Grandson of the Prophet; second Imam in Twelver Shi‘i Islam
The Prophet’s grandson
Hasan was the elder son of Ali and Fatimah and the brother of Husayn. Reports about his childhood recall the Prophet’s affection for him and his place within the family.
Leadership and reconciliation
After Ali’s death, Hasan received support in Kufa. Facing conflict with Mu‘awiyah, division among his supporters and personal danger, he negotiated a settlement and relinquished political rule. The episode is central to accounts of reconciliation after the first civil war. Surviving narratives differ on the detailed terms.
Religious memory
Hasan is revered across Muslim traditions and recognized as the second Imam in Twelver Shi‘ism. His biography should be studied through both the circumstances of his leadership and the later transmission of reports about his household, character and death.
Sources and further study
Encyclopaedia Iranica — Hasan ibn Ali
An introductory, source-attributed profile. Dates and disputed reports are qualified where necessary. The linked works represent their authors’ historical or religious approaches; linking a source does not endorse every interpretation it contains.