Modern Spiritual Wisdom

Numerous books written on the Rashidun Caliphs do not include Hasan ibn Ali, although he is the fifth Caliph. If the tenure of his caliphate, which is five months and ten days, is excluded then the caliphate era does not reach the full term of thirty years as per the Hadith of Prophet Mohammad, "The era of caliphate will continue for thirty years after me." This proves that Imam Hasan is definitely the rightful Caliph.

Hasan ibn Ali withdrew himself from the caliphate, firstly because he did not want a conflict between Muslims. Secondly, had he not left the caliphate, the practice of inheriting the caliphate would have been initiated through the family of Prophet Mohammad.

When Hasan ibn Ali separated himself from the physical caliphate for Allah's will, Allah blessed him and his family with the spiritual caliphate (Faqr). This way physical caliphate (governance) and the spiritual caliphate separated from each other and never became one to date.

Hasan ibn Ali had so much regard for the words of the Holy Prophet, "My son will end the conflict between two Muslim groups," that even when he was poisoned, which led to his death, he did not reveal the name of his assassin to avoid starting a conflict among Muslims over retribution of his murder.