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One of the important figures in the Islamic world is Imam Hasan al-Bashri. He was a Sufi scholar who was quoted a lot of his wise advice. If traced from his family background, Hasan al-Basri is not the son of a king or a prominent figure but only the son of a slave belonging to Zaid bin Thabit.
Hasan al-Bashri's father, Yasar, came from the Maisan area, a suburb of Basra in Iraq. In the past, the Maisan area was conquered by Muslims in 12 Hijriah under the leadership of the commander-in-chief Khalid bin Walid. Meanwhile, his mother was the slave of Umm Salamah, the wife of the Prophet Muhammad.
Childhood and Origin of Hasan al-Bashri
Since childhood, Hasan al-Basri has received the blessings of prayer and love from the lovers of Allah. Once upon a time as a toddler, he was left to work by his mother. Iba saw that little Hasan al-Basri was crying, so Umm Salamah, the wife of the Messenger of Allah (saw), carried him and nursed him. Likewise, when he was little Umar bin Khattab prayed for him, "O Allah, teach this little child the science of religion and make the people love him" (Syamsuddin adz-Dzahabi, Siyar A'lam an-Nubala', [Beirut: Dar al-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah], 2007, vol. IV: 565).
When traced from history, Hasan al-Basri was born in the area of Rabadzah, a plain 170 km from the city of Medina in the year 21 Hijriah. Then, he was brought by his family to the city of Medina and settled in the house of Umm Salamah, the wife of the Prophet.
Physically, Hasan al-Basri has a very handsome face. It is narrated that once ash-Sha'bi advised 'Ashim al-Ahwal, "Give my regards to Hasan al-Basri in the city of Basra." 'Ashim al-Ahwal was confused and replied, "I never knew him". So, Ash-Sha'bi replied, "Later when you enter the city of Basra, enter the mosque of the city of Basra, then look for the most handsome person you have never met there."
Multidisciplinary Scholars
Hasan al-Basri has a very strong intelligence and memory and very sharp reasoning. Abu Qatadah al-Adawi said, "It is obligatory for you to study with this sheikh (Hasan al-Basri). By Allah, I see Hasan al-Basri very similar in opinion to Sayyidina Umar bin Khattab".
Anas bin Malik's friend said, "It is obligatory for you to study with Maulana Hasan al-Basri, so ask him." Then, someone asked, "O Abu Hamzah (the nickname of the Companions of Anas bin Malik), why do you encourage us to ask Hasan al-Basri?" Anas bin Malik replied, "He learned from us, but now we have forgotten a lot while he still remembers the knowledge we taught" (Ibn Abi Hatim, al-Jarh wa Ta'dil, [Beirut: Dar Fikr], 1999, vol. III: 41).
In addition, Hasan al-Basri was also a very great fiqh expert. Sheikh Yunus bin Ubaid al-'Abidi said, "We have met with many scholars, and no one is superior and perfect in knowledge than Hasan al-Basri". Once upon a time, Imran al-Qashir asked Hasan al-Bashri a problem in the science of fiqh. So, Hasan al-Basri replied "Some of the fiqh scholars answered like this and some others thought like this. Know that a true fiqh expert is one who is zuhud in the world, who is vigilant in guarding his religion, and always worships Allah. See the book Hilyatul Auliya' by Sheikh Abu Nu'aim al-Ashbihani p.137 vol.2 prints of Maktabah at-Taufiqiyyah Cairo 2007)
In the science of Hadith, Hasan al-Basri is considered a tsiqqah (reliable) narrator, especially in the hadith that he narrated from Samurah bin Jundub. However, there are many hadith that he narrated weakly because of defects in the form of tadlis (not mentioning some of the narrators on it) or mursal (not mentioning narrators from among the companions), especially those he narrated from Abu Hurairah. (Shaykh Syamsuddin adz-Dzahabi, Mizal al-'Itidal fi Naqd ar-Rijal, [Cairo: Muassasah ar-Risalah], 2017: 383).
"Indeed I have carried out the orders of ash-Sha'bi so I saw Hasan al-Basri was a very handsome man who was surrounded by his students in the mosque of the city of Basra." 'Ashim al-Ahwal's comments.
Studying with the Companions of the Prophet
Among his teachers from among the companions of the Prophet were Abdullah bin Umar, Anas bin Malik, Abdullah bin Mughaffal, 'Amr bin Taghlib, Abu Burzah al-Aslami, and many others. According to Ibn Hibban, Sheikh Hasan al-Basri has studied 120 figures from the friend group. (Ibn Hibban, ats-Tsiqqat [Beirut: Dar Fikr], 1996, vol. IV: 123).
Among his advice to Caliph Umar bin Abdul Aziz is:
"Keep in mind! that thinking before making a decision will bring good and regretting sin will keep away from evil. Beware of the pleasures of the world because the serenity in it is only false, the dream of reaching it is poison, its peak is evil. Sometimes the blessings of this world derail from obedience to Allah. Sometimes the blessings of the world are calamities that destroy your religion. Beware, indeed Allah will reward his obedient servant and torment his disobedient servant."
"Keep in mind! Allah has made the enjoyment of the world a test for the prophets and apostles and a lesson for his people. Indeed, those who are negligent and disobedient to Allah think that they are being glorified by Allah with the pleasures of this world, even though at that time they are being kept away from the remembrance of Allah. Keep in mind! Time is a guest who comes to you and he will pass away from you. If you honor time by worshiping and doing good, time will be a witness to your goodness on the Day of Resurrection. And if you despise time by disobeying and doing bad, it will surely be a witness to your evil on the Day of Resurrection."
"Keep in mind! The remaining life you have left in this world is priceless and cannot be replaced by anything else. The world and everything in it will not be able to match the value of one day left of your age. So, don't exchange the rest of your precious life for the pleasures of this lowly world. Correct yourself every day, be aware of the pleasures of the world, lest you regret when your death has come. Hopefully this advice will be useful for us and Allah will give us a good ending” (Shaykh Abu Nu'aim al-Ashbihani, Hilyatul Auliya' [Cairo: Maktabah at-Taufiqiyyah], 2007, vol. II: 128).
Hasan al-Basri willed, "Suppose you are not able to fast during the day and you are not able to perform the night prayers. Keep in mind! You are shackled by sin and disobedience."
Our hero died in the year 110 Hijri in the city of Basra. It is said that once Malik bin Dinar told about his dream to meet Hasan al-Basri. In that dream Hasan al-Basri wore very beautiful clothes and his face shone. "Haven't you died? Then what made you given this high degree of God?” asked Malik bin Dinar.
Hasan al-Basri replied, "I have been given by Allah the degree of pious people because of my sadness for the sins I have committed. Know that people who grieve a lot for the sins that he commits will get a lot of happiness in the hereafter” (Shaykh Jamaluddin Ibn Jauzi, Hasan al-Bashri, Zuhduhu wa Mawa'idzuhu [Beirut: Dar an-Nawadir], 2007: 32).
Muhammad Tholhah al Fayyadl, student majoring in Ushuluddin, Egypt's al-Azhar University, alumnus of the Lirboyo Islamic Boarding School
Source: https://islam.nu.or.id
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