IMAM HASAN (A.S.) AS SEEN BY WESTERN WRITERS

Ian Roe Buck wrote:

Imam Ali’s son Imam Hasan, the son of the Perfect woman Fatima, daughter of Muhammad, was born in Medina in the middle of Ramadan, just three years after the flight from Mecca or 624 AD. According to the Shia history and all texts, he was the most similar looking to Muhammad of all the family. According to the history of Islam,

Fatima brought Imam Hasan and Imam Husayn to their grandfather and asked He give them an inheritance. Muhammad said that Hasan had Muhammad’s likeness and nobility, and Husayn Muhammad’s generosity and bravery.

He further writes: There was an old man from Syria who had been given to hate the Imam and the family of Muhammad by Abu Sufyan. He saw this blessed being riding on a horse and began to curse him. Imam did not interrupt him, and when the old man was done, he spoke to him; “O old man! I think you are stranger here. May be you mistook me for some one else. If you propitiate us, we will satisfy you. If you ask us, we will give you what you need. If you ask for our advice, we will guide you. If you ask us for a ride, we will take you with us. If you are hungry, we will satisfy you. If you are in need, we will make you rich……When the old man heard these words of the Imam, he began to weep. Then he broke into an exclamation of faith, and said tearfully: “I declare that you are the appointed of God on earth. You and your father Ali were hated by me above all things, but now you and Ali are the most beloved of all.”

Edward Gibbon wrote in “The History of Decline of Roman Empire”

These people (Prophet’s Progeny) did not possess arms, wealth but still people respected them which generated jealousy in the hearts of the rulers. Their mausoleums are still in Medina, near the river Euphrates and Khurasan. These respectable people were always falsely accused of revolt and civil wars. Where as these royal friends of Allah always hated the worldly status and in accordance with the will of Allah, patiently faced the oppression of the rulers and continued to spread Islam and preached piety for whole life.”