The Caliphate: Its Rise, Decline, and Fall/Chapter 44
CHAPTER XLIV
AL-ḤASAN SUCCEEDS ʿALĪ. ABDICATES IN FAVOUR
OF MUʿĀWIYA
40–41 A.H. 661 A.D.
Ḥasan succeeds his father,
40 A.H.
661 A.D.When they had committed ʿAlī, we know not where, to his last home, Al-Kūfa did homage, as it were by common consent, to Al-Ḥasan, his eldest son. But Al-Ḥasan was a poor-spirited creature, more intent on varying the charms of his ever-changing ḥarīm than on the business of public life, and altogether unworthy his descent as grandson of the Prophet.
but is attacked by Muʿāwiya and mobbed by his own troops.It was now Muʿāwiya's opportunity for asserting his title to the whole Muslim Empire. Already he was recognised as Caliph throughout Syria and Egypt. Al-Ḥasan had at command the army of 40,000 prepared by his father, but he had no stomach for the war. Sending forward his vanguard of 12,000 men, under the brave and faithful Ḳeis, to meet the enemy, he himself followed irresolutely; and, with the bulk of his army, rested at Al-Medāin amidst the luxurious gardens of the old Persian court. While thus ignobly holding back, the report gained currency at Al-Medāin that Ḳeis had been defeated and slain. An émeute ensued. The troops rose mutinously upon the Caliph. They rushed into his sumptuous pavilion, and plundered the royal tents even to the carpets. A project was set on foot to seize his person, and, by delivering him up to Muʿāwiya, thus make favourable terms. The faint-hearted Caliph, alarmed at the outbreak, took refuge in the Palace of the Chosroes, a more congenial residence than the martial camp; and, trusting no longer to his fickle and disloyal people, sent letters of submission to Muʿāwiya. He agreed to abdicate and retire to Medīna, on condition that he should retain the contents of the treasury of Al-Kūfa, five million pieces, in addition to the revenues of a Persian district;Ḥasan abdicates in favour of Muʿāwiya,
21 iii. 41 A.H.
26 July, 661 A.D., and that the imprecation against his father should drop from the public prayers. Muʿāwiya granted the first request; as for the second, he consented that no prayer reviling ʿAlī should be recited within hearing of the son. The truce was ratified accordingly.
and retires to Medīna.And so, after a brief and inglorious reign of five or six months, Al-Ḥasan, with his household and belongings, quitted Al-Kūfa for Arabia. The people wept at his departure. But Al-Ḥasan left them without regret. They were a race, he said, in whom no trust could be reposed, and who had set purpose neither for evil nor for good.
Ḳeis submits.Ḳeis, whose ability and prowess were worthy of a better cause, remained for some while longer in the field. At length, having obtained terms for all who had been fighting on the side of ʿAlī, and there being no longer any master now to fight for, he laid down his arms and did homage to Muʿāwiya.
Damascus capital of Islām.Thus, at last, Muʿāwiya was able to make triumphal entry into Al-Kūfa. Having there received the homage of the Eastern provinces, he returned to Syria sole and undisputed Caliph of Islām. The year is called the Year of Union (jamāʿa), Damascus thenceforth was the capital of the Empire.
Continued imprecation against ʿAlī.The imprecations against the memory of ʿAlī, his house, and his adherents, still formed part of the public service; and so, indeed, they continued to do throughout the Umeiyad Caliphate, except during the Caliphate of ʿOmar.
Ḥasan poisoned by his wife.The short-lived Caliph retired to Medīna, where, with ample means to gratify his ruling passion, he passed his time in ease and quietness, giving no further anxiety to Muʿāwiya. He survived eight years, and met his death by poison at the hand of one of his wives. It was a not unnatural end for "Al-Ḥasan the Divorcer." ʿAlid tradition, indeed, would have us to believe that the lady was bribed to commit the crime, and thus exalts the libertine to the dignity of "Martyr." But Muʿāwiya had no object in ridding himself of his harmless subject; and the jealousies of Al-Ḥasan's ever-changing ḥarīm afford a sufficient and a likelier reason. Of his brother Al-Ḥosein there will be more to tell.