HASAN and HOSAIN (or HUsEIN), sons of the fourth Mo hammedan caliph Ali by his wife Fatima, daughter of Moham med. On Ali's death Hasan was proclaimed caliph, but the strength of Moawiya who had rebelled against Ali was such that he resigned his claim on condition that he should have the disposal of the treasure stored at Kufa, with the revenues of Darabjird. This secret negotiation came to the ears of Hasan's supporters, a mutiny broke out and Hasan was wounded. He retired to Medina where he died about 669. The story that he was poisoned at Moawiya's instigation is generally discredited (see CALIPHATE). Subsequently his brother Hosain revolted against Moawiya's successor Yazid, but was defeated and killed at Kerbela on Oct. Io, 680. Hosain is the hero of the passion play performed annually (e.g., at Kerbela) on the anniversary of his death by the Shiites of Persia and India, to whom the family of Ali are the only true descendants of Mohammed.
See Sir Wm. Muir, The Caliphate (1883) ; Sir Lewis Pelly, The Miracle Play of Hasan and Hosein 0879).