It is narrated from Umayr bin Ishaq that Marwan (bin al-Hakam) was governor over us for several years, and every Friday on the pulpit he would revile Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him). Then Marwan was dismissed and Sayyiduna Sa'id bin al-As (may Allah be pleased with him) was appointed governor for several years, and he did not revile him. Then Sa'id (may Allah be pleased with him) was dismissed and Marwan was made governor again, and he again began to insult Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him). It was said to Sayyiduna al-Hasan bin Ali (may Allah be pleased with them both): "Do you not hear all that Marwan is saying? And do you not give him any reply?" He used to come on Friday, enter the blessed chamber of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and stay there; then, when the sermon was over, he would come out into the mosque and offer the prayer, and then return to his family. Marwan was not satisfied with this silence of his, until he sent a messenger to his house. We were sitting with Sayyiduna al-Hasan (may Allah be pleased with him) when he was told: "So-and-so is at the door." He gave him permission to enter. He came in and said: "I have come to you from a man of authority (Marwan), and I have brought a firm message." He (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "Speak." He said: "Marwan has said such-and-such indecent things about Ali, and such-and-such things about you as well, and he has said: I have found your likeness to be only that of a mule which, when asked, 'Who is your father?', says, 'My mother is a mare.'"
Sayyiduna al-Hasan (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "Go back to him and say to him: By Allah! I do not wish to wipe away anything you have said by abusing you as you did. Rather, the appointment for settling accounts between me and you is in the court of Allah. If you are truthful in what you said, Allah will reward you for your truthfulness; and if you are lying, then the vengeance of Allah Almighty is most severe. Allah Almighty has granted my grandfather (the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him) far too much honour and rank for my likeness to be that of a mule." Then that messenger went out, and on the way, in the blessed chamber, he met Sayyiduna al-Husayn (may Allah be pleased with him), who asked him the reason for his coming. He said: "I was sent with a message, and I have delivered it." He (may Allah be pleased with him) said (sternly): "By Allah! You will certainly tell me about this message, or else I will order that you be beaten so much that it will not even be known when your beating will end." When Sayyiduna al-Hasan (may Allah be pleased with him) saw this situation, he said: "Let him go." Sayyiduna al-Husayn (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "I cannot let him go." He asked: "Why?" He said: "I have sworn an oath (that he will tell me before going)." Then that man said: "Marwan has said such-and-such things about Sayyiduna Ali and such things about you, and he has likened you to a mule which, when asked who its father is, says that its mother is a mare." On hearing this, Sayyiduna al-Husayn (may Allah be pleased with him) said (expressing intense anger): "Woe to your mother if you do not convey to him this reply of mine: (These indecent words) are more fitting for you, for your father and for your people. And the sign of truth between me and you is that your two shoulders carry the burden of that curse of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) (which he, peace and blessings be upon him, pronounced concerning Marwan's father or his family)."
Hadith Referenceالمطالب العالية بزوائد المسانيد الثمانية / كتاب الفتوح / 4457
Hadith Gradingمحدثین:إسناده ضعيف
Hadith Takhrij«حکم الحدیث المطالب العالیہ محققاً تنسیق د. سعد بن ناصر بن عبد العزيز الشَّثري- مکتبہ شاملہ :إسناده ضعيف » «أخرجه المطالب العالية لابن حجر برقم: 4458»