The Guidance of the Prophet

The Guidance of the Prophet Ali ibn Abi Talib (d. 661), the fourth rightly guided caliph, was succeeded by his son, Hasan ibn Ali, on whose hands people took the oath of allegiance. But the Muslims of those times had divided into two groups, one supporting Hasan, the other Muawiya. The difference between the two groups escalated to such an extent that they almost went to war with one another. At that time Hasan had an army of 40,000. Had a war been started, most of them would have been killed. But Hasan did not approve of a course of clash and confrontation. Therefore, by his own decision, he stepped down from the post of caliph, surrendering it to Muawiya. This stand taken by Hasan was disapproved of by his own Muslim people, and they started to speak out against him. One Muslim addressed him thus: “O, one who is a shame for Muslims!” Hasan said in reply: “Humiliation is better than fire.” (Al-Bidayat wan Nihaya, vol.8, pp. 18-19) This constructive stand taken by Hasan was not liked by the common Muslims, for to them this reeked of humiliation and surrender. But the Prophet of Islam had foreseen that he would take this stand and he approved of it. According to traditions, when Hasan was young (he was the Prophet’s grandson) the Prophet had made this prediction: “This son of mine is a leader. God may reconcile two large warring groups of Muslims through him.” This incident tells us of a very important reality of life. We learn from this that a stand which the common Muslims viewed as one of humiliation and surrender, was in the eyes of the Prophet an excellent example of the right kind of leadership. The truth is that in such matters such terms of opprobrium—humiliation and surrender— belong to the days of ignorance (prior to Islam). The Islamic way is to look upon such matters in terms of their result. According to the teachings of Islam, in controversial matters only that way is the right way which keeps one from stooping to confrontation and violence. The way which leads one to war and violence is indubitably the way of ignorance. In such matters, it is incumbent upon believers to opt for the way of avoidance rather than confrontation, even if that may, to the shallow-minded appear to be one of humiliation and surrender.