Bukhari

Hadith Commentary:
The prophecy regarding Hasan (radi Allahu anhu) was fulfilled during the era of Amir Muawiyah (radi Allahu anhu), when, through the reconciliation between Hasan (radi Allahu anhu) and Muawiyah (radi Allahu anhu), a great danger of war was averted. This is the hallmark of the pious servants of Allah: they themselves endure loss, but do not desire discord and strife.

Hadith Commentary:
The prophecy of the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) regarding Hasan (radi Allahu anhu) was fulfilled during the era of Muawiyah (radi Allahu anhu).
There were approximately forty thousand devoted followers with Hasan (radi Allahu anhu).
Similarly, there was also a very large army with Amir Muawiyah (radi Allahu anhu).
Hasan (radi Allahu anhu) did not relinquish the country and the world due to paucity or humiliation, but purely out of compassion for the Ummah, and handed over the government to Muawiyah (radi Allahu anhu).
Through this great reconciliation, the danger of a great war was averted.
This is the sign of the people of Allah: they themselves bear loss, but do not incite discord and corruption.

Hadith Commentary:

This prophecy of the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) was fulfilled.
Hasan (radi Allahu anhu) acted in such a way that thousands of Muslims' lives were saved.
He did not prefer to fight against Amir Muawiyah (radi Allahu anhu).
He handed over the caliphate to him, even though seventy thousand people had pledged allegiance to him, ready to give their lives.
In this manner, the prophecy of the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) was proven true, and this is precisely the purpose of this chapter.

Hadith Commentary:
➊
This prophecy of the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) was fulfilled: Hazrat Hasan (radi Allahu anhu) performed such an act that thousands of Muslims’ lives were saved. He did not prefer to fight against Amir Muawiyah (radi Allahu anhu); rather, he made peace and handed over the caliphate to him, even though seventy thousand Muslims had pledged allegiance to him, ready to give their lives.
➋
This is a proof of prophethood, that just as he (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) indicated, so it happened.
Imam Bukhari (rahimahullah) has brought this hadith as evidence for prophethood.

Hadith Commentary:
Through this action of Hasan radi Allahu anhu, a great war among the Muslims was averted, even though the circumstances were favorable for Hasan radi Allahu anhu. Yet, he ended this civil strife with wise deliberation.
May Allah Most High send thousands upon thousands of mercies upon his pure soul.
In this way, the prophecy of the Noble Messenger sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, which is mentioned in this hadith, was fulfilled.
Allahumma salli ala Muhammad wa ala alihi wa ashabihi ajma'in.
Then both of them came to Hasan radi Allahu anhu, and the proposal for reconciliation was settled.
And they made peace.
The commander of Hasan radi Allahu anhu’s vanguard was Qays ibn Sa'd.
These two armies met near Kufa.
Hasan radi Allahu anhu, after observing the numbers of these armies, called out to Mu'awiyah radi Allahu anhu.
He said: I have chosen what is with my Lord. If the caliphate is written for you by Allah, then it will not come to me, and if it is written for me, then I have given it to you.
At that time, the people of Mu'awiyah radi Allahu anhu’s army proclaimed takbir, and Mughirah ibn Shu'bah radi Allahu anhu narrated this hadith: “Indeed, this son of mine is a leader...” until the end. Then Hasan radi Allahu anhu delivered a sermon and entrusted the caliphate to Mu'awiyah radi Allahu anhu, on the condition that he would continue to act upon the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah.
People began to say to Hasan radi Allahu anhu, “O disgrace of the Muslims!”
He replied, “Disgrace is better than the Fire.”
In the reconciliation agreement that was established, it was also stipulated that after Mu'awiyah radi Allahu anhu, the caliphate would return to Hasan.
Muhammad ibn Qudamah, with a sound chain, and Ibn Abi Khaythamah have both narrated similarly that Hasan radi Allahu anhu pledged allegiance to Mu'awiyah radi Allahu anhu on this very condition.

Hadith Commentary:
➊
After the martyrdom of Ali radi Allahu anhu, the people pledged allegiance to Hasan radi Allahu anhu, and he set out with a large army towards Syria.
On the other side, Muawiyah radi Allahu anhu advanced towards Kufa with his troops.
Both parties gathered at a place near Kufa.
When Hasan radi Allahu anhu saw the number of armies, he called out to Amir Muawiyah radi Allahu anhu and said:
"I choose that which will bring me reward with my Lord.
If Allah has decreed this rule for you, then it will not come to me, and if it is decreed for me, then I relinquish it in your favor."

➋
From this hadith, the virtue of Hasan ibn Ali radi Allahu anhu is evident, as he, with wise strategy, ended the civil strife.
He did not relinquish authority out of weakness, humiliation, or lack of resources, but rather made peace to save the lives of the Muslims.
In this matter, he sought the rewards from Allah and extinguished the fire of discord and turmoil.
On the other hand, Amir Muawiyah radi Allahu anhu also demonstrated great magnanimity.
He sealed a blank paper and handed it to Hasan radi Allahu anhu, saying: "Whatever conditions you write, I am ready to accept them and make peace."

