Hasan al-Basri

Biography

Abu Sa'id al-Hasan ibn Abi al-Hasan al-Basri (642-728 CE) was one of the most prominent scholars of the Tabi'in (the generation after the companions). Born in Madinah and raised in the household of Umm Salamah (a wife of the Prophet), he later settled in Basra, Iraq, where he became the leading scholar of his time.

Scholarship

Hasan al-Basri was a master of multiple sciences: tafsir, hadith, fiqh, and the Arabic language. He narrated from numerous companions including Uthman, Ali, Abu Musa al-Ash'ari, and Anas ibn Malik. His legal opinions influenced the early development of Islamic jurisprudence, and both Abu Hanifah and Malik were indirectly influenced by his teachings through their own teachers.

Spiritual Legacy

He is especially renowned for his profound spiritual wisdom, his emphasis on sincerity (ikhlas), fear of Allah (khashyah), and asceticism (zuhd). His sermons moved people to tears and transformed lives. Many scholars of tasawwuf trace their spiritual chains through him. His famous sayings include: 'The dunya is a bridge, so cross it and do not build upon it' and 'I have met people who were more miserly with their time than with their money.'

Legacy

Hasan al-Basri is considered one of the greatest authorities of early Islam. His influence on Islamic scholarship, spirituality, and ethical thought is immeasurable. He died in Basra in 110 AH (728 CE), and it was said that the entire city attended his funeral.