Name: Hasan ibn Ali RA's Abdication to Muawiyah
Location: Madinah

What happened

After Ali RA was assassinated, the people of Madinah gave bay'ah to Hasan RA as the fifth khalifa, while Muawiyah was given bay'ah in Syria. After six months of stalemate and talk of war, Muawiyah sent word seeking sulh (reconciliation) rather than further bloodshed. Hasan RA gave an emotional address in Madinah asking whether people truly wanted to fight to the death, and proposed giving up the khilafa for the sake of the ummah under conditions; his followers agreed.

Outcome: Hasan RA abdicated the khilafa to Muawiyah, ending the threat of civil war between the two camps.

Significance

Hasan RA abdicated in Rabi' al-Awwal 41 AH, fulfilling the Prophet ﷺ's earlier statement that Hasan RA would reconcile two large groups of Muslims. Sunnis count Hasan RA as the fifth of the Rightly Guided Khalifas, even though he ruled only six months; Muawiyah became the undisputed khalifa afterward.

Sayings & Actions1

Muawiyah ibn Abi Sufyan RA

Saying · Rabi' al-Awwal, 41 AH

If we fight them and they fight us, and we kill them and they kill us, who will be left of the Muslims?

withHasan RA

Muawiyah said this after Ali RA's assassination, as his camp in Syria and Hasan RA's supporters in Madinah stood on the brink of war, before sending word proposing reconciliation.

Hasan RA

Sermon · Rabi' al-Awwal, 41 AH

Do you really want to go on to the death and let Allah decide? Or for the sake of the ummah, let us give up the khilafa with some conditions.

withMuawiyah ibn Abi Sufyan RA

What happened

Outcome: Hasan RA abdicated the khilafa to Muawiyah, ending the threat of civil war between the two camps.

Significance

Sayings & Actions1

Muawiyah ibn Abi Sufyan RA

Saying · Rabi' al-Awwal, 41 AH

If we fight them and they fight us, and we kill them and they kill us, who will be left of the Muslims?

withHasan RA

Muawiyah said this after Ali RA's assassination, as his camp in Syria and Hasan RA's supporters in Madinah stood on the brink of war, before sending word proposing reconciliation.

Hasan RA

Sermon · Rabi' al-Awwal, 41 AH

Do you really want to go on to the death and let Allah decide? Or for the sake of the ummah, let us give up the khilafa with some conditions.

withMuawiyah ibn Abi Sufyan RA

Hasan ibn Ali RA's Abdication to Muawiyah

Original text & sources

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What happened

Significance

Sayings & Actions1

Original text & sources

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People involved2

hasan

muawiyah

Hasan ibn Ali RA's Abdication to Muawiyah

Original text & sources

Report an inaccuracy

What happened

Significance

Sayings & Actions1

Original text & sources

Original text & sources

People involved2

hasan

muawiyah