His Generosity
Maybe the most eminent of Imam Hasan's [a] attributes is his generosity. He believed that money was only a means to clothe the naked, help the destitute, pay the debts of the indebted, or satisfy the hungry. Once, he was asked: "We do not see you disappoint a beggar. Why?"
He replied:
"I am asking Allah for His favours, and I love to be near Him. I am ashamed, as I am myself in need of Allah, to repulse a beggar. Allah got me used to a habit; to shower me with His bounties, and I get Him used to me showering His bounties on the people. I fear that should I stop my habit, He may stop His habit."
Following are examples of his unlimited generosity:
An Arab desert-dweller once asked for help. In response Imam said: "Give him what is in the safe." In it there was ten thousand Dirhams.
"Sir," the Bedouin said, "won't you allow me to reveal my need and praise you?"
Imam's reply was something like this:
"We are people whose bounties are flowing. In them hopes and wishes dwell. Our souls give out before we are asked in fear of the disgrace of the one who asks. Should the sea know how much we give who asks us, it will shrink, after its flooding, in shame."
The grandson of the Holy Prophet [s] bought an orchard from the Ansars (the supporters of the Holy Prophet [s] in Madina), at the price of 400,000 Dirhams. Then he got word that they lost their wealth. He gave them the orchard back with no charge.
These are only a few insights into Imam Hasan's [a] generous acts. Such good deeds had the greatest effect in personifying his high Islamic ethics.[1]
Now we are able to form a clear idea of the ingredients of the character of Imam Hasan [a]. It was the top example of the Muslim character ever witnessed by this planet after the prophets [a]. This was the character of the Ahlul Bayt [a] generally and all of them shared the same character and personality.
[1] For details see: Tawfeeq Abu-Alam, Ahlul Bayt, and other books on the life of the Prophet [s].
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