Hasan of Basra

Who was Hasan of Basra?

Hasan Al-Basri, was a well-known Sunni Muslim preacher, theologian, and scholar of Islam who was born in 642 from Persian parents. Brought up in the house of Umm Salama, Hasan met many companions of Muhammad including, it is said, seventy of the warriors who fought in the Battle of Badr. Hasan grew up to become one of the most prominent figures of his generation, being famous for his piety and condemnation of worldliness. When he died on Friday 5th of Rajab 110 AH, at the age of 89, the entire population of Basra attended his funeral, so that for the first time in the history of Basra the city's Jami' Masjid remained empty at the hour of the 'Asr prayer. Hasan quickly became an exemplar for other saints in the area and his personality made a deep impression upon his contemporaries.