Death of al-Hasan ibn Ali

al-Hasan ibn Ali died in Medina, poisoned, according to the report that al-Suyuti transmits. al-Suyuti gives several years for his death: 49 AH, or 5 Rabi' al-Awwal 50 AH, or 51 AH. ²

In al-Suyuti's account his wife Ja'da bint al-Ash'ath poisoned him, and Yazid ibn Mu'awiya promised her marriage if she did it. When she asked him to keep his word, he told her that he did not approve her for al-Hasan, so he would not approve her for himself. This is a report al-Suyuti quotes, and no other source supports it here. ²

He relates that his brother al-Husayn pressed him to tell him who had given him the drink, but he refused and said that God's retribution was too severe if the one he suspected was guilty, and that otherwise no innocent should be killed for him. ²

al-Hasan asked to be buried beside the Messenger of God, and Aisha said: "Yes, and with honour." Marwan prevented them, and al-Husayn and those with him put on their weapons until Abu Hurayra turned them back. He was buried in al-Baqi' beside his mother. ³

al-Suyuti relates that Marwan wept at his funeral. al-Husayn said to him: "Do you weep for him, when you were the one who made him swallow what he swallowed?" He answered that he used to do that out of forbearance, and he pointed to the mountain. ⁴

The Gregorian date is derived, and it needs an additional source to fix the year.