Hawzah News Agency- Speaking at a mourning gathering for the Prophet and Imam Hasan at the Imam Reza Holy Shrine in Mashhad on Wednesday, Hojatoleslam Mohsen Kazerouni, the representative of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution to the Imam Khomeini Relief Foundation, offered condolences on the martyrdom anniversary of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and Imam Hasan Mujtaba (AS), and shed light on the character of the Prophet and the ethical conduct of Imam Hasan.
Referencing the Quranic verse "And We have not sent you except as a mercy to the worlds," he said, "Today, on the anniversary of the martyrdom of the great Prophet of Islam and Imam Hasan Mujtaba (AS), I will speak in two parts: on the personality of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and the attributes of Imam Hasan (AS)."
Hojatoleslam Kazerouni stated that the majesty and grandeur of the Prophet's character cannot be captured in words. "No matter how much is said about the personality, greatness, and magnificence of the Holy Prophet, language remains incapable of conveying this grandeur."
To illustrate the status of the Holy Prophet (PBUH), he cited a narration from Hakim al-Nishapuri in his book Al-Mustadrak ala al-Sahihayn. He noted that Hakim al-Nishapuri was a Sunni scholar and a prominent figure from Nishapur who compiled narrations that met the authenticity criteria of Sahih Muslim and Sahih Bukhari but were not included in those two works.
"In this narration, transmitted from Umar ibn al-Khattab, the Holy Prophet (PBUH) says that when Prophet Adam (AS), after his lapse, was cast out of Paradise and wept and supplicated to return to his station, he swore to God by the right of Muhammad and the family of Muhammad (PBUH)."
He continued that God asked Adam how he knew of Muhammad and his family when they had not yet been created. Adam answered that when God created him and breathed into him of His spirit, he looked upon the Divine Throne and saw that after the name of God, the name of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and his household was inscribed.
Hojatoleslam Kazerouni explained that Adam reasoned that if anyone were more beloved to God than this household, their name would have been placed alongside God's name. "For this reason, I sought intercession through Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, and God forgave him," he said.
He pointed to the lofty station of the Prophet's name alongside that of God, noting that even in the call to prayer, after bearing witness to monotheism, comes the testimony to the prophethood of the Holy Prophet (PBUH)—a pairing that speaks to the Prophet's immense status.
The head of the board of trustees of the Imam Khomeini Relief Foundation also referenced the celebrated ode of Imam al-Busiri, the Egyptian poet, saying that in a long poem of 161 verses, Busiri depicted aspects of the Prophet's magnificence and rank.
He recounted Busiri's life story, explaining that the poet was struck by illness and paralysis of one side of his body and could not move. One night, he sought the intercession of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and saw him in a dream, where the Prophet placed his hand on Busiri's body and covered him with his cloak. Upon waking, Busiri found his illness cured, after which he composed his famous ode.
Hojatoleslam Kazerouni noted that in this ode, the Holy Prophet is described as the master of all creation. "Busiri stresses in his poetry that the Holy Prophet surpasses all other prophets in knowledge and generosity, and that all prophets bow their heads before his greatness."
Referring to the designation of the Prophet as the Beloved of God, he said the Holy Prophet attained this station due to the unparalleled greatness of his character, knowledge, generosity, and ethics—a position that reflects the magnitude of his personality.
Turning to the Prophet: A Source of Peace for Believers
Emphasizing the importance of turning to the Holy Prophet (PBUH), Hojatoleslam Kazerouni said one of the acts a person can perform on the day of the Prophet's martyrdom is to seek his intercession. "One can present their problems, illnesses, sorrows, and troubles to the Divine Court through the intercession of the Prophet of Mercy."
Citing a saying of Imam Ali (AS) about relying on God during hardships, he added that in times of trouble, one should rely on God and seek intercession through the Holy Prophet. Even if a problem is not immediately resolved, turning to the Prophet restores peace to one's heart.
"Sometimes having a problem is one thing, but lacking peace of mind is an even greater problem," he explained. "A person can be consumed day and night by their troubles, losing the tranquility of their life, whereas seeking the Prophet's intercession can bring Divine calm into one's being."
Referencing the Quranic verse "By your life, they wandered blindly in their intoxication," he noted that God swears by the life of the Holy Prophet (PBUH), which in itself shows the immense rank of the Prophet.
Imam Hasan (AS): The Embodiment of Wisdom, Forbearance, and Generosity
Turning to the character of Imam Hasan Mujtaba (AS), Hojatoleslam Kazerouni cited a narration from the Holy Prophet (PBUH), who said of Imam Hasan: "If wisdom were to take the form of a human being, that human would be Hasan ibn Ali (AS)."
He spoke of the patience and forbearance of Imam Hasan (AS) during the peace with Muawiyah, explaining that due to the betrayal and weakness of certain companions and the difficult conditions of the time, the Imam was compelled to accept peace. Muawiyah had, through bribery, peeled away some of the Imam's commanders and supporters.
"Despite the fact that Imam Hasan (AS) accepted peace to protect the interests of Islam and prevent the annihilation of the forces of truth, he was still subjected to disrespect and insolence afterward. Yet his forbearance prevented him from responding in kind," he noted.
Warning about the consequences of anger and ill-considered words, he said a single sentence uttered in a moment of rage can impact a person's life for years. "One must control their tongue in moments of anger and refrain from making decisions."
Quoting a saying of Imam Hasan (AS) about restraining anger, Hojatoleslam Kazerouni stressed that one of the manifestations of knowledge and wisdom is swallowing one's rage. "A person should avoid speaking and making decisions when angry, because many of our problems stem from words we have spoken in moments of fury."
Referencing a verse by the Persian poet Saeb Tabrizi about the value of human speech on the Day of Judgment, he said many things that a person considers insignificant in this world will take on weight and value on the scales of the Hereafter. "We should not assume that because a word we utter is not a material thing, it has no effect."
He underscored that forbearance and patience possess a power mightier than the sword. "One cannot conquer hearts with swords, bombs, and military force; but with forbearance, generosity, ethics, and patience, hearts can be won."
Quoting Rumi's poetry on the power of forbearance, he said forbearance can be more effective than vast armies, because a person of forbearance conquers hearts through their character.
"If we wish to have standing in the presence of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and the Ahl al-Bayt (AS), we must be people of patience, generosity, forbearance, and forgiveness, and overlook many wrongs and disrespects," he emphasized.
Hojatoleslam Kazerouni related an example of Imam Hasan's (AS) forgiveness, recounting that a man who had insulted Imam Ali (AS) was confronted by Imam Hasan. After seeing the man persist in his insolence, Imam Hasan prayed to God to remove him from the state of manhood—and this supplication was answered.
He continued that some time later, the same man, who had been transformed into a different state, came to Imam Hasan (AS) and complained of his condition. Imam Hasan, despite all the affronts he had endured from this man, forgave him and prayed for his condition to be reversed, and it was restored.
The head of the board of trustees of the Imam Khomeini Relief Foundation described this conduct as an instance of Imam Hasan's forbearance and generosity, stressing that even the enemies of Imam Hasan acknowledged his forbearance.
Pointing to the presence of Marwan at the funeral of Imam Hasan (AS), he said Marwan had been a constant source of grief and distress for Imam Hasan during his lifetime, yet he attended his funeral after his martyrdom. Even the enemies, he noted, recognized the magnitude of Imam Hasan's forbearance.
Hojatoleslam Kazerouni spoke of the oppressed state of Imam Hasan Mujtaba (AS), noting that among Imam Ali (AS), Lady Fatima (SA), Imam Hasan (AS), and Imam Husayn (AS), only the body of Imam Hasan was meant to be carried in a public funeral procession. Imam Ali (AS) was buried at night and in secret, Lady Fatima (SA) was also buried at night according to her will, and Imam Husayn (AS) was denied a proper funeral and burial in Karbala.
He concluded that when the body of Imam Hasan (AS) was to be carried in procession, the enemies showed no mercy even to his coffin and showered it with arrows. "When Imam Husayn (AS) went to remove his brother's body from the coffin, he encountered arrows that had struck the body of Imam Hasan (AS)—a scene that stands as one of the manifestations of Imam Mujtaba's oppression and isolation."
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