The Tolerance of ‘Abdullah ibn Hassan and his Good Character

This honourable Sayed possessed unsurpassed levels of tolerance, which is of the praiseworthy traits of the pious. The Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said to Ashajj of the tribe of ‘Abdul Qais:

إن فيك خصلتين يحبهما الله الحلم والأناة

You possess two qualities which are loved by Allah: Clemency and tolerance.[1]

Ibn ‘Asakir reports that a person maligned ‘Abdullah ibn Hassan but he just ignored him. When he was asked why he did not respond to him, he said:

لم أعرف مساوئه و كرهت بهته بما ليس فيه

I am not aware of his faults and I dislike to slander him with that which he does not have.

Ibn ‘Asakir also reports from Yahya ibn Ma’in that a man cursed ‘Abdullah ibn Hassan but he merely replied:

ما أنت كفؤ لي فأسب و لا انت عبدي فأشح

You are not my peer that I should curse, nor are you my slave that I should be resentful.[2]

He said to a man who had once cursed him:

أن أهجو لما أن هجتني محارب	أظنّت سفاها من سفاهة رأيها
هنالك عن ذاك المقام لراغب	فلا و أبيها إنني بعشيرتي

Has she assumed out of her foolish thinking that I will satirize her after Muharib satirised me?

Never, by the oath of my father, I, because of my noble family, am averse to taking that position.[3]

As astonishing example of his tolerance is, his interceding on behalf of the Banu Umayyah before ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Ali ibn ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abbas is even more amazing, as reported in Tarikh Dimashq from al Asma’i who said:

عزم عبد الله بن علي على قتل بني أمية بالحجاز فقال له عبد الله بن الحسن بن الحسن يا ابن عم إذا أسرعت في قتل أكفائك فمن تباهي بسلطانك فاعف يَعف الله عنك، ففعل

‘Abdullah ibn ‘Ali[4] intended to slaughter all of the Banu Umayyah in Hijaz, so ‘Abdullah ibn Hassan ibn Hassan said to him, “O my cousin, if you hasten in killing all of your equals then who will remain to savour your rule? Forgive and Allah will forgive you.” So he complied.[5]

This was the tolerance and humility of this revered Sayed during a time when authority lay in their hands.

NEXT⇒ The status of ‘Abdullah ibn Hassan in Society

[1] Sahih Muslim, Book on Iman, Chapter: The command to believe in Allah and His Messenger salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, # 25.

[2] Tarikh Dimashq, 29/258.

[3] Ibid.

[4] ‘Abdullah bin ‘Ali ibn ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abbas was a commander of the army forces of the Abbasid dynasty. He was killed during the reign of Abu Jafar al Mansur.

[5] Tarikh Dimashq, 27/380.

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