➌
From this, it is clear that their insight in managing the affairs of the state was far-sighted, and they kept a close eye on the outcome. In addition, they had great compassion for their subjects. Thus, Hasan radi Allahu anhu pledged allegiance to Amir Muawiyah radi Allahu anhu on the condition of implementing the Book and the Sunnah. Then, when he came to Kufa, all the people accepted his authority and pledged allegiance to him.
Because of the gathering of the people and the end of civil war, that year was named "Aam al-Jama‘ah" (the Year of Unity).
Those who had withdrawn during the period of tribulation, such as:
Ibn Umar radi Allahu anhu, Sa‘d ibn Abi Waqqas radi Allahu anhu, Muhammad ibn Maslamah radi Allahu anhu, and other noble Companions—may Allah be pleased with them all—also pledged allegiance to Amir Muawiyah radi Allahu anhu.
He gave Hasan radi Allahu anhu, as a reward, three hundred thousand dirhams, one thousand garments, one hundred camels, and thirty slaves.
After the peace, Hasan radi Allahu anhu departed for Madinah Tayyibah.
Amir Muawiyah radi Allahu anhu appointed Mughirah ibn Shu‘bah radi Allahu anhu as governor of Kufa and Abdullah ibn ‘Amir radi Allahu anhu as governor of Basra, and himself proceeded to Damascus. Thus, the matters of reconciliation were concluded.
(Fath al-Bari: 13/80)

➍
It should be noted that due to the mutual discord and turmoil, people’s minds had become so corrupted that when Hasan ibn Ali radi Allahu anhu made peace with Amir Muawiyah radi Allahu anhu, people taunted him, saying, "O disgrace and shame for the Muslims!" But Hasan radi Allahu anhu responded to them with steadfastness, saying, "Disgrace is more beloved to me than the fire of tribulation."
(Fath al-Bari: 13/82) (radi Allahu anhu wa ‘anna fi al-dunya wa’l-akhirah)

Explanation:
1:
That is, this grandson of mine will become the cause of reconciliation between two groups of Muslims. Thus, when Muslims became divided into two groups over the issue of the caliphate—one group with Muawiyah (radi Allahu anhu) and the other with Hasan (radi Allahu anhu)—then Hasan (radi Allahu anhu), by announcing his abdication from the caliphate, saved the Muslims from killing and bloodshed, thereby doing a great favor to this ummah. This is a very great achievement of his. (Jazahu Allahu ‘anil-Muslimeena khayra al-jaza’)

Benefits and Issues:
➊ During the era of Ali radi Allahu anhu, due to the martyrdom of Sayyiduna Uthman radi Allahu anhu, every Muslim was divided into two groups. On one side was Ali radi Allahu anhu, and on the other side was Muawiyah radi Allahu anhu, and both were correct in their respective priorities; however, the stance of Sayyiduna Ali radi Allahu anhu was closer to the truth.

➋ Sayyiduna Hasan radi Allahu anhu accomplished a great feat by relinquishing his caliphate, and because of this, his honor and leadership increased even more. However, there are still some people who dislike this action of his.

➌ The Messenger sallallahu alayhi wa sallam declared the people on both sides to be Muslims of his Ummah and did not declare anyone to be misguided or false.

➍ Publicizing the ijtihadi (independent juristic) mistakes of the noble Companions or the jurists and Imams is a very great and serious tribulation; it is only permissible to discuss their issues with scholarly understanding within a specific, limited academic circle.

1411. Commentary:

➊ This prophecy of the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) was fulfilled word for word. And all praise is due to Allah for that. After the martyrdom of Ali (radi Allahu anhuma), Hasan (radi Allahu anhuma) was made the caliph (leader). He was the head of half of the Islamic state. Thousands of soldiers were with him. Forty thousand people had pledged allegiance of death at his hand. On the other side was Muawiyah (radi Allahu anhu) and his army. Hasan (radi Allahu anhu) did not consider bloodshed to be good and indicated his willingness for reconciliation. Muawiyah (radi Allahu anhu) also sent a blank paper, saying: “Write down whatever conditions you decide; my signature is already there.” In this way, Hasan (radi Allahu anhu), by sacrificing the government, saved these two great groups of the ummah from fighting. Radi Allahu anhu wa ardah. Otherwise, heaps of corpses would have piled up and the matter still would not have been resolved. This is a great favor of Hasan (radi Allahu anhu) upon the ummah, for which only Allah Ta’ala can reward him—that he will be the leader of the youth in Paradise. Regarding the battles that occurred among the Companions, the people of knowledge have adopted silence, that we should not get involved in the disputes of our elders. We should not find faults and defects in anyone and thus pollute our tongues with insolence and sin. These were people who have been forgiven. They received the glad tidings of Paradise from the tongue of the truthful Messenger (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam). Who are we to find faults in them? Furthermore, obtaining the correct history of that era is not even certain, so these matters should be left to Allah, the All-Aware, the All-Seeing. This is the truth.

➋ This is a refutation of the Khawarij, who declare both groups to be disbelievers. The Noble Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) testified to the Islam of both groups.

➌ Reconciliation among people is a deed of great virtue, especially when there is a danger of bloodshed.

➍ Muawiyah (radi Allahu anhu) was very compassionate and kind to his subjects, and he also kept a very strict watch over the affairs of the state. His unconditional demand for peace is clear evidence of this.

➎ A person of lesser rank can become a ruler in the presence of someone of greater virtue. Hasan and Muawiyah (radi Allahu anhuma) became rulers while Sa’d ibn Abi Waqqas and Sa’id ibn Zayd (radi Allahu anhuma), who were participants of Badr, were present.

➏ The caliph himself can abdicate, especially when this resignation is in the broader national and communal interest.

Benefit:
This hadith establishes the tremendous virtue of Sayyiduna Hasan ibn Ali radi Allahu anhuma. The two groups referred to are the groups of Sayyiduna Ali and Sayyiduna Muawiyah radi Allahu anhum. The prophecy of the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam was fulfilled one hundred percent. When Sayyiduna Hasan radi Allahu anhum was given the pledge of allegiance and he assumed the caliphate for six months, then, out of goodwill, he gave the pledge of allegiance at the hand of Sayyiduna Muawiyah radi Allahu anhu.