Sultan ul Faqr II
Khawaja Imam Hasan of Basra RA
Imam Hasan al Basri (may Allah be pleased with him) is the Sultan ul Faqr 2nd. The seed of Sufism is said to have existed from the beginning of human creation with the an-Nur of Prophet Mohammad. The origin of Sufism in the Sarwari Qadri order started with Prophet Mohammad. The real definition of Sufism is Faqr which is transferred by Prophet Mohammad. The status of Sultan ul Faqr is granted by the holy Mohammadan assembly.
Imam Hasan of Basra was first person after People of the Cloak (Ahl al-Bayt) who attained the extreme status of Faqr. He got a cloak (khirqah) of spiritual succession (khilafat) from Ali ibn Abi Talib. Thereafter, Ali also passed on the heritage of Divine knowledge of Prophet Mohammad and Trust of Faqr to him. Hence, he is the medium who transferred Faqr of Prophet Mohammad from People of the Cloak to Muslim umma. In other words, he transferred Faqr in Islam to Umma.
BIOGRAPHY AND SPIRITUAL JOURNEY
The patronymic name of Sultan ul Faqr 2nd Imam Hasan of Basra was Abu Mohammad, Abu Saeed, Abu Nasar, and also Abu Ali. His father's name was Yasar who was a freed slave of Zayd ibn Thabit. While, name of his mother was Khaira and she was the maid of Prophet Mohammad's wife Umm-e-Salma. Umm-e-Salma was Hasan's foster mother as she fed him her milk and also brought him up.
Birth in Madina
Hasan of Basra was born in the caliphate of Umar ibn Khattab in 21 Hijri in Madina. Since birth he had an enlightened beauty. When he was brought to Umar for blessings, he said, "Name this child Hasan as he is very beautiful". Also, Umar prayed for him, "O Allah bless him with perfect knowledge of Islam and make him beloved among people".
Education Among Companions
Al Hasan al Basri was brought up and educated among the sacred Companions of Holy Prophet. He also gained the exoteric as well as esoteric knowledge of Islam from the Companions. Particularly, from Ali ibn Abi Talib, Umar ibn Khattab, Usman ibn Affan, Anas ibn Malik and Hasan ibn Ali.
The Sufi books Siyar-ul-Auliya and Sair-ul-Aqtab state about the oath of allegiance and spiritual succession of Sultan ul Faqr 2nd:
Furthermore, Ali taught him the real method of invocation of Islamic creed (Kalma Tayyab) as Prophet Mohammad had taught him. That is, through negation of everything other than Allah (nafi) and verification by heart of His Essence (Asbat). Afterwards, Hasan introduced this method in the world of Islam.
SPIRITUAL ORDERS AND LEGACY
Qadiriya Order
Originated from the spiritual chain through Imam Hasan of Basra
Soharwardia Order
Traces its spiritual lineage back to Imam Hasan
Chishtia Order
Follows the spiritual path through Imam Hasan's successors
This system spread in the whole Muslim world through his spiritual successors. It still exists and spiritual guides grant gnosis and closeness of Allah to true seekers following any of its chain. All the existing mystic orders trace back to Sultan ul Faqr 2nd and through him to Ali ibn Abi Talib. Specifically, the orders namely Qadiriya, Soharwardia, Chishtia, Nizamia, Rifa'iyah, Shadhiliya, Al-Maghribia and Kalabia trace back to Ali through Hasan.
CONTROVERSY AND EVIDENCE
Although, all Sufis and Saints unanimously accept that every spiritual order reaches Ali ibn Abi Talib through Hasan of Basra. Yet some scholars and traditionalists disagree upon the fact that Hasan ever met Ali or heard any Hadith from him.
Historical Evidence
Sultan ul Faqr 2nd Hasan of Basra was born in 21 Hijri in the caliphate of Umar ibn Khattab in Madina. He remained in Madina till the caliphate of Ali ibn Abi Talib. Afterward, in 37 Hijri Ali shifted to Kufa on completing two years of his caliphate. Hasan also left Madina and relocated to Basra in the same year. Hence, both remained together in Madina for about sixteen years.
GRANDEUR AND SPIRITUAL STATUS
Al Hasan al Basri quotes are nothing less than Divine knowledge as he is the leader and master in exegesis of Quran and Hadith. He was not only proficient in all branches of knowledge but was also extremely pious and devoted towards mystic practices.
SPIRITUAL SUCCESSION AND DEATH
Hasan of Basra granted spiritual succession to many of his disciples. Most famous among them are Shaikh Abdul Waahid bin Zaid and Shaikh Habib al-Ajmi. Fourteen spiritual orders started from these two disciples of Sultan ul Faqr 2nd.
Shaikh Abdul Waahid bin Zaid
From him originated five spiritual orders: Zaidiyyah, Ayyazia, Adhmia, Hibiria and Chishtia
Shaikh Habib al-Ajmi
From him originated nine spiritual orders: Ajmia, Taifuria, Karkhia, Saqtia, Junaidia, Gazronia, Tusia, Soharwardia and Firdausia
Death of Sultan ul Faqr 2nd
Hasan of Basra died on Friday, 4th of Muharram in 111 Hijri (8th April, 729). It was the reign of Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan. The tomb of Sultan ul Faqr 2nd is in Basra.
Sultan ul Faqr 2nd Hasan of Basra passed on the Trust of Faqr to Shaikh Habib al-Ajmi, ensuring the continuity of spiritual guidance for generations to come.
