Mustadrak al-Hakim — Hadith 4867

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Mikhnaf that when allegiance had been given to Sayyiduna Hasan bin Ali (may Allah be pleased with them both), he took a firm stance in the matter of Mu'awiyah (may Allah be pleased with him) and resolved to advance toward him. He placed the vanguard of ten thousand fighters under the command of Abdullah bin Ja'far al-Tayyar, and then sent Qays bin Sa'd after him with a great army. Mu'awiyah sent a message to Abdullah bin Ja'far and guaranteed him one million dirhams, of which five hundred thousand dirhams were to be paid on his coming over to him and five hundred thousand dirhams on his reaching the Hijaz. He accepted this offer, abandoned his course and went over to Mu'awiyah, who fulfilled his promise. As a result the army scattered, but Qays bin Sa'd remained firm in his resolve, and many of Abdullah bin Ja'far's men joined Qays bin Sa'd. Mu'awiyah sent messages to Qays as well and tempted him, but he did not budge from his position, until Sayyiduna Hasan (may Allah be pleased with him) made peace with Mu'awiyah and handed authority over to him. When Sayyiduna Hasan and his companions set out to meet Mu'awiyah, Sayyiduna Hasan was suddenly attacked in an attempt on his life at the dark place of Sabat. Sinan bin al-Jarrah al-Asadi, a man of Banu Nasr bin Qu'ayn who held the views of the Khawarij, struck him in the thigh with a pickaxe (adze), inflicting a very deep and terrible wound. Sayyiduna Hasan seized him, and both fell to the ground. Then Abdullah bin al-Akhtal al-Qari leapt forward, snatched the pickaxe from al-Jarrah's hand and struck him with it. Then Abdullah bin Zabyan bin Umarah al-Tamimi bit his face until his nose was severed, and crushed his head with a stone, and he dropped dead on the spot. So may destruction be upon those wretched people! Sayyiduna Hasan was carried on a bed to al-Mada'in, where he stayed with Sa'd bin Mas'ud al-Thaqafi, the uncle of al-Mukhtar, who was the governor of al-Mada'in on behalf of Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him). He arranged a physician, who treated him until he recovered.