Hasan ibn Thabit

Hassan ibn Thabit (Arabic: حسان بن ثابت‎) (born c. 563, Medina died 674) was an Arabian poet and one of the Sahaba, or companions of Muhammad, hence he was best known for his poems in defense of the Islamic prophet Muhammad.

Hassan ibn Thabit
Hassan ibn Thabit's name in Islamic calligraphy
Bornc. 563 CE
Yathrib, Hejaz, Arabia
Died674(674-00-00) (aged 110–111)
Medina, Umayyad Caliphate
SpouseSirin bint Shamun
IssueAbdul-Rahman ibn Hassan
HouseBanu Khazraj
ReligionIslam

He was born in Medina, and was member of the Banu Khazraj tribe.[1] He was gifted Sirin as a concubine. After Muhammad's death, Hassan was supposed to have traveled east as far as China, preaching for Islam along with Sa`d ibn Abi Waqqas, Thabit ibn Qays, and Uwais al-Qarni.

His writings in defence of the Muhammad contain references to contemporary events that have been useful in documenting the period. He was also Islam's first religious poet, using many phrases from the Qur'an in his verses. The work of Hassan Ibn Thabit was instrumental in spreading the message of Muhammad, as poetry was an important part of Arab culture. The work and words of Hassan Ibn Thabit are still regarded as the most beautiful in praise of Muhammad.

Muhammad was so happy with Hassan Ibn Thabit that he ordered to establish and construct for him a minbar-pulpit for him to stand upon when he delivered his poetry. Muhammad prayed for him saying that the Angel Gabriel will support you as long as you preach the message of Allah and defend His Prophet. Muhammad is also known to have gifted him with a Christian slave girl Sīrīn (embraced Islam and married to Hassan ibn Thabit) whom he got as a gift from Al-Muqawqis.

He is also the original writer of the famous nasheed "As subhu bada min tala'atihi".

He is the earliest known person to mention the events of the Khumm pond, where he mentions that Muhammad appointed Ali as his successor.[2]

Life

According to Islamic tradition Hassan lived for 120 years, sixty years before converting to Islam and another sixty thereafter.[3] In his youth he traveled to Al-Hirah and Damascus, then he settled in Medina, where, after Mohammad's arrival, he accepted Islam and wrote poems in his defense.[1][4]

Notes
  1. Thatcher, Griffithes Wheeler (1911). "Ḥassān ibn Thābit" . In Chisholm, Hugh (ed.). Encyclopædia Britannica. 13 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 51.
  2. Ibn Thabit, Hassan. Diwan of Hassan Ibn Thabit. Edited by Walid N. ʿArafat. E. J. W. Gibb Memorial Series. 2 vols. London: Luzac, 1971.
  3. Thomas Patrick Hughes, 1885/1999 rept., Dictionary of Islam, New Delhi: Rupa & Co.
  4. Tabari, p. 131.

See also

References
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