Amirul Mumineen’s Advice to Hasan Imam SA

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

يَا بُنَيَّ أَقِمِ الصَّلَاةَ وَأْمُرْ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَانْهَ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ وَاصْبِرْ عَلَىٰ مَا أَصَابَكَ إِنَّ ذَٰلِكَ مِنْ عَزْمِ الْأُمُورِ

'O my son! Establish prayer and enjoin decency and forbid indecency. And be patient through whatever may befall you. Truly that is true constancy.'

(Surat Luqmaan: 17)

This article was written by Ra'sul Hududil Mayameen Janab Syedi Aziz Bhaisaheb Qutbuddin in 2014.

The Qur’an advises Mumineen on how to lead a good life. In the verse quoted above, Nabi Luqmaan SA advises his son, ya bunayya - “O my [beloved] son! Establish prayer and enjoin decency and forbid indecency. And be patient through whatever may befall you. Truly that is true constancy.” These words are a guiding light in all times and particularly in the time we live. May we have the strength to follow such noble advice; this single ayat is a sentence that holds the blueprint for a noble life in this world and the hereafter.

On the occasion of Imam Hasan SA shahaadat, let us reflect on the advice that Amirul Mumineen SA – the Speaking Qur’an (Qur’an-e-Naatiq)— gives his son, Imam Hasan, ya bunayya –

O my [beloved] son, remember these four and four things (total eight points), nothing will harm you as long as you act according to them.

1. The best of wealth is intelligence.
2. The greatest poverty is foolishness/stupidity.
3. The worst loneliness is conceit/vanity (takabburi – being full of oneself).
4. The best reputation is that of good character.

Amirul Mumineen SA continues his advice with four other points:

1. Beware of friendship with a foolish person, for when he tries to do you good he will harm you.
2. Beware of friendship with a miser, for he will go further away from you the more you need him.
3. Beware of friendship with a trivial person, for he will sell you out for trivialities
4. Beware of friendship with a liar, for he is like a mirage; he will make distant things seem close, and near things far away.

The advice of the Qur’an and the advice from Amirul Mumineen SA (to Imam Hasan SA) is timeless. In times when things seem unclear, we must be clear that the wealth of intellect is paramount and the strength of good character is foremost. It is in times of trouble that we know who our real friends are and who we really want as our friends.

May we have the wealth of intellect and the strength of good character to guide us to and sustain us on the right path. May we stay away from those believe faith to be ‘blind’ – where the intellect has no role – and those whose morals are weak.