[^105] Abu al-Aswad Du'ah too...

[^105] Abu al-Aswad Du'ah too, who was in Kufah at the time when allegiance was being sworn to Imam Hasan (a), said, "He has acquired the wisayah and Imamah from his father." [^106] The people are also reported as having said to the Imam, "You are the successor and wasi of your father and we shall obey you." [^107] In any case, on the whole it may be conceded that Imam Ali introduced his eldest son as someone whose succession was favoured by him.

[^108] One Friday when the Imam was unwell, he ordered Imam Hasan to lead the prayers. [^109]. Aside from the fact that the Shiis of Kufah were drawn to Imam Hasan on the basis of their religious sentiments, one must take note of the peculiar Shi'i notions of and the station of Imamate at this stage. As reported by all the relevant sources, Imam Hasan stated in his first sermon: Anyone who knows me, knows me.

And if anyone does not know me, let him know that I am Hasan, son of the Messenger of Allah. I am the son of the bringer of good tidings and the warner. I am the son of him who invited the people to God with His command. I am the son of the shining lamp.

I belong to a household from which God has kept of all uncleanliness and filth and He has purified them with a thorough purifiction-they are the ones loving whom has been made obligatory by God in His Book, where He says, "and anyone who does good We shall increase in his goodness"(42:23). Hence the good work' is loving us, the People of the Household. [^110] Mas'udi reports part of one of the sermons of Imam Hasan in his history.

In it the Imam is reported as declaring: We are the felicitous party of God. We are the kindred of the Messenger of God (s). We are the people of the pure Household, the pure ones, and one of the two precious. thugs (thaqalayn) that the Messenger of God left behind amongst you, the other being the. Book of God, into which falsehood cannot enter . . . .

So obey us, for obedience to us, as those in authority (uli al-amr), is obligatory, for it is appended to the obedience to God and obedience to the Messenger of God, as the Book of God declares, "If you dispute concerning anything, then rifer it to Allah and His Messenger and those in authority amongst you (4:59).

When there comes to them a matter, be it of security or fear, they broadcast it; if they had referred it to the Messenger and to those in authority among them, those of them whose task is to investigate would have known the matter. (4:83).