The truce between Imam Hasan and Hadhrat Ameer Mua'wiyah (May Allah be well pleased with them)

Imam Hasan had a truce with Hadhrat Ameer Mua’wiyah.  What was the truce about and what kind of person was Hadhrat Ameer Mua’wiyah?

 

Hadhrat Ameer Mua’wiyah had the honor of being in the blessed company of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).  There are Hadith about his excellence.  The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) prayed that he should be “Haadi” (guide) and Mahdi (guided).  There is a Hadith in Jame’ Tirmidhi:

 

Translation:  O Allah!  Make Mua’wiyah one who grants guidance, one who is guided and grant guidance to people through him.  (Jame’ Tirmidhi, Hadith No. 4213)

 

There was a deep love between Hadhrat Imam Hasan (May Allah be well pleased with him) and Hadhrat Ameer Mua’wiyah (May Allah be well pleased with him).  As per the words foretold by the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam), the period of 30 years of caliphate came to an end with the 6-month caliphate of Hadhrat Imam Hasan (May Allah be well pleased with him).  Hadhrat Imam Hasan (May Allah be well pleased with him) voluntarily gave it up to save Muslims from bloodshed and made a truce with Hadhrat Ameer Mua’wiyah (May Allah be well pleased with him).  A great war was averted because of this.  As mentioned in this Hadith of Sahih Bukhari:

 

Translation: Hadhrat Hasan Basri heard from Hadhrat Abu Bakrah (May Allah be well pleased with him), he says:  The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) graced the pulpit and Imam Hasan (May Allah be well pleased with him) was at side.  The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) would intermittently look at him and then turn to the people.  The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:  This son of mine is a chief and through him, Allah Most High will affect a truce between 2 groups of Muslims.  (Sahih Bukhari, Hadith No. 3536)

 

In this truce, various things were agreed upon.  One among them was that after the passing away of Hadhrat Ameer Mua’wiyah (May Allah be well pleased with him), the caliphate will be returned to Hadhrat Imam Hasan (May Allah be well pleased with him), but Imam Hasan (May Allah be well pleased with him) passed away before Hadhrat Ameer Mua’wiyah.  As given in Usudul Ghaba of Abul Hasan Ali bin Atheer (May Allah shower His mercy on him).