-Nadr, the paternal aunt of Anas ibn Malik; Yasar was also linked by patronymic clientage (wala') to Zayd ibn Thabit, Abu al-Yusr Ka'b ibn 'Amr al-Salami, or Jamil (or Umm Jamil) bint Qutbah al-Asami wa al-Kuna - Abu…+1. His mother was Khayrah, a freedwoman of the Prophet's ﷺ wife Umm Salama Tahdhib al-Tahdhib+1.

He was born in Medina when two years remained of the caliphate of Umar ibn al-Khattab Tahdhib al-Tahdhib+1. As an infant, he was raised in the proximity of the Prophet's ﷺ wives; when his mother was away on errands for Umm Salama, Umm Salama would nurse him, which later reports associated with his renowned wisdom and eloquence Qiladat al-Nahr fi Wafaya…+1. He was brought to the Companions as a child, and Umar prayed for him: "O Allah, grant him deep understanding of the religion and make him beloved to the people" Aqdiyat al-Hasan al-Basri…. He grew up in Medina and Wadi al-Qura, attended the Friday sermon of Uthman ibn Affan, and witnessed the Day of the House (the siege of Uthman) at the age of fourteen Qiladat al-Nahr fi Wafaya…+1. He left Medina around the time of the Battle of Siffin and subsequently settled in Basra Aqdiyat al-Hasan al-Basri…+1.

Scholarly Transmission and Career

In his early administrative career, he served as a scribe for al-Rabi' ibn Ziyad al-Harithi, the governor of Khurasan during the reign of Mu'awiya I, and also wrote for Anas ibn Malik in Sabur for approximately three years Tahdhib al-Tahdhib+1.

In hadith, he narrated from numerous Companions, including Uthman ibn Affan, Ali ibn Abi Talib, Abu Musa al-Ash'ari, Abu Bakrah, Imran ibn Husayn, Jundub al-Bajali, Abdullah ibn Umar, Abdullah ibn Abbas, Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-As, Mu'awiya, Ma'qil ibn Yasar, Anas ibn Malik, and Jabir ibn Abd Allah Tahdhib al-Tahdhib+1. Although he saw Talhah ibn Ubayd Allah and A'ishah, scholars noted that direct hearing from her or seeing Ali was disputed or unverified in certain lines Qiladat al-Nahr fi Wafaya…. He was also known to transmit mursal narrations from earlier Companions he did not meet or hear from, such as Ubayy ibn Ka'b, Sa'd ibn Ubadah, Ammar ibn Yasir, and Abu Hurayrah Tahdhib al-Tahdhib+1.

A prominent circle of students transmitted from him in Basra, including Qatadah, Ayyub al-Sakhtiyani, Abdullah ibn Awn, Humayd al-Tawil, and Bakr ibn Abd Allah al-Muzani Tahdhib al-Tahdhib+1. Among his transmitted theological and exegetical works is his Quranic commentary (Tafsir al-Qur'an) and his epistle addressed to the Umayyad caliph Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan concerning the theological doctrine of divine decree and human responsibility al-Fihrist.

Political Stance and Standing

During the revolt of Abd al-Rahman ibn al-Ash'ath, reports state that he initially gave allegiance, but after Ibn al-Ash'ath was defeated, al-Hasan entered upon the Umayyad governor al-Hajjaj ibn Yusuf, who reprimanded him and granted him safety al-Fihrist. Distrusting al-Hajjaj's intentions, al-Hasan subsequently remained in hiding until al-Hajjaj's death, upon which he prostrated in gratitude and openly condemned his conduct Fasl al-Khitab fi al-Zuhd…+1.

He was widely acclaimed by contemporaries for his piety, preaching, and adherence to the prophetic model. Abu Burdah observed that among those who met the Companions, none resembled them more closely than al-Hasan Tabaqat al-Huffaz li al-S…. When Anas ibn Malik was asked about a legal ruling, he directed the questioner to al-Hasan, stating: "Ask our master al-Hasan; he heard as we heard, but he memorized while we forgot" Tabaqat al-Huffaz li al-S…. Sulayman al-Taymi similarly described him as the leading elder and authority of the people of Basra Tabaqat al-Huffaz li al-S….

Death

Al-Hasan al-Basri died in Basra in the month of Rajab, 110 AH (728 CE), at the age of eighty-eight or eighty-nine Fasl al-Khitab fi al-Zuhd…+1. His contemporary Muhammad ibn Sirin died approximately one hundred nights after him, in the month of Shawwal of the same year Tarikh Mawlid al-Ulama wa